Together Is Where We Belong(Courtright Ranch,#2)

 

 

  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

  Thank you to the author,Harper Faith and The Author Agency for providing me with E-ARC, in exchange for honest review.   

 

 

At eighteen, I left Haven Valley with Leo Courtright’s final words ringing in my ears. 

I hate you. 

I swore I’d never come back to the small town—or the boy—I’d left behind. But when the manstalking me gets too close, I run to the only place that’s ever felt safe. 

Home. 

Coming back meant seeing the blue-eyed boy who was once my entire world. Only Leo isn’t a boy anymore. He’s colder. Harder. And he still looks at me like I wrecked his life. Returning home also means revealing the secret I’ve kept for eight years. 

He has Leo’s eyes. 

His inquisitive nature. 

And he can’t wait to meet his dad. 

When Leo shows up at my front door to welcome his new neighbor, the second his gaze lands on the little boy behind me, everything changes. 

The man who swore he hates me is suddenly everywhere—fixing broken locks, watching over us, asking questions I can’t answer without risking the fragile life I built to protect my son. 

The more time we spend together, the harder it becomes to deny what’s always been between us.
Because some first loves stay with you forever. 

Some people never stop feeling like home. 

And maybe, after everything we lost, together is where we belong. 

If the past—and the danger chasing us—doesn’t destroy us first.

 🌷

 
Such a heartwarming but heartbreaking story about first love, family, and a second chance. I’m still swooning over Carolina and Leo. 

I didn’t know what to expect from this story, since I haven’t read anything by this author. It was the cover, the title, and the blurb that caught my attention. The blurb is what caught my attention most of all; it sounded moving yet suspenseful. The moment I started reading Together Is Where We Belong, I knew I was in trouble, and I was right. I read it in a day because just when I thought I could put it down, something happened that kept me reading for a few more hours. Leo and Carolina’s story isn’t one you will be able to forget. You can feel the chemistry between the two of them from the moment they reunite. Even though Leo tries to fight it, I can tell how much he cares about her. 

I adored the instant bond that Leo had with his son, Luke. I couldn’t help but love Luke; his energy was so addictive, and I loved how he accepted Leo, even if he wasn’t in his life for a while. He was such a joy to read about. The three of them were a family, and even though Leo tried to stay clear, they still acted like one. I was rooting for them all through the book. I’m glad that Carolina came back and that Luke protected her once he found out about her stalker. I was scared for her and hoped the stalker wouldn’t find her. 

Family was an important aspect in this book. Despite what happened in the past, I loved how Courtright family accepted Luke, and how they tried protecting the two of them. I was smiling at the way that they all came together. Even though I finished the book this morning, I still cannot get it out of my head. Everything in this book, including the suspense, was portrayed in such depth and filled with so much emotion. Now, I must go back and check out the first book in the series. Highly recommended.

Trying Not To Need You(Moran Sisters,#2)

 

 

 

 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

 4.5★ 

Thank you to author,Kaylee Ryan for letting me be part of her ARC Team! 

 

Baylor

 
I thought I was living my happily ever after. 

But after five years in New York, building my life around a man who stopped choosing me, I realized our future was nothing more than a dream. 

So I walked away. 

From the city. From him. From the family I thought we’d build together. ,br> Now I’m back in Magnolia Ridge with my sisters, trying to figure out who I am without the life I planned. 

I didn’t come home looking for love. 

But somehow, love has been waiting for me all along.

 
Macklin

 
I’ve loved Baylor Moran for years. 

The timing was always wrong. Until now. 

She’s back in Magnolia Ridge with a bruised heart and walls higher than ever. But that's okay. I'll be here when they’re ready to come down. 

Baylor can take all the time she needs. 

I’m not going anywhere. 

And while she’s trying not to need me, I’ll keep loving her until she realizes she’s not falling apart anymore.
She’s finally falling—straight into the future we were always meant to have. 

  🌷

 
I have no words. This book blew me away, and I am still going through a range of emotions. I loved the first book, Trying Not To Kiss You, but this one is my favorite- at least for right now. I read Trying Not To Need You in one day; I couldn’t stop, I didn’t want to stop because I was so invested in Baylor and Macklin’s story. Macklin is the type of guy that every girl dreams about – if only every guy treated their girl the way that he did. I think I fell in love with Macklin myself. I adored the way he treated Baylor and the way he tried to prove to her how much she meant to him. However, I did feel like he came on a little too strong at the beginning. 

