1.5 stars-- Mistletoe in Texas (Texas Rodeo #5) by Kari Lynn Dell

What an utter disappointment. Both Mistletoe in Texas AND the author herself. Before I get into the review I want to note that after I posted my review to Goodreads last year the author went on her Facebook page complaining and sending readers over to Goodreads to try and manipulate the ratings in order to move my review lower in the ranks as well as having people flag my account. Charming behavior, really. She is no longer on my recommend list even for the books I absolutely adored by her. This is abhorrent behavior by an author and her apology was simply an attempt to cover her ass and bad behavior.

Now the review...

Mistletoe in Texas would be an awesome read...if every single scene with the heroine was eliminated.

4.5 stars-- Trailblazer (Cowboys & Harvey Girls #1) by Anna Schmidt

Oh my! Anna Schmidt never fails at delivering a knock out read that simply captivates.

The Gist: Grace has taken a job out west working as a waitress at a railway restaurant. She wants a little adventure and desperately needs to earn money to help her family back home. She most certainly does not need to get distracted by a pretty cowboy with dreams of his own.

3 stars-- Highland Spitfire (Highland Weddings #1) by Mary Wine

Highland Spitfire landed on my review pile a few, erm, years ago. I loved the cover -- seriously this cover has amazing covers!-- and accepted it. Then realized Mary Wine is the pen name of Dawn Ryder. Who I'd just tried and...did not like... at all. *cue the blogger groan* So it's sat on the review pile for a few years. I finally tackled it. It wasn't knock me over amazing but it wasn't so bad, either! Yay!

The Gist: Rival clans and a King's Regent who's had enough of all the fighting and killing over a stupid generations old grudge. His solution? The Laird's kids are gonna marry. They have no choice. Either they marry at that moment or he's going to slaughter both clans and be done with all of them. So....a wedding. With two very reluctant participants.

3.5 stars-- The One You Fight For (The Ones Who Got Away #3) by Roni Loren

I love me some Roni Loren. She writes the best romances and always has something a bit unique to either the story or series which makes it fun.

The Gist: Taryn's friends have decided she needs some stress relief and have signed her up for an extreme gym course with a sexy instructor. Extreme gym?! *eye twitch* He's a hottie, though. So, okay. Problem, though? They're both connected to a decades old school shooting. One a victim of a shooter, one the brother of the killer. So, yes, things get complicated.

4 stars-- Cowboy SEAL Christmas (Navy SEAL Cowboys #3) by Nicole Helm

Sometimes the ones with the biggest smiles are the ones hiding the most hurt and pain. Cowboy SEAL Christmas tugged at the heart, yall. Whew boy!

The Gist: Gabe is not fond of therapists. That the foundation he's co-building to help military veterans has an on site therapist..irksome to say the least. That she's got a cool kid and is a great mom and is scorching hot...yeah. Color him real annoyed. And, dammit, tempted. Even if she's all about Christmas cheer and he's got a whole Grinch thing going on. lol

4 stars-- The One You Can't Forget (The Ones Who Got Away #2) by Roni Loren

Goodness. The One You Can't Forget was a fabulous time. Emotionally charged, passionate, tinged with humor and hope. I enjoyed it thoroughly but that's to be expected from Loren. The woman just gives good book.

The Gist: A chance encounter during a mugging changes...everything. 

3 stars-- Fearless in Texas (Texas Rodeo #4) by Kari Lynn Dell

Fearless in Texas. So, yeah. The hero... isn't a cowboy. And the book takes place... in Oregon. So, the cover is a bit special this time. Hot but, erm, yeah, okay. lol

The Gist: Melanie needs to escape town after shit hits the fan and winds up agreeing to put her professional skills to use saving Wyatt's floundering bar. The two have kind of been at odds but both needing each other in different ways agree to work together... for now.

4 Stars-- The Rancher (Where the Trail Ends #4) by Anna Schmidt

Goodness but Schmidt knows how to rip a girls heart out. Yall. The Rancher's not a light and fluffy historical romance but one full of grit, pain, hope, endurance. Characters with strength and conviction. And others who struggle to do what's right. Hard choices are made. Friendships lost. Lives changed forever. It's one heck of a read.

The Gist: There's a war brewing between cattle and sheep ranchers who will go to any lengths to win the land be it murder, raids, burning homes. Times are dark but Trey has a hope he can bring everyone together and find a way to peacefully coexist. Even if it means a marriage of convenience to a widow of one of the sheep farmers.

[QuoteTastic] 3 stars-- Test Drive (Body Shop Bad Boys #1) by Marie Harte

I do love when books have good solid friendships included. This was the heroine and her best friend having a little boy chat. Had me smirking...

Oh. Hero is a mechanic.

[QuoteTastc] 4 stars-- The Cowboy Who Came Calling (Texas Heroes #2) by Linda Broday

Linda Broday has my number, yall. Her books are just lovely and always touching with just a little humor added in now and again.

This scene had me laughing because I was SO with the hero on this one. lol Big ol nope!

