Piper Rayne, or Piper and Rayne, whichever you prefer because we’re not one author, we’re two. Yep, you get two USA Today Bestselling authors for the price of one. Our goal is to bring you romance stories that have “Heartwarming Humor With a Side of Sizzle” (okay…you caught us, that’s our tagline).Â
A little about us…. We both have kindle’s full of one-clickable books. We’re both married to husbands who drive us to drink. We’re both chauffeurs to our kids. Most of all, we love hot heroes and quirky heroines that make us laugh, and we hope you do, too.Â
He once chose her happiness over his. Can this Christmas be their second chance?
Cassidy Hanna never felt like she belonged in Cape Hope, so she fled town and heartbreak ten years ago for a new life in Manhattan and everything she ever dreamed of—a great job and the perfect boyfriend. Only she’s never felt emptier and more alone. When her beloved grandfather falls ill, she knows she must push aside the past and return home to help.
Letting Cassidy go without a fight was the hardest thing Cape Hope doctor Phoenix Walker had ever done. Even as his own life fell apart, he lied and encouraged her to fly far from home to live out her dreams. Now Cassidy’s back—just for Christmas—and Phoenix wonders if they can have a second chance at a happy ever after…even if it’s just for the holiday.
📝My Review📝: 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
I enjoyed this novel very much despite that I found it to be sad for nearly the entire length. This is one of those books where I am being extra careful with my review. How can I articulate my feelings without giving away the plot? I can’t. Christmas Ever After spans years. The author goes back to the past on several occasions which makes the premise even more complex and filled with character depth and development. I read the first book in this series and enjoyed that as well. I found that I have a connection with this author’s writing. While I did not experience what the characters did, she engaged me from the very beginning and I refused to put this book down until I got my happily-ever-after. I wasn’t at all sure of how this book would end due to the angst and behavior of certain characters. Phoenix was a hero I had to love despite his choices that I did not agree with. I’ve never been a fan of a man making decisions in the relationship that HE thinks is best without talking about it with the heroine. People should be able to make their own choices. And here is where I won’t comment about that further. Cassidy is amazing, strong, caring and independent. I admired her a great deal.
I can tell you that this book was beautifully written bringing the characters and town to life where you could feel the presence strongly; you are there in Cape Hope. Lots of twists and turns. A book that is not forgettable.
While I received an advanced reading copy of Christmas Ever After, this is my honest and unbiased review and I thank you for taking the time to read it. 🙂
Read: August 23rd 2021. *Review copy provided by Tule Publishing
POV: Third-person alternating perspectives
Blurb:
What happens when a tenacious sheriff takes on a determined cowgirl and her champion bull?
It’s never easy to make it in a man’s world, and cowgirl Tori Tremayne has chased the same dream most of her life—producing a champion bucking bull on the pro rodeo circuit. With her prize bull Maximus, she’s so close to winning top prize in the finals this year she can taste it. She can’t afford any distractions, especially not the tall, dark and swoony sheriff she’s admired all her life.
Sheriff Gray Dalton has been in love with Tori since they were kids. He doesn’t want to change Tori or derail her goals, but he does want to combine their dreams—build a life and family with her while she continues to pursue her career and passion. Gray knows he has to shake Tori up so that he can step out of the friend zone she’s so determined to keep him in.
Can Gray prove to Tori that with him she can have it all—career, love and a family?Â
My 📝Review📝: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Gray and Tori’s book is finally here! I must say I did appreciate how the author released this series with a short wait in between. From the very first book, I wanted to know what was going on between Gray and Tori. And with each book that followed my curiosity only grew. Lifetime friends since childhood, Gray always loved Tori. He fell in love with her as soon as he understood what that truly meant. And while Tori also loved Gray, she was slow to catch up. In fact, for so many years, Gray put her feelings first. He was so generous of heart and selfless when it came to Tori. That said, Tori was a likable character but I did not like how she took Gray for granted, over and over. And it took nearly losing him for her to realize her true feelings and how selfish she has been.
This was not and easy relationship. Gray had finally come to the conclusion that he needed to let her go. She was too focused on her career and Gray didn’t want to be taken for granted any longer. I loved him from the first three books so I understood it might be time to let Tori go. However what I didn’t connect with was the back and forth; that despite his resolve to stay away he kept showing up. That gave the story more angst than I like. In addition, I felt that Tori and Gray were not the people I thought I knew from the previous books. I guess I was just expecting a sweeter story.