I liked the way that Kaylee transitioned Baylor and Mackin’s relationship from friendship to romance; it was so bittersweet. I’m still smiling just thinking about it. I loved that Mackin wasn’t pushing her into relationship but also showing her different ways that he cares about her. You can’t help but swoon over Mackling; who doesn’t want a man who cooks your favorite food for you, and dances with you? I couldn’t get enough of the two of them, and hoped that Baylor will see that Macklin is the guy for her. 

Found family was another one of my favorite aspects in this book. I adore the close relationship that the Moran sisters have with each other. I’m curious to see which Moran sister the next book will be about. Trying Not To Need You is not a book that you want to miss.

Run Back Home(Golden City,#4)

 

 

 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

 Thank you to author,Cassandra Moll for letting me be part of  ARC Team! 

 

 

   09.23.26   

Lenora O'Reilly has many names—Nora, Lenny, Len—but only one major regret: choosing small-town life over true love. 

When high school ended, Lenny couldn’t bring herself to leave the safety, security, and familiarity of Mage Hollow—even if it meant walking away from the plans she’d built with her MLB-bound boyfriend. 

But what she didn’t realize was that the one thing she truly needed would disappear the moment she made that choice—
Him. 

Now Lenny spends her life as a travel nurse—always moving, always leaving—because the place she once called home has never felt like home again.

 
Jace Holloway was always meant for the big leagues—talented, driven, and able to anticipate the last minute bounce or unpredictable hop. And the pit-stop his family made in Mage Hollow only proved that nothing could derail his dreams.
But there was one curveball Jace never saw coming— 

Lenny staying after he left. 

Now, six years later, although he's thriving in Golden City with his family back together, he's still living with regrets of his own. 

And without the one person he never stopped missing. 

When Lenny’s newest nursing assignment lands her in the same city where Jace now starts at shortstop for the Gators, neither of them expects to keep bumping into each other. 

But they should have known—the universe has always had a way of putting them together.

 
Now they’re learning that you can’t outrun your problems. 

And that scoring big almost always means heading home.

 

 🌷

I loved every single moment of this book; the characters, the story, the setting. I’m so glad that I got the chance to read this book. I have a feeling this will be the book I re-read in the future. The Run Back Home is the second book I've read by Cassandra and, so far, my favorite. I haven't read the first two books in the Golden City series, and now that I've read the last one, I'm going to check out the others. One of my favorites is the found-family aspect; it's so heartwarming to see how everyone looks out for one another. That's why it's impossible to have a favorite character; you can't help but fall in love with all of them. It reminds me so much of my best friends, who became like family to me. 

Lenny and Jace : You can see that those two belong together from the start. Their story was both heartbreaking and heartwarming, and I found myself reading late into the night because I needed to know what happened. I could tell that Lenny’s feelings for Jace never faded; just the way that she acted around him. I loved the way that Cassandra portrayed their relationship; it was emotional at times, but also realistic. I was so invested in their relationship, rooting for them all the way through. 

I love the way Cassandra portrayed deaf awareness and Vienna’s journey to get the implant. I can’t even begin to imagine how she must feel, but the descriptions were phenomenal, so I felt as if I could. I have a deaf friend, so I loved that it was featured in this book. I also loved the relationship that Jace had with his sister, and Lenny too; it had me smiling on multiple occasions. In general; if I could give this book more than five stars, I would. Such a beautiful, inspirational book.

Falling For The Enemy(Hawthrone Brothers,#2)

 

 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

 4.5★

 Thank you to the author,Lydia Michaels and LMPR for eARC. All opinions are my own.

 

 

      09.22.26     

 

Soren Hawthorne is arrogant, brooding, and used to getting everything he wants—including ruthless control of his family's empire. The last thing this grumpy alpha billionaire needs is any lip from Jocelyn Collins, the sharp-tongued, beautiful, chaotic, Viking smut author with an evil chihuahua that hates his guts. 