4 stars-- Cowboy SEAL Homecoming (Navy SEAL Cowboys #1) by Nicole Helm

A group of wounded SEALs, a sheltered cowgirl, a sassy goat and whole heap of 'what the fuck are we doing'. Yeah, Cowboy SEAL Homecoming was one dang fine read.

The Gist: When Alex's career as a SEAL came to an abrupt end he decided to return to the family ranch he and his step sister had inherited. The plan? Turn the ranch into a retreat for returning military members and, well, try like hell to ignore the damn pesky attraction zinging between them, too.

4 stars-- Earl Interrupted (The Daring Marriages #2) by Amanda Forester [QuoteTastic]

Oh my, yall. I loved this book! I've got a real cute quote today.

There's some serious make a girl swoon sweetness happening here. The hero's recovering from a gun shot that nearly killed him and they're walking on the cliffs together. He's not great at the whole woo-ing thing and they'd talked a bit back about why his attempts had failed with other women and she'd given him some advice. Anywho...

4 stars-- The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren #QuoteTastic

I was ALL over this Roni Loren when I saw it. I actually read it back in, erm, August. Yeah.

And it was quite unique. The series connection? Kids who survived a school shooting and are coming back together a decade later.

I have a couple quotes because I just couldn't decide! lol

4 stars-- Wolf Hunger (SWAT #7) by Paige Tyler

I don't read paranormal much these days. I totally burnt myself out on it pre-blog. But there are two exceptions. Jennifer Ashley and Paige Tyler. Damn but these ladies can write!

Tyler and her SWAT werewolves...yes! So good, yall.

So this scene things are getting steamy between the two and I had to bust out laughing. Totally tickled me.

4 stars-- To Marry a Texas Outlaw (Men of Legend #3) by Linda Broday

Broday has me hooked. I'm enjoying this family. Their honor, their strength, even their stubbornness. These men are something else. That's for sure.

The Gist: Luke's an outlaw trying to go straight but before he can accept being part of his newfound family he's got it in his head he needs to right all his past wrongs and, well, clear his name for a murder he didn't commit. And in the process of driving his family crazy with "I can do it myself" stubbornness he picks up a woman who's lost her memory, a kid, a dog and a kitten. And a whole herd of trouble hounding his heels.

4 stars-- To Love a Texas Ranger (Men of Legend #1) by Linda Broday

Soo. Yall know I don't read blurbs. And for a while I kept thinking oh please be a menage!

"Weston, tell me this: Why were you on the train?"

"Wanted to make sure you got home. Knew you were still struggling, that you couldn't do your job. In the months of you chasing me and having to use all my wits to stay free... I don't know... I guess a bond of some sort or another formed. The chase became the game."

It certainly hadn't been a game to Sam. But Luke was right about growing close. Something deeper ran between them. "You noticed it too? The bond, I mean?"

"Yep." Luke licked his dry lips.  

I mean, seriously!! Tell me. Would you be thinking...mmhm. We're gonna have some historical naughtiness right here. lol But, yeah, no. Totally innocent on that front. Heh. Anywho...

4 stars-- Knight on the Texas Plains (Texas Heroes #1) by Linda Broday

Well I'll be adding more of Linda Broday's books to my wishlist. Knight on the Texas Plains... total book goodness.

The Gist: Since his wife's death Duel has given up on life. He's got nothing to live for until one night changes everything and his hands are suddenly full of a whole heap of female he needs to pull his shit together for--a tiny baby girl no one wants and an injured woman with secrets to hide. His only plan? Head back to his family ranch and start trying to heal not just himself but two women who are just as broken and wounded as he is and counting on him.

QuoteTastic/Review-- Tougher in Texas (Texas Rodeo #3) by Kari Lynn Dell

Can I just quote the whole damn book? Ahh! I had SUCH a hard time choosing just a couple for todays. I'm seriously loving Kari Lynn Dell and her cowboys. They're funny and sexy and just so damn good. Anyway. This heroine and I were in total agreement on this one...

4 stars--The Outlaw (Where the Trail Ends #3) by Anna Schmidt

The Outlaw was everything I love about Schmidt's book-- a little danger, a little intrigue, characters that feel real and are endearing even in their flaws. The heart and will to endure, flourish and go after what you really want in life. They're just fantastic reads that'll sweep you away and into the lives of the characters she brings to life. Honestly, Schmidt never fails to deliver a knock out romance.

The quick of The Outlaw is that Amanda has been craving adventure and she's finally getting her chance to spread her wings and do something different-- moving to Tuscon and teaching. She might be going into that second bit reluctantly but adventure is calling her something fierce. And the temptation of one of her fellow boarders--who might be on the wrong side of the law-- is just as alluring.

3 stars-- My Highland Rebel (Highland Trouble #2) by Amanda Forester

My Highland Rebel. Okay so Cormac's daddy is basically the devil and terrorizes the lands and wants Core to follow in his footsteps which is so not Core's plan. But he flubs up and finds himself needing to outwit his dad and save a pretty girl, her people, a herd of monks and a stash of books--without her realizing who he really is.