The Tremayne family was a constant and that helped break up a bit of the angst. I loved all the family members and it was rewarding to catch up with their lives. In the end, Gray and Tori got their act together and I was satisfied how things turned out. They became the couple I always believed they would be albeit the few bumps in their road to forever-after. I loved this series and definitely recommend it. This is an author that I have read and enjoyed for a long time.
While I received and advanced reading copy of The Sheriff and the Cowgirl, this is my honest and unbiased review and I thank you for taking the time to read it. 🙂
Read: August 21st 2021. *Review copy provided by Tule Publishing
POV: Third-person alternating perspectives
Kindle: 180 pages
Blurb:
She needs a favor. He needs a bride.
Langston Carr is back in her hometown Marietta as the temporary event planner for the Graff Hotel. The first event on the calendar is the society wedding that should have been her big day with her loving groom, so when rodeo cowboy Bowen Ballantyne swaggers into the hotel, all hard-bodied and chivalrous, she thanks him the way any single woman needing to salve her pride would—she kisses him.
Bull rider Bowen Ballantyne thrives on competition, but this time his cowboy cousins have taken their one-upmanship challenge too far. He needs to find a bride by the end of the Copper Mountain Rodeo. Bowen’s never backed down from anything, so when former barrel racer Langston Carr, his tormentor from their teen years, propositions him, Bowen rockets up the heat.
A game of pretend between rivals…what could go wrong?
My Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This was such a delightful novel to read. The Cowboy’s Challenge is the second book in the Montana Rodeo Brides series. I haven’t read the first book yet but will be doing that very soon. I had no trouble following along having begun the series with book two. In fact, I’d like to mention while these three books represent a different couple and can be read on their own, the stories are definitely inter-connected. From what I easily inferred, all three books take place over the exact same time frame.
Langston and Bowen may have appeared from the start, opposites, however they were alike in many ways. I felt their connection from the very moment they met again. I want to say, that moment was entertaining. Yes, these two knew each other from their teen years, maybe earlier. They do have history but not the kind Langston always wished for. Bowen was enough years older at the time that he wouldn’t even consider a relationship with Langston other than platonic. I won’t go into details because you should unravel their pasts on your own.
Both Bowen and Langston will have decisions to make as far as how they move forward together in their future. Their relationship started out for convenience but it was easy to see they were meant for much more than a ruse. I also want to mention that there is a bit of a mystery going on with Bowen’s grandfather and I suspect the resolution of that will be revealed in the next book, which I am very much looking forward to reading. This is not my first novel from this author. I have read numerous books from her and enjoyed them all. I definitely recommend this series.
While I received and advanced reading copy of this book, this is my honest and unbiased review. Thank you for taking the time to read it. 🙂
Read: May 27th 2021 *Review copy provided by NetGalley
POV: First-person alternating perspectives
Kindle: 288 pages
Blurb:
Charming, hilarious, and emotional…When Sparks Fly is Helena Hunting at her very best!
Avery Spark is living her best life. Between her friends, her sisters, and Spark House, the event hotel her family owns, she doesn’t have much time for anything else, especially relationships. She’d rather hang out with her best friend and roommate, Declan McCormick, than deal with the dating scene. But everything changes when she is in a car accident and needs someone to care for her as she heals.
Declan avoids relationships, giving him a playboy reputation that he lives up to when he puts a one-night stand ahead of a promise he made to Avery. While he may not have been the one driving the car, he feels responsible for Avery’s injuries and is determined to make it up to her by stepping into the role of caretaker.
Little did they know that the more time they spend in compromising positions, the attraction they’ve been refusing to acknowledge becomes impossible to ignore. When they finally give in to the spark between them, neither is prepared for the consequences. Their love is fragile and all it will take is a blow from the past to shatter it all.
My Review: 3.5 stars
3.5 stars I have mixed feelings about this book. There were moments I liked but unfortunately there were parts of this book that fell flat for me. The pace and plot just didn’t hit the mark. I have read this author plenty of times and enjoyed all those other books which is why I didn’t hesitate to read this one. But it almost felt like a different author wrote it. Both the H/h frustrated me too often. And don’t even let me get started on my true feelings about Declan. To be honest, if I had this man in my life, I’d be concerned whether or not he was all in. I should tell you that there were enough moments with secondary characters that helped me to overall give this book a 3.5 rating. So, I didn’t hate it; I just wish the author was able let me experience the connection I expected.