Jocelyn has spent her whole life being too much. Too loud, too messy, too wild for a small-town that likes its love stories neat and tidy. She writes happily-ever-afters for a living but never believed she'd get one of her own. Especially not with the infuriating, insufferable, impossibly gorgeous man she's been at war with since the third grade. 

But twenty years of slow-burn tension has to break somewhere. And once Soren realizes the woman he wants has been right there all along, his possessive nature kicks.

 🌷

 
I've been curious about the Hawthorne brothers ever since I read The Holiday Clause last December. I loved Greyson and Wren’s story, but I loved Soren and Jocelyn’s story even more. There was something about those two that had me rooting for them. Although they claimed they hated each other, I could tell there was more to it. Those two had such chemistry; the ones that they seemed to deny. I hoped that they would figure out that what two of them had was more than sex. I do believe that Soren fell for Jocelyn first, the way he wanted to take care of her, and the jealousy. I just hoped he wouldn’t do something stupid to mess up the relationship. 

Soren…I had my doubts about him when I started reading the book. The things he did and said sometimes frustrated me. However, I could tell how much he cared about Jocelyn, even if it took him some time to realize it. One of my favorite things about Lydia’s books is the way that she portrays the characters and their emotions. I felt every emotion that Soren and Jocelyn had. I felt their anger, frustration, love, and doubt. I loved this town in winter during Holiday Clause, and I loved it during the fall. Everything about it made me wish that it was real, so I could go there and escape for a while.

Once again, it warmed my heart how the town came together. The way Lydia portrayed the relationship between Soren and Jocelyn was phenomenal; you could see their growth. I also loved the banter between them and found myself laughing out loud at some of it. I didn’t want this story to end, and I'm hoping that they make an appearance in the next book. I’m excited to see what’s in store for Logan.

Yours Trully,Fall(Season Sisters,#2)

 

 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

 Thank you to the author,S.L Scott and The Author Agency for providing me with E-ARC, in exchange for honest review.   

  

There are worse things than being stuck alone in a cabin with a hot as sin firefighter who’s good with his hands. A lot worse . . . This should be fun. 

Agreeing to help Brandon Culver recover from his injury seemed harmless enough. 

Sure, he’s a firefighter and Mountain Laurel Cove’s most eligible bachelor. But I’m too busy focusing on my nursing career to be distracted by a handsome face. 

Unfortunately, Brandon is a lot more than a great face. 

He’s steady. Dependable. He’s the kind of man who remembers the little things and shows up when it matters. His easy confidence is comforting. His quiet strength makes me feel safe. And the way he looks at me makes me question everything I thought I wanted. 

But I’m in his home to care for him, not fall for him. 

One tiny slip could ruin all the plans I’ve meticulously made for my life. Romance is a fool’s game and if I’m anything, I’m level-headed. Until his heated gaze and lingering touch threaten to turn the electricity between us into a five-alarm fire. 

If I’m not careful, I might be the one getting burned.

 🌷

 
A charming, heartfelt small-town romance, with fall vibes. 

Yours Truly, Fall was the cozy romance that I love, and the one that I needed. I adored Brandon and Autumn; their banter, but also the way that they fell for each other. I know that Autumn had doubts about him, because of what happened in the past, but I thought that she should let the past go, give them a second chance. In the past couple of years, I fell in love with the small-town and second-chance romance trope. Yours Truly, Fall is the type of second-chance romance that I love. I couldn’t help but smile; the way that Autumn took care of Brandon and made sure that he was healing the way he should. I do believe there was more than one reason that she agreed to take care of Brandon. 

There were quite a few moments between Autumn and Brandon that had me smiling. I was rooting for the two of them from the start. I have read a few books that dealt with amnesia, but the way S.L. was interconnected with the rest of the story was unique. I wondered if Brandon would remember or if this would be their second chance to start over. I loved the Season sisters, and don’t you just love their names? I didn’t know it was a series until I started reading this one. Now I want to go back and read Summer’s book. Once again, I love the depth that S.L gave to the characters; partially Brandon and Autumn. She also always has a way to connect you with all the characters. There was part of me that didn’t want book to end, and I’m hoping that Autumn and Brandon will make appearance in the next book.