Susan's Review of Rescue After Dark: A Gansett Island Novel by Marie Force

They've both been unlucky in love. Is their luck about to change?

Reality TV star Jordan Stokes is taking time to figure out her next move—tucked away from prying eyes in her grandmother's home on Gansett Island with her identical twin sister, Nikki. Eastward Look is the perfect place to heal and regroup. It's not lost on her that her sister was busy falling in love with Riley McCarthy while Jordan's world and marriage were falling apart in front of an audience of millions.

Fire Chief Mason Johns might put out flames for a living, but the fitness buff firefighter with a god-like body sure knows how to heat things up. When he locks lips with the island's newest resident during a rescue, he feels an undeniable spark that he can't ignore—no matter how hard he tries. The recovering alcoholic has had his fair share of bad relationships, but Jordan could be a game changer.

He saved her life… but she just might rescue him right back.

The summer is heating up as we take the ferry back to Gansett Island for another story about love and redemption and second chances. Catch up with series favorites, including Blaine, Mallory and Quinn, Luke and Sydney and of course, Mac and Maddie McCarthy.

While on a mountain bike ride, Gansett Island Fire Chief Mason Johns observes smoke and flames coming from a nearby house. Mason rescues reality TV-star Jordan Stokes from a fire in her grandmother’s home. Something unusual passes between the couple when Mason performs mouth- to- mouth resuscitation on Jordan. Marie Force gives Mason and Jordan an immediate, almost magical connection and this drew me into the story immediately.

Mason Johns and Jordan Stokes have been featured in other storylines in the series. I was intrigued by the pairing of the tall, workaholic, sexy fire chief with the reality TV-star.

During the summer months, the island is invaded by tourists and summer residents which tax the island’s police and fire departments. The added work-related stress adds to Mason’s workload. As a recovering alcoholic, he struggles with his sobriety every day. To keep himself on track he chooses to attend daily AA meetings with Quinn and Mallory (Light After Dark) and has a rigorous exercise program. I am glad that Marie Force continued the Mason, Quinn and Mallory storyline in this novel. The three friends understand the challenges of staying sober and support each other.

Jordan Stokes has escaped to her family’s home on Gansett Island. Her life is a nightmare. Brendan, her rapper husband, released a video of the two of them having sex. Brendan’s fans blame her for his arrest for domestic abuse, her reality TV show is in limbo and Brendan is refusing to sign divorce papers. She’s not looking for a relationship as her life is based in Los Angeles. Marie Force provides more details about Nikki and Jordan’s complicated childhood in this story—this helped me understand Jordan’s struggles.

Rescue After Dark is a fast-paced character driven novel with all the feels. Mason and Jordan’s journey is emotional and heart breaking at times. I loved the connection between the sexy fire fighter and the reality TV star and was cheering for them from the beginning of the book. Loved that the couple brought out the best in each other. Maintaining sobriety, dealing with stress and domestic abuse are woven into both this novel. Mac McCarthy is coping with work related stress and family pressures, too. Mac and Maddie McCarthy, Luke and Sydney Harris and Big Mac and Ned are featured in the story.

If you are looking for a feel good read that’s all about love, friendship and second chances – then Rescue after Dark is the perfect book for you!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

Book purchased through Amazon

Marie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance, romantic suspense and erotic romance. Her series include Gansett Island, Fatal, Treading Water, Butler Vermont and Quantum.

Her books have sold nearly 10 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller more than 30 times. She is also a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller, as well as a Speigel bestseller in Germany.

Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news.

Susan's Review of Can't Fight This Feeling by Claire Hastings

From debut author, Claire Hastings, comes a fresh, fun, romance where having a crush on your best friend isn't the biggest secret at the Indigo Royal! 

For as long as Kyle Egan can remember, he has wanted only one thing: to run his own boat charter company. Not that he has much to complain about, as the lead charter boat captain at the Indigo Royal Resort in St. Thomas USVI. He gets to spend his days out on the water, never has to wear a tie, and works alongside his best friend, Drea Miller, who happens to be the only other thing he wants.

Drea Miller has been crushing on her best friend Kyle since the moment she saw him five years ago. Unfortunately, she is fully aware that he doesn’t see her as more than a friend— oh, and the niece of his bosses. Working for the family-owned resort with her three annoyingly overprotective uncles has always been what she wanted, but lately she’s started to wonder what else life might hold. If she can't have the guy she wants, maybe it’s time that she makes another dream a reality.

Tourists choose the Indigo Royal Resort for its all-inclusive amenities. Located in the Virgin Islands, the high- end resort offers snorkeling, catamaran excursions and miles of private beaches. The luxurious setting and the friends to lovers romance drew me into Claire Hastings' novel Can’t Fight This Feeling immediately.