One aspect of romance for me that is a hard no is when there are other woman/other men intimacy on the pages before our MCs get together. I don’t want to hear about that. And in this case, I wasn’t a fan of Declan as a result. Even at the very end, I didn’t have that sigh-worthy moment. Something was missing.
To sum it up, this review is what it is because of my reading preferences; you should decide on your own, especially if you are a Helena Hunting fan, if you’ll read it. Not every book I read is a five or even a four star. As I said, I didn’t hate this book but I will admit that I’m still considering if I will read the rest of the Spark sister’s books when they become available. At some point, because I am a fan of this author, I think I’d like to do a reread and see if my feelings change.
While I received an advanced reading copy of When Sparks Fly,this is my honest and unbiased review and I thank you for taking the time to read it. 🙂
Read: August 31st 2021 *Review copy provided by NetGalley
POV: Third person narration (Female protagonist)
Blurb:
From May Kay Andrews, the New York Times bestselling author of Hello, Summer, comes a novella celebrating the magic of Christmas and second chances in The Santa Suit.
When newly-divorced Ivy Perkins buys an old farmhouse sight unseen, she is definitely looking for a change in her life. The Four Roses, as the farmhouse is called, is a labor of love–but Ivy didn’t bargain on just how much labor. The previous family left so much furniture and so much junk, that it’s a full-time job sorting through all of it.
At the top of a closet, Ivy finds an old Santa suit–beautifully made and decades old. In the pocket of a suit she finds a note written in a childish hand: it’s from a little girl who has one Christmas wish, and that is for her father to return home from the war. This discovery sets Ivy off on a mission. Who wrote the note? Did the man ever come home? What mysteries did the Rose family hold?
Ivy’s quest brings her into the community, at a time when all she wanted to do was be left alone and nurse her wounds. But the magic of Christmas makes miracles happen, and Ivy just might find more than she ever thought possible: a welcoming town, a family reunited, a mystery solved, and a second chance at love.
My Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Hopelessly sentimental, rewarding, refreshing, perfect feel-good read. I can’t wait to read more from this author. Superbly written fiction with a touch of the best tropes. I literally gobbled this up in a couple of hours. I woke up, had my coffee and sat down to read before the rest of my household woke up. I enjoyed this book, uninterrupted and hated when it was over. In fact, while reading I glanced at my page count and saw that I was already at 85%. That rarely happens that I am that engrossed.
The Santa suit first caught my eye from an email I received highlighting upcoming releases. And after reading the blurb, I was hooked despite the fact I don’t usually delve into the Christmas trope until at least October. I’m so glad I did.
While this book has a bit of several tropes for example: Christmas, second chance, mystery, women’s fiction, romance and new beginnings, I did not feel the plot was overdone. In addition, there is a wonderful plot twist at the end that just made me tear up.
I won’t go into detail about the premise of this book. The blurb will tell you all you need to know and the book will leave you teary-eyed and smiling. This is actually my first book by this author and I will most definitely be reading more from her.
Do I recommend this book? Absolutely! Don’t wait for the holiday season to read this fulfilling fat paced Christmas gem,
While I received an advanced reading copy of The Santa suit,this is my honest and unbiased review and I thank you for taking the time ro read it.
The Dirty Mavericks have two rules—never betray the club and protect each other at all costs.
As the President, this family is all that matters . . . until a feisty little firecracker comes crashing into our compound with the body of a goddess and drowning in trouble.
Nova needs help, but nothing comes for free. I agree to rescue her sister from a rival club, but only if she gives her body to me exclusively. The longer she’s here, the more I fall for her, but pleasure with Nova comes with jealousy, secrets, and betrayal.
I can’t stop the burn in my soul for this woman, though, and between the bastards brutalizing the kids in my town, and our enemies determined to take her from me, I’m almost certain Nova will do more than burn me—this time, I may get scorched.
Too bad no one realizes I’d walk through Hellfire to keep Nova at my side and in my bed. She’s mine, and I’ll unleash my darkest demons to make sure she stays that way.
It takes very little effort to kick the front door open. Luckily, we all ducked to the side as soon as I did, otherwise, one of us would have ended up with a gut full of scattered fragments from the shotgun fired our way. I lift my gun and take him down with a shot to his neck and one to his gut. As soon as the shotgun clatters to the floor, we file in. Fights break out all around us as men scramble to protect themselves. Bile rushes to my throat when I notice the state of undress of some of them, along with the terrified screams that don’t belong to any of these cocksuckers. Rage boils my blood as I swap my gun out for my Karambit blades. I need to feel the evil in the blood run over me as I watch the light leave their eyes. Their vile souls are mine, and I’m going to collect them like I’m the fucking grim reaper.
