BRAWLER by Keira Blackwood

Title:  BRAWLER
Series:  Protectors of the Pack #6
Author:  Keira Blackwood
Publisher:  Keira Blackwood
Publish Date:   01.18.2021
Category /Genre:  Paranormal Romance
Recommended for:  18+ due to sexual content
Grammar/editing:  received as an unedited ARC / errors excused
Received from:  Keira Blackwood
Goodreads link: Brawler
Date completed: 01.07.2021
 
Description from the publisher:
I’m a soldier without a war, fighting to feel anything but numb.
The MC is gone. I should have left with them, but I couldn’t.
Because she stayed.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been in love with my friend Shaundra.
But I can never have her.
She chose my brother, not me. And shifters mate for life.
I’ll never know the feel of her in my arms or the taste of her on my lips.
She’ll never accept me as the protector and provider for her and her kids.
It doesn’t matter that it’s hopeless--I’ll never choose another.
I’ll never leave her.
Shaundra is my mate.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BRAWLER is the sixth book in the Protectors of the Pack series.  While reading the series in order adds to the story, you can read Brawler as a standalone. 
 
A wonderful emotional journey for Shaundra to realize what Brick/Brawler has always known.  His brother’s widow was always his mate.  Because of the past circumstances, this becomes a second chance and friends-to-lovers romance.  A very satisfying romance.
 
The children – and the dog – stole my heart.  Sweetness, a bit of silliness, and humor injected!

 
There is a great suspense story as Brick protects not only Shaundra and the girls, but also his community of shifters.
 
This is the first book I have read in the series and I loved this family.  The story did stand alone without problem, but I would love to read more of these characters.
 
Note:  While I received this book as a gifted ARC via Booksprout, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
 
Protectors of the Pack series:
1.      Bodyguard
2.      Enemies
3.      Heir
4.      Warrior
5.      Scoundrel
6.      Brawler
Also from Keira Blackwood:
·         Dragon Ever After
·         Hope Reclaimed
·         Howl for the Holidays
·         Orphan Entangled
·         Revenge
·         Stolen Moments
·         Wild Atonement
Alphas & Alchemy: Elemental Shifters series (with Eva Knight):
1.      Dragon Guardian of Land
2.      Wolf Warrior of Land
3.      Dragon Guardian of Water
4.      Bear Warrior of Water
5.      Dragon Guardian of Wind /Fire
Alphas & Alchemy: Fierce Mates Series:
1.      Claimed in Forbidden
2.      Fated in Forbidden
3.      Bound to Forbidden
4.      Caught in Forbidden  
5.      Mated in Forbidden
1.      Forever in Forbidden
6.      Destined in Forbidden  
Midlife Magic in Marshmallow Series:
1.      Sweatpants and Spells
Protectors Quick Bites Series (with Eva Knight):
1.      Midnight Wish
2.      I Dream of Grizzly
3.      The Ocean’s Roar
4.      To Catch a Werewolf
5.      Outfoxed
6.      Tactics and Tails
Protectors of Riverwood Series:
1.      Grizzly Bait
2.      Grizzly Mate
3.      Grizzly Fate
Protectors of Sawtooth Peaks Series:
1.      Running to the Pack
2.      Defending the Pack
3.      Uniting the Pack
Protectors Unlimited Series:
1.      Can’t Prove Shift
2.      Suave as Shift
3.      In Deep Shift
Vampires of Scarlet Harbor Series:
1.      Pierced
2.      Hunted
3.      Ruled
Spellbound Sisters Series:
1.      Oracle Defiant
Spellbound Souls Series:
0.5  Dragon Forgotten
1.      Dragon Shattered
2.      Dragon Unbroken
3.      Dragon Reborn
 

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SOUTHERN CHARM by K.C. Crowne

Title:  SOUTHERN CHARM

Series:  Rainbow Canyon #5

Author:  K.C. Crowne

Publisher:  K.C. Crowne

Publish Date:  07.07.2020

Category /Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Recommended for:  18+ due to sexual content

Grammar/editing:  received as an unedited ARC / errors excused

Received from:  K.C. Crowne

Goodreads link: Southern Charm

Date completed: 07.08.2020

Description from the publisher:

A little girl was dropped on my doorstep.
And, this wild cowboy became a father overnight.

