HER SECRET COWBOY (THE CASH BROTHERS #3) by MARIN THOMAS REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

Marsha Bugler, the daughter of Stagecoach, Arizona's preacher, finds herself completely alone after she discovers she is pregnant by her high school crush and local bad boy, Willie Nelson Cash. When she tells the eighteen year old about her predicament, Will tells Marsha that he cannot be a father and to "take care" of it. So Marsha goes away to California and unbeknownst to most of Stagecoach, she gives birth to a son who she raises on her own while she puts herself through a grueling school schedule to somehow make the parents, who she let down, proud of her.

Fourteen years later, Marsha has a Ph.D. and a son who is as smart as a whip. Ryan has grown up without a father.  Marsha decided that after Will Cash's reaction to her pregnancy that she would keep her son, Ryan's existence from most parties involved until a chance meeting with a Cash brother, and a terminal cancer diagnosis for her father, makes her decision no longer viable. So she sends off a letter to Will explaining about their now fourteen year old son.

When Will finds out he has a son, a multitude of emotions and questions spark to life. How could Marsha keep his son from him for all this time? Will struggles with the fact that his own father cast him aside and feels he has no business being a role model to a child, especially since Will has nothing of his own but a truck and the clothes on his back. Will was never a "student" but he got by however he possibly could. What's a guy with dyslexia supposed to do when he couldn't possibly have the grandparents who were taking care of his five siblings and himself pay for special lessons for him? So instead, Will just skated by and survived, but not enough to have the preacher's daughter overlook his shortcomings... Or could she?

Once Marsha is back in town and Ryan has a chance to meet his father, so many feelings that were pushed aside and never addressed spill out causing quite the time of it for all involved.  The pastor fears losing his grandson and daughter to an unworthy cowboy, Marsha fears never having experienced the true love she always wanted because it will destroy her father, Ryan fears his father doesn't like him and Will fears he is inadequate on so many levels. Is it possible for all this fear to be overcome? 

 HER SECRET COWBOY by Marin Thomas is a life lesson wrapped up in a tiny little package called a book. From the very first page I was engrossed in the lives of these great people and waited with baited breath while the injustices and heartaches had by the characters played out. Marin Thomas has a way of messing with your head and your emotions like no other. She goes where so many dare not go. The admiration I have for this author for taking on this teenage pregnancy and then later, Willie's dyslexia, only prove that Miz Thomas is a force to be reckoned with in the literary world and I will follow wherever she will lead.

HER SECRET COWBOY is a treasure I will delve into again, as well as the previous Cash Brothers books, and I eagerly await for more from this talented lady named Marin Thomas. While this amazing book can be read on its own, I truly hope that the reader will grab the first two in The Cash Brothers series, THE COWBOY NEXT DOOR and TWINS UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE, as they are all treasure to be savored.

~KIMBERLY~

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TO TEMPT A VIKING ( Forbidden Vikings #2 ) by MICHELLE WILLINGHAM

I can honestly say that I have never read a book quite like Michelle Willingham's TO TEMPT A VIKING before and I have to tip my hat to this ever so talented author for giving the reader a very different kind of HEA.

 Elena is Styr's wife, but after an unhappy and unfruitful marriage, Elena needs more. Her inability to give her husband a child tears at her very soul. Styr also has another on his mind and in his heart. Ragnar Olafsson has been in love with Elena forever and he stood idly by his friend as he claimed Elena for his wife. Now years later when Elena is captured by enemies, Ragnar risks his life and his heart to save the only woman he has ever loved from danger.

When both Elena and Ragnar are stranded  together Ragnar tries so hard to keep his true feelings from Elena while trying to keep her safe from their enemies and even from the husband who will break her heart when he finally seeks out his true love. Ragnar doesn't think he is worthy of her and basically has been told so all his life by those surrounding him. But not Elena, who has always been a good friend to Ragnar even when he wants so much more.

Michelle Willingham brings Vikings to life. Her take on this seldom written about culture is an emotional ride that I did not want to miss and I hope everyone will enjoy. Her alpha males sizzle and make the reader want to go back in time to be right there and the women are no shrinking violets in this turbulent time. Elena is just as capable as any man and her will to survive is the key for her and Ragnar.  I clearly enjoyed this book and I think you will as well!

~KIMBERLY~

HIGHLANDER MINE (Clan MacKenzie) by JULIETTE MILLER

Deep in the lush Highlands, a powerful laird with everything to lose must risk it all for the lass who storms into his keep—and his heart.

Raised on the debauched margins of society, Amelia Taylor depends upon her quick wit and fiery spirit to survive. When danger closes in on her already precarious home, she flees into the Highlands and finds refuge in the iron-strong circle of Clan Mackenzie. There, her lack of propriety and intriguing beauty draw the attentions of their formidable leader. But to remain safe from pursuit, she must conceal her identity, even if it means deceiving Laird Knox Mackenzie.