A man to my left lifts his gun my way, but I do a pirouette that my sister’s ballet teacher would be proud of and send both of my blades gliding across his throat. My vision is painted a beautiful shade of red as his life leeches from him.
I wipe my face with my arm and face the one coming at me on my right.
Neck. Armpit. Gut.
Over and over, my blood meets flesh, and my hunger for their life builds with each innocent scream I hear coming from this house.
My phone goes off. Over and over. Text. Text. Text.
I stand from my latest victim to find the war still waging around me. How many of these motherfuckers were in this goddamn house?
My phone rings, but right now I’ve got only one thing on my mind. Whoever it is can wait.
Stalking through the house, I take out anyone that isn’t wearing our colors as I follow the screams. A beefy man is standing in front of a door to what I’m going to assume is a basement. His eyes are dead in his pockmarked face and they watch me as I prowl closer. He’s got a knife in each hand, much like me, and something tells me this one is going to put up a much bigger fight.
“You’re an ugly son of a bitch,” I remark.
He says nothing. His head tilts as he studies me.
My fingers twitch around my blade, and his eyes drop to it for a minute before coming back to me. His smile is slow to form.
“This is going to be fun.”
I chuckle. “You ain’t kidding.”
For such a big motherfucker, he’s quick on his feet. He flies at me, the edge of his blade nicking my neck before I yank it to the side with a hiss.
“See, now you done pissed me off,” I drawl, wiping away the blood.
Without giving him time to prepare, I’m on him. One blade sinks into his side with a twist, the other catches his thigh. I grit my teeth when he also gets my side, but from experience, I know that it’s not hit anything vital. His other blade comes at me, but I spin out of reach, my blades catching face as I do.
He comes at me with a roar, but I’m better prepared. As graceful as a ballerina in shitkickers, I twirl until I’m standing behind him. Before he gets the chance to turn, I’m slamming one blade into the base of his skull and the other into the front of his throat.
I yank my blades from him, letting gravity carry his body to the floor as I wrench open the basement door. The screams pierce my pounding head as I travel down the broken stairs. Row after row of cages line the basement with shivering teenagers huddled in the corners of them.
Lynne is a USA Today Bestselling Author who writes a little mix of everything. Currently, it’s romance with a handful of suspense thrown in, a dash of dark and twisty along the way, and a lot more than the recipe calls for of steamy against-the-wall sexiness.
She lives in the quiet country with a bossy mister, a mischievous little prince, and two sassy divas. If you don’t catch her with her nose in a book or her fingers scribbling on paper, she’s usually right in front of the television with her family. She loves anything that glitters and has a weird habit of collecting pens. She thinks seafood is disgusting, beach sand is the devil, and Tom Hardy is life.
Betrayal. Intrigue. A desperate rescue and a love they never saw coming.
She’s the woman he needs most.
Gianna Zichella has always had a bright and secure future, next in line to lead her family’s business. She doesn’t see the harm in flirting with her newest, ruggedly handsome client.
Gia’s life begins to unravel when a stranger contacts her. She will stop at nothing to keep her family and their legacy safe.
He’s the man she can trust with every fiber of her being.
Former SEAL Booth Merrick is all about being the consummate security professional. Sent to Italy on assignment, he never intended to become personally involved.
He does women but not relationships. That is until he meets the beautiful and captivating Gia.
She’s trying to move away from a world of wealth and privilege. He’s surrounded by a royal life and tabloid press. Staying away from each other seems like the best solution to the attraction between them. That is until the press forces them into a relationship that neither of them are ready for.
Maribel Ortiz has been in love with Prince Alonzo since she started high school. For years he didn’t see her as more than his best friend’s kid sister. And even though she’s not blind to the chemistry between them, he represents the one thing she’s trying to break free of. The aristocracy.
Alonzo knows the last thing Maribel needs is to be stuck in a relationship where her life is under constant public scrutiny. She’s made a life for herself and doesn’t need him complicating it.
So when they inadvertently find themselves the subject of media speculation, the fake relationship they’re forced into is more than either of them can handle.
Their relationship may be fake, but the feelings are so very real. Will both of them survive with their hearts intact.
Jasmine Bell lives at the beach with her delightful Dom and their little pack of puppies. She loves getting lost in fictional worlds which is why her stories are set on the fictional island of Astoria.