I’ve seen a lot in my life.
But nothing prepared me for fatherhood.
El is just five and she has my stubborn streak.
H*ll, a man with my history isn't meant to raise another human.

Samantha is my only saving grace.
But here I am, both excited and troubled by the feelings the beauty stirs up.
Smart, caring, and hot enough to melt my cold heart.
I need to look after my baby girl and run my family ranch - not fall hard for my kids' teacher.

But when Sam's past follows her into my home,
I'm forced to fight for my family's safety and the best thing that's happened to me in a long time.
I'll protect Sam -and the secret miracle in her womb.
-------
This is a standalone single dad, cowboy romance and a part of my Rainbow Canyon Cowboys series. Each book can be read as a standalone. Transport yourself into the charming family ranch in Texas, as we follow five rugged cowboys in their quests to find lasting love.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

SOUTHERN CHARM is the fifth book in the Rainbow Canyon series.  Though this is the fifth in a five-part series, and I hadn’t read any of the others, I was not at all lost.  On the other hand, I want the other brothers (and their girls)!  I mean, ahem, I want their stories. 

This story is all about who you *choose* to call family – in addition to the ones that love you through your blood bond.  Chance, Samantha (Sam), and Ellie didn’t set out to be a family.  Chance didn’t know he was a father until his daughter was already five years old.  Ellie isn’t used to living on a ranch, she misses her mother and her grandparents, and now this strange man says he’s her dad.  Sam is just looking to start over after an emotionally abusive relationship that had all the signs of becoming physically abusive as well. 

What starts out as a nannying position, becomes a case of one + one + one equals one heart… one bachelor dad, plus one nanny on the run, plus one little girl struggling to figure out where she fits in equals one family.  This contemporary romance doesn’t exist without the child because she is the reason Chance and Sam were brought together.  Luckily, Sam is the practically perfect in every way type of nanny that they needed.  She is disciplined, but fun-loving, adventurous, and compassionate.  I was a nanny.  I modeled Mary Poppins, but I think Sam did it better!

Though I have been receiving Ms. Crowne’s newsletter for a couple of months, this is the first book I have had the opportunity to put on my review schedule.  I’m not letting MONTHS go by again.  I will be back with Untamed Cowboy – I already have it downloaded and ready to read.

Note:  While I received this book as a gifted ARC via Booksprout, my opinions are my own and are given freely.

Rainbow Canyon Cowboy Series:

1.      Untamed Cowboy

2.      Taboo Cowboy

3.      Cowboy’s Baby

4.      Her Cowboy Daddies

5.      Southern Charm

Also from Author:

·         Her Mountain Brothers

·         Her Protector

·         Knocked Up by Daddy’s Best Friend

·         Mistletoe Surprise

·         Mountain Man’s Secret Baby

·         Never Over You

·         Second Chance for the Mountain Man

Bearded Brothers Mountain Man Series:

1.      Her Mountain Daddy

2.      Beauty and the Beard

3.      Bride and the Beard

4.      Built and Bearded

5.      The Gentleman

Big Bad Daddies Series:

1.      Big Bad Daddy

2.      Big Bad Doctor

3.      Big Bad Taboo Daddy

4.      Big Bad Prince

5.      Big Bad Mountain Man

6.      Big Bad SEAL

7.      Big Bad Boss

8.      Big Bad Sugar Daddy

9.      Big Bad Mountain Brothers

Endless Daddies Series:

1.      Doctor Daddy 

2.      Taboo Daddy

3.      Royally Damaged

4.      Boss Man

5.      Knocked Up by My Brother’s Best Friend

Firemen of Manhattan Series:

1.      Big Bad Fireman's Baby

2.      Big Bad Firefighter

3.      Big Bad Fire Daddy

Mountain Men of Liberty Series:

1.      Baby for the Mountain Man 

2.      Junior for the Mountain Man

3.      Knocked Up by the Mountain Man

4.      Baby for Daddy's Best Friend

5.      Triplets for the Mountain Man

6.      Taken by the Mountain Man

7.      Mountain Man's Secret Baby

8.      Mountain Man's Accidental Surprise

Mountain Protectors Series:

1.      The Storm

Spenser Sisters Series:

1.      Men on a Mission

2.      Christmas with Four Firemen

3.      Dirty Cowboys

 

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A SUMMER OF SURPRISES by Judith Keim

Title:  A SUMMER OF SURPRISES

Series:  Seashell Cottage # 3

Author:  Judith Keim 

Publisher:  Judith Keim

Publish Date:   06.23.2020

Category /Genre:  Sweet Romance, Contemporary 

Recommended for:  16+

Grammar/editing:  received as an unedited ARC / errors excused

Received from:  Judith Keim

Goodreads link: A Summer of Surprises

Date completed: 06.16.2020

Description from the publisher:

Jill Conroy is tricked by her sister into becoming the housekeeper and cook for the summer at Seashell Cottage where Greg Campbell and his nephew, Brody, have been hired to do maintenance projects on the house. Annoyed at first, Jill soon realizes how wonderful it is to be away from her home in New York and the memories of her deceased, emotionally abusive husband.

Soon the magic of the beach heals Jill enough for her to decide to move to Florida permanently to make a new life for herself. Her part-time work at a summer camp and the promise of a new job as a third-grade teacher in the fall make it seem as if her future is set. But a visit from her sister, followed by her mother, reveals secrets that surprise them all. Jill learns to accept the idea of love not only from Brody but from his daughter, Kacy, as the summer brings even more surprises.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

A SUMMER OF SURPRISES is the third book in the Seashell Cottage series.  Each is a stand-alone sweet romance that takes place at the Seashell Cottage on Florida’s beautiful Gulf Coast.

The oldest child sets the example, is the peacemaker, and is bookish.  The baby of the family is cute, flighty, and coddled.  This develops sibling rivalry in their younger years and if not addressed it can stunt their adult relationships with one another and with their parents… Oh, boy do I relate with this!  I am the oldest of three.  I’m just glad I made friends with my siblings before they earned their wings.

This story was such a joy to read as Jill gained the confidence she needed to be able to tell people about the past she had lived and the future she wanted.  She became the person that made her happy so that she could make others happy.  

In the beginning her sister is shown as manipulative, but even she grows by the end of the book; I’m glad of that.  Perhaps a future book will show more of her journey.  The seeds have been planted, and it could be a good harvest.

Note:  While I received this book as a gifted ARC via Booksprout, my opinions are my own and are given freely.

Seashell Cottage Series:

1.      A Christmas Star

2.      Change of Heart 

3.      A Summer of Surprises 

4.      Beach Babes (coming summer 2021)

Also from Judith Keim:

·         Summer in Mossy Creek (Mossy Creek #3)

·         Winning Big

Beach House Hotel series:

1.      Breakfast at the Beach House

2.      Lunch at the Beach House

3.      Dinner at the Beach House

4.      Christmas at the Beach House

Chandler Hill Inn series:

1.      Going Home

2.      Coming Home 

3.      Home at Last 

Fat Fridays Group series:

1.      Fat Fridays

2.      Sassy Saturdays

3.      Secret Sundays

The Hartwell Women series:

1.      The Talking Tree

2.      Sweet Talk

3.      Straight Talk

4.      Baby Talk

Salty Key Inn series:

1.      Finding Me

2.      Finding My Way

3.      Finding Love

4.      Finding Family

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