A fiercely guarded and staunchly moral warrior, Knox never expected a ravishing stranger like Amelia to reawaken his desires. Yet as their heated confrontations unlock untold passion, temptation proves impossible to resist. So when Amelia's tapestry of lies begins to unravel, the secrets from her dark past threaten both his Clan and a future they can only dare to dream of….

Though an interesting and pleasing tale, I had difficulty with the book being in first person. As a reader I like to hear all sides of view in my mind.  Amelia is a very strong heroine with a innate sense of family honor, but she is one of those females that needs to be knocked upside the head for being so darn contradicting sometimes that it's a wonder why the very touching hero, Knox falls for her at all. This tale was a fast paced adventure full of deception and redemption. HIGHLANDER MINE by Juliette Miller is a solid tale that I enjoyed. Looking forward to more from this author.

~KIMBERLY~

A KISS OF LIES (THE DISGRACED LORDS SERIES) by BRONWEN EVANS

Thrown out of England for a crime he swears he did not commit, the disfigured by fire, Christian Trent, the Earl of Markham has spent a year in Canada biding his time to return to his homeland and vindicate himself. In the meantime, he has become the guardian to his friend's daughter, when her parents perish in an unfortunate accident. A member of the renowned Libertine Scholars, Christian has friends back in England fighting to clear him name so he can return home.

Lady Serena has been thrust into a disastrous marriage to the sadistic man her father basically sold her to to get out of debt in England. Once Lady Serena and her evil husband are in Virginia, her life drastically declines as she is treated no better than her husbands slaves. One horrific night changes her life forever when she attempts to save herself from her husband's twisted actions and runs from Virginia after striking back and leaving him for dead.

Lady Serena arrives in Canada as the widow Sarah Cooper who applies for the job of being Lord Markham's ward Lily's governess. From the first minute, Christian is shocked that his disfigurement has no effect on the beautiful woman. Most people cringe at the sight of his burnt flesh and flee from his presence, but no Mrs. Cooper. Unbeknownst to Christian, Sarah Cooper is quite familiar with him, for in her other life of Serena, she admired him from afar when he was the catch of the ton and secretly wished he could be hers. It was not to be, but Sarah sees his advertisement as a message from above that is meant to be.

While on the ship returning to England to take back all he has lost, Christian seduces the beautiful widow and unwittingly falls in love with Sarah, but Sarah in no certain terms wishes to ruin her reputation and that of her charge, so the deal with Christian is they have a love affair that ends the minute the ship docks in England. Sarah wants to continue to be Lily's governess, not the Earl of Markham's mistress, and she couldn't possibly be his wife because once her true identity is discovered and the fact that she is a murderess comes to light, she would undoubtedly hang for the crime and has no wish to tarnish the Earl and his ward's names.

Once back in England, danger lurks for both the Earl and the governess with horrible pasts becoming the present and parties involved need a miracle to save them from demise.

I had no idea what to expect from this book when I picked it up as I had never read anything by Bronwen Evans and I was so happy once I read A KISS OF LIES, which is an emotionally charged tale of acceptance and vindication. Miss Evans characters are strong and interesting and I completely felt a kinship to both Christian and Sarah/Serena. A KISS OF LIES by Bronwen Evans is exciting from beginning to end. Wounded hero, Chrisitan Trent truly believes he will be forever alone, and when he meets Sarah he constantly  second guesses whether she is honest about his scars being of no consequence to her. Sarah/Serena on the other hand believes she will never be free of the horrors she endured while with her husband. Gut-wrenching and so well written,  A KISS OF LIES is one of my favorite reads. I highly recommend Bronwen Evans  A KISS OF LIES. 

~KIMBERLY~

SECRETS FOR SEDUCING A ROYAL BODYGUARD ( The Renegade Royals ) by VANESSA KELLY

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When Aden St. George rescues captive Lady Vivien Shaw from her kidnappers, he has no idea what he is in for with this spunky and inquisitive female. Vivien, to St. George's dismay, asks a lot of questions and formulates her own ideas, albeit mostly the correct ones about the handsome man. The feelings that this rare beauty ignite within Aden St. George throw him for a loop and the need for him to get away from her as fast as possible for fear of his sanity is paramount. Running away from Lady Shaw is not to be though, since Aden is told by his superiors that Lady Vivien needs to be watched at all times until those responsible for her abduction are found.

