Susan's Review of The Engagement Embargo by Samantha Chase-- Meet Me At The Altar-#1

Four failed engagements. One year-long hiatus on women.
Elliott Sullivan loves being in love, but after his latest romantic disaster, his friends and family finally put their foot down—no relationships or proposals for at least a year. Ready for his heart not to be squashed under another sexy high-heel, he agrees to fully embrace life as a perpetual bachelor. Which should be easy—especially when he recruits his sister’s best friend for help. Surely he won’t fall for her, no matter how perfect she seems…
Skylar isn’t sorry to see Elliott’s latest relationship go up in flames. She’s had a crush on him for as long as she remembers—not that anything can ever happen there. So when Elliott asks for her help to stop him from breaking his dating embargo, she jumps at the chance. They’ve spent time together before and nothing has come of it. So what could possibly go wrong this time?
Sticking to his embargo would be fine if all this time with Skye wasn’t making Elliott wonder if maybe the perfect girl had been in front of him all along.

Samantha Chase’s The Engagement Embargo is a clever twist to the typical friends to lover’s romance. Being jilted at the altar is Elliott Sullivan’s latest and greatest romantic disaster. Four failed engagements haven’t stopped Elliott from looking for the right person to share his dream of a 4 bedroom house in the suburbs, a dog and 2.5 children.

Samantha Chase creates the perfect blend of compassion, romance and drama in this novel. Elliott Sullivan is a swoony hero who doesn’t realize that his perfect person is his sister’s friend Skylar Jennings. Elliot and Skye’s friendship changes when he asks her to help talk though his failed romances—ALL of them. I loved the honest, emotional conversations that took place between them. The author’s compelling descriptive voice allows the reader to feel Elliot’s pain, confusion and embarrassment and hear Skye’s understanding, calm voice during these conversations.

I loved the chemistry between Skye and Elliott and the relatable conflict in the storyline. Elliott’s family has demanded that he not date for a year –will a friends with benefits relationship work for them? I loved this couple and rooted for their romance from the beginning of the novel.

The Engagement Embargo is well written and captivating. Samantha Chase engages the reader from the first page with her unique take on the friends to lover’s romance. Skye and Elliott’s romance has several twists and turns-this added a lot of depth to the storyline. I loved the romance, the wonderful secondary characters and the relatable conflict in the novel.

If you are looking for a feel good romance with lots of heart—The Engagement Embargo is the book for you!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

Kindle copy purchased through Amazon

 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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Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger - Audio Version

 Confessions on the 7:45

by Lisa Unger

Audio Version

A friend of mine had posted that she wanted to 

read this one on Goodreads. The title and the short

synopsis I found sounded so interesting. I mean,

Confessions on the 7:45. Doesn't the title alone make

you want to check it out? I don't read

mysteries very often. But I just in the mood that day.

My library had the audio version with a long waiting 

list. Which isn't unusual for newer items. But I lucked

out and it was ready for me in no time.

My first time reading Lisa Unger. She certainly wowed me! 

She had a way of introducing the characters that was easy

for me to keep them straight. But I have to say, the time 

perspective changes, back and forth, often, during the story. 

I did not find it hard to follow most of the time. I made a

mental note of particular characters at the beginning. 

There is really no way to write a review with any 

information that doesn't include a  spoiler. 

The story is full of intrigue from the very start. 

You will be compelled to listen so close. You won't

want to miss a single word. 

I loved the story. I believe I will be a continued

Lisa Unger fan. It is 12 1/2 hours listening time. 

So you will for sure get your moneys worth. 
There is not a minute of down time. The story

moves right along. The narration is fabulous. 
Her name is Vivienne Leheny. 

Review by Lisa Hutson

Susan's Review of Dream A Little Dream by Melinda Curtis -Sunshine Valley Series-- #3

A small-town judge meets her match in a rodeo star troublemaker, but soon they may both end up targets of the town's matchmakers in this delightful and heartwarming tale of romance.

Darcy Jones Harper is thrilled to have finally shed her reputation as the girl from the wrong side of the tracks. The people of Sunshine Valley have to respect her now that she’s the new town judge. But when the bad boy who broke her heart back in high school shows up in her courtroom, she realizes maybe things haven’t changed so much after all . . . because her pulse still races at the sight of him.

Jason Petrie wants to make amends for the mistakes of his youth—starting with the woman he never stopped loving. Darcy may not believe that he really intends to quit the bull riding circuit and stick around this time but Jason vows—with the help of the matchmaking Widows Club—to pull out all the stops to convince her that they both deserve a second chance.

Dream A Little Dream by Melinda Curtis is an engaging, small town romance. I loved the characters, the conflict and the author’s voice.

Melinda Curtis has created a great group of characters—the matchmaking Widows Club. These ladies are awesome and their schemes are filled with so much laughter and love—you can’t put down this book!

The Widows Club have decided to reunite Darcy Jones Harper and Jason Petrie. Darcy Jones Harper is doing her best to put her troubled childhood in the past, coping with widowhood and being named interim county judge. Darcy has very little experience practicing law and faces an uphill battle each time she enters the courtroom. Melinda Curtis conveys Darcy’s feelings perfectly. I could connect with her feelings of self-doubt and loved how she emerged from her cocoon.

Jason Petrie is at a crossroads-he’s recovering from an injury and desperately wants a second chance with Darcy. Jason is determined to win Darcy back and he enlists the Widows Club to help him. Melinda Curtis does a fabulous job fleshing out the secondary characters of Iggy and Ken; Jason’s friend and manager. Loved the well written video scenes with Jason, Iggy and Bitsy—these pages are filled with emotion, witty dialogue and provide insight into the characters.

Melinda Curtis is a new-to-me author. Loved the chemistry between Darcy and Jason, their romantic journey and the small town atmosphere. Dream A Little Dream is well written, the characters are engaging and the story is heartwarming. I am looking forward to the next story in this series!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

ARC provided by the publisher

Author Photo credit Sharon Ella

Melinda Curtis is the USA Today bestselling author of light-hearted contemporary romance. In addition to her Sunshine Valley series from Forever, she's published independently and with Harlequin Heartwarming, including her book Dandelion Wishes, which is currently being made into a TV movie.

She lives in California's hot central valley with her hot husband—her basketball-playing college sweetheart. While raising three kids, the couple did the soccer thing, the karate thing, the dance thing, the Little League thing and, of course, the basketball thing.

Between books, Melinda spends time with her husband remodeling their home by swinging a hammer, grouting tile, and wielding a paintbrush with other family members.

Learn more about Dream a Little Dream and read an excerpt HERE!