January 16, 2016 | By: Cynthia Marcano

With This Ring? Novella Collection


With This Ring
Author - Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings 
& Melissa Jagears 
Rating - 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Would I Recommend: Yep!

Back Cover...

Love isn't always a fairy tale, and it doesn't always go as planned. Sometimes the best stories, though, are the ones that are the most unexpected. Join Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings, and Melissa Jagears for novellas that celebrate the power of love to triumph . . . even when circumstances go awry!

What I Loved...

A compilation of novellas from awesome authors is a bonafide treat. It's like a box of delicious chocolates. Decadence in small batches. I loved that novellas were short enough to finish in a few hours and could enjoy a new story every night for a few nights.

If I had to choose a favorite, it would be Karen Witemeyer's The Husband Maneuver but they were all really good reads.

What I Liked...

See what I loved.

Other...

I'm not a big fan of the cover, but I don't hate it either. Now having to write a review for the collection, I find it a little more difficult than a full-length novel. It would be writing four full reviews in one.  I can say that I enjoyed each story. They are all romantic and comedic. Runaway Bride (the 3rd novella) was a bit more thrilling while Her Dearly Unintended was very comedic.

I recommend highly!


Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher through Netgalley. The opinion of this book is my own and I was not paid or compensated for my review.


January 5, 2016 | By: Cynthia Marcano

Review: A Worthy Heart by Susan Anne Mason


A Worthy Heart
Author - Susan Anne Mason
Rating - 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Would I Recommend: Yes

Back Cover...

Maggie Montgomery's long-held wish to see America is finally coming true. She'll visit her beloved brother Rylan and his wife, Colleen, and at the same time, escape Neill Fitzgerald's unwanted attention. In addition, Maggie has a secret! She plans to remain in America to seek her fortune and to hopefully find love. While visiting Irish Meadows, she meets an intriguing man whom she thinks is a stable hand. Only when Rylan demands she stay away from Adam O'Leary does she realize he's Colleen's brother, recently released from prison. Nonetheless, Maggie can't seem to make her heart conform to her brother's request.

Adam O'Leary has never felt worthy of his place in the family. Spending time in jail only reinforces his belief. Now that he's free, Adam hopes to make amends and earn back his family's trust. Falling in love with Maggie Montgomery, however, was never in his plans.

Despite everyone's effort to keep them apart, the two develop a bond nothing can break--but has Adam truly changed, or will the sins of his past prove too much for Maggie to overcome?

What I Loved...

I have become so accustomed to a focal love story and sometimes hints of another (for the next book), that having a second love story take up so much of a book was a real treat. A double header, two for one, two scoops of goodness...I could get used to that.

Of all the characters in this book (and there are lots) I loved Gabe (the lesser main hero) the most. A confident and flirty firefighter, he was not afraid to go after what he wants.

A Worthy Heart is full of emotion. I laughed and cried. I hardly ever cry for a book, but A Worthy Heart took me there.

What I Liked...

A Worthy Heart is packed full of a lot of plot points. I was never bored because something was always happening to someone or everyone. Mason did a great job making all that was taking place in the story flow easily and believably.

Protagonist Maggie was a real treat to read. She made me laugh and I was rooting for her throughout the book. Not just for her love story, but for her in general.

Other...

The book cover is beautiful. The cover model depicts the Maggie of my imagination.

While this is a stand-alone book, I often felt like I was missing something since I didn't read book one of the series. Although I have read second books in a series without having read the first, I didn't get that "missing info" feeling as much as I did with this one. To be clear, Mason did a great job supplying the main info needed, but it's the small details that make us fall in love with stories and I feel like I am missing that. So my advice is to definitely read book one (Irish Meadows) before reading A Worthy Heart.


Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher through Netgalley. The opinion of this book, is my own and I was not paid or compensated for my review.