Vivien doesn't realize all the danger around her and the secrets that must be kept, between her gambling mother and brother who are always in debt and the money-lenders who want payback, her elder brother who would like her married off so she is no longer a burden on his pocketbook, to the unsightly Russian prince,whose reputation for his cruelty puts him in a class all his own.  

Aden tries with all his might to keep the Lady Vivien in his sights, but his disdain for being out in London's public eye hold him back. When his indomitable mother makes attempts to ease her son's way in both his business and personal lives, Aden is confused. Although he has not had the best of relationships with his family, especially his "father",  for Aden knows he is the product of a liaison his mother had with the Prince Regent.

SECRETS FOR SEDUCING A ROYAL BODYGUARD by Vanessa Kelly is a winner in my estimation for so many reasons. First we have the handsome alpha male in Aden St. George with his inner turmoils and his pride and honor and the fearless heroine Vivien who is absolutely unlike any of her class. The excitement and  intrigue with the budding romance only add to this story  The characters like the dishonorable Russian prince and Vivien's brother who I just want to throttle, make this tale quite memorable. Any book that keeps me up until the birds begin chirping at dawn is a winner and this book by the very talented Vanessa Kelly did that for me. An excellent start to a new series, SECRETS FOR SEDUCING A ROYAL BODYGUARD by Vanessa Kelly, is a top pick and I highly recommend it.

~KIMBERLY~

SECRET AGENT SECRETARY (ICE: Black Ops Defenders) by MELISSA CUTLER

ICE secretary, Avery Meadows is obsessed with all things in the cloak and dagger world of spying. The daughter of  pacifists dreams of spy gadgets and guns even having cats named Aston and Martin after James Bond's famous choice of cars. She dreams of taking part in helping solve an international crime and bring down the bad guy, but while her role as a secretary for  ICE brings her the knowledge of some of those crimes, it doesn't get her into the action. That is until she answers the phone late on New Year's Eve.

There is much more than meets the eye to Agent Ryan Reitano. His obsession with bringing crime lord, Enzo Chiara down is the one thing that has kept him going. After placing a phone call to ICE headquarters and asking secretary, Avery a favor, he is confused to find the beauty at the center of the action. Could Avery be a spy? Or is she just in the wrong place at the wrong time? Correction... Is Avery Meadows in the right place at the right time for Ryan Reitano?

Once the lines are drawn, Ryan realizes that he needs to protect Avery with all he has. The secretary with the photographic memory and the spunk to face any danger thrust in her direction has Agent Reitano in awe, but will that be all that is necessary to save them both from Chiara and the double-agent vying to bring the good guys down? Ryan's budding attraction for the sexy contradiction named Avery will either fizzle or ignite and Ryan isn't sure which way he should go. So much is at stake when Chiara gets too close for comfort and Ryan decides that he's rather die than let him get his evil hands on anyone in his family or the sparkling Avery.

SECRET AGENT SECRETARY by Melissa Cutler is the fabulous follow-up to TEMPTED INTO DANGER. The action begins on page one and continues to the very end of this high charged tale of espionage. The attraction between the hero and heroine sizzles from the get-go and the waiting for that climactic moment is part of the excitement. Melissa Cutler has another winner.

~KIMBERLY~

WHEN A LORD NEEDS A LADY by JANE GOODGER

American heiress, Katherine Wright, has been sent overseas to England to catch a titled husband. It isn't her idea. mind you, but her parents'. Katherine accompanies her ailing mother to Brighton and in her boredom decides to dress as a lady's maid so she won't be bothered on the boardwalk.

From his window, Lord Graham Spencer sees the vision of the beauty and seeks her company out. Instead of being forthcoming and telling each other who they in truth are, they concoct false identities, for Katherine would be ruined if she is seen alone out and about and Lord Spencer could never be seen in the company of a maid. Posing as a valet, Graham accompanies the maid around Brighton and they share an eye-opening kiss that neither can get out of their minds.

Both parties involved have an attraction to one another that shines through the deception, but when the truth finally comes out, both parties feel betrayed. Katherine knows in her heart that Graham is the man for her, but Graham is in need of an heiress with more money than Katherine possesses to care for his dilapidated home and the people under his charge and he has the one with the funds in his grasp. Does he want this other heiress though? Can she light the fire that he already holds for Katherine? Ahhhhh the dilemma!

Oh this book, WHEN A LORD NEEDS A LADY by Jane Goodger, brings out such emotion, between wanting to flog both the hero and heroine at any given time or hug them. This tale is a roller coaster of a ride. Katherine and Graham are two very intelligent and capable characters, but stubborn at the same time. Then we have the meddling mamas who add to the mix of emotions and make one glad that in this day and age decisions like the one Graham has to make hopefully don't still exist. Miss Goodger is a very good writer than keeps the reader very interested. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it highly. 

~KIMBERLY~