Andrea Miller and Kyle Eagan are employees of the resort; not guests. Drea enjoys working at the Indigo Royal; her family’s resort and has been a little bit in love with Kyle for years. She would love to add a spa to the resort but, doesn’t think her uncles would take her suggestion seriously. Kyle dreams of owning his own boat and his own company. He’s finding it hard to avoid his feelings for Drea as he’s been crushing on her since the day they met! I loved that Drea and Kyle had a solid relationship at the beginning of the story and that both of them wanted more than friendship. Loved that Dalton pushed the couple together

The author chose to use the third person voice in the story. I enjoyed this viewpoint as it enabled the reader to relate to the two main characters because each character voiced their thoughts, feeling and actions. Claire Hasting’s descriptive writing style lends perfectly to this story—as a reader I felt that I was on vacation. Loved the poignant scene when Drea and Kyle visit the church where Drea’s parents were married. Drea opens up to Kyle and he tells her: “I want all of you, Drea ,that includes the tears.”

Claire Hasting’s debut novel has interesting characters, a storyline filled with secrets and a sensuous romance. Loved that the secondary characters were well developed and I am looking forward to Dalton’s adventure. Secrets are revealed when the couple returns home from their weekend getaway…and these secrets impact all of the characters. The story’s conclusion is fabulous- and just perfect for this couple.

If you are looking for a tropical island getaway—escape with Claire Hastings Can’t Fight This Feeling! Put an umbrella in your drink and settle in for a fabulous read!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

ARC provided by the Author

Claire Hastings is a walking, talking awkward moment. She loves Diet Coke, gummi bears, the beach, and books (obvs). When not reading she can usually be found hanging with friends at a soccer match or grabbing food (although she probably still has a book in her purse). She and her husband Drew live in Atlanta with their fur-child Denali.

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Susan's review of Wrong Turn by Samantha Chase-Road Tripping #2

Chelsea Cooper thinks her best friend’s fiancé is the world’s biggest jerk.
There’s just no way she can let her best friend make the biggest mistake of her life by marrying him. She’ll do anything to stop the wedding, even if it means teaming up with the one person who’s an even bigger jerk—the groom-to-be’s best friend.

Drew Russo thinks his best friend’s fiancée’s best friend is the prickliest woman alive.
Everything about Chelsea aggravates him. She’s too structured, too uptight, and too opinionated—especially when it comes to her thoughts on his best friend. Drew is tasked with keeping her away from their best friends’ secret wedding.
The plan is simple enough—keep Chelsea from interfering with the wedding. But between distractions, delays and detours, they discover they aren’t the enemies they thought they were. And sometimes a wrong turn can lead you in the right direction.

Add WRONG TURN to your TBR!

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Chelsea Cooper and Drew Russo meet every Friday night with a group of friends for drinks. Chelsea’s best friend, Bianca is engaged to Drew’s best friend Jimmy—so they see each other frequently. And they don’t get along; not even a little bit. He thinks she’s boring because all she does is talk about her job as a book narrator. Chelsea thinks Drew is obnoxious. Things heat up when Chelsea finds out that Bianca and Jimmy plan to elope and Drew is tasked with keeping Chelsea from ruining the wedding.

Drew and Chelsea decide to fly to the destination wedding venue. Loved that Drew made so many wrong turns to the local airports that the couple was forced to drive to South Carolina. I enjoyed the couples banter—they really couldn’t stand each other. And, they were going to be stuck in Drew’s car for two days! This plot choice made for a fun read. Loved the road trip snack stops and conversations. Loved the scene when Chelsea decides to conquer her fear of bridges by driving over a 17 mile bridge! Samantha Chase does a fabulous job with this scene as Drew talks a truly petrified Chelsea through the drive. That’s when I realized Drew was one of the good guys and that he and Chelsea had chemistry.

Both Chelsea and Drew realized that they let their friends influence their opinions of one and other. Their relationship changes as they drive toward their destination. I liked that Drew was on a mission to get to know Chelsea on his own terms.

Samantha Chase’s Road Tripping series is different from her other contemporary book series—it focusses completely on the couple and their road trip destination. The down to earth banter between the couple kept me reading -it was so spot on and relatable. I loved that the author dealt with Chelsea’s friendship with Bianca. It’s hard to admit and accept that a longtime friend—isn’t really your friend. Wrong Turn is a sexy romance between two people who weren’t looking for love. An unexpected road trip provides Chelsea and Drew with the opportunity to get to know each other on their own terms.

Samantha Chase’s Wrong Turn is a fun, flirty, sexy opposites attract romance. It’s the perfect read during the #StayAtHome lockdown! You will fall in love with Drew and Chelsea as they navigate through several roadblocks during their journey. And watch for the grand gesture-it’s pure Samantha Chase.

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

ARC provided by author

Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than forty titles under her belt!

When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.


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