Jules Bennett

Terrific enemies to lovers story. Morgan and Ryan have known each other for years and can't be in the same room without finding something to argue about. But underneath their antagonism is a simmering attraction neither wants to admit. Then the night of the TCC Halloween ball (Cinderella Masquerade), each overheard a conversation about the sparks between them and decided that one night together would get it out of their systems.

This book starts a month later with Morgan's discovery that she show more is pregnant with Ryan's baby. She is shocked and overwhelmed by the changes facing her, but she knows she wants the baby. She also knows she must tell Ryan, which won't be easy. Despite their agreement that they were one and done, she hasn't been able to stop thinking about their night together, so she has avoided him. Fate being what it is, Ryan chooses to stop by Morgan's store that day to ask her why she's been dodging him. Like Morgan, Ryan hasn't been able to forget that night either.

Ryan immediately notices something is wrong because she won't look at him. He is persistent and finally gets her to confess that she's pregnant. Ryan's first reaction is that they get married. This goes over like a lead balloon, as Morgan has no interest in marrying anyone. Even though her siblings have all found love, Morgan believes that so-called love fizzles out more often than not. While Ryan proposes marriage, love doesn't enter into it. He was burned years ago and has closed off his heart. He wants a family to pass his ranch on to but prefers a more practical relationship. Morgan is adamant that she will not marry him, while Ryan is determined that she will. He challenges her to move into his home for a month, and if she can walk away at the end of the month, he'll let her go.

I loved watching the relationship between Morgan and Ryan develop. Morgan knows she's risking heartbreak by moving in with Ryan, but she does it anyway, determined to show him she is right. Ryan is equally committed to showing her how good they can be together. Neither can deny their attraction, but Ryan plans to resist the pull. He wants to convince Morgan without using their attraction to overwhelm her objections. For a man who has put love behind him, Ryan has an amazingly romantic nature. I loved his effort in caring for Morgan, making her feel at home in his house, and showing her what they could have together.

I enjoyed seeing Morgan do her best to wreck Ryan's control over his attraction. She wants to enjoy every minute if they're only going to have a month together. Once she succeeds, she realizes that she's made things harder for herself. Between the intimacy and his attention, her heart is in serious jeopardy. She finds herself wanting more than he's willing to give. Can she show him that love will make both their dreams come true? It takes nearly losing her for Ryan to realize she's had his heart all along. I loved his big moment at the end and seeing him open his heart.

The series arc involving Heath Thurston's claim against the Grandin and Lattimore ranches advances significantly in this book. The final report from the private investigator is in, but Heath refuses to take the information lying down. His book is next, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens. show less

Sweet small-town holiday story with a bit of heat and a whole bunch of Christmas spirit. With the death of the town's leading citizen, William Jackson, Violet is wholly in charge of planning this year's Tinsel Tour. Violet is determined that the fiftieth-anniversary tour will be the best ever, especially since a magazine crew is documenting every step. She needs the Jackson mansion because of its importance to the tour. She doesn't need gorgeous but Grinchy Brady Jackson getting in her show more way.

Attorney Brady arrived in Peach Grove on a forced vacation after a public blow-up with another attorney. A workaholic with no idea what to do with his days, Brady intends to clear out the house and put it up for sale as quickly as he can. He doesn't expect a steamroller disguised as an elf to upend his plans.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Brady and Violet. Brady arrived in town exhausted, dejected, and riddled with guilt over not visiting his grandfather as often as he should have. Keeping the old homeplace makes no sense with his busy life in the city but facing the memories steeped in every room increases the guilt and pain. Violet's appearance in all her antler-wearing Christmas perkiness rubbed him the wrong way, and he flat-out refused her plans for the house. I loved his confusion as she rolls right past his objections, and within a couple of days, finds himself agreeing not just to her plans but also to helping her.

Over the next several weeks, Brady and Violet work together to stage his house for the tour. I loved seeing Violet's capacity for fun rub off on Brady. He has been so focused on work for so long that he's forgotten what it is like to enjoy life. I loved seeing Violet bring out that side of him with the help of an adorable puppy and reminders of small-town life. With the amount of time they spend together, it's no wonder that the sparks of attraction between them grow stronger and deepen into something more. Though both of them realize that Brady will return to the city by the New Year, it doesn't stop them from taking advantage of every moment they have together. There were so many fantastic scenes of them together, from stargazing to reading his grandparents' letters, from teasing to kisses, that it was easy to see Brady undergo something of a transformation. Though he's still focused on his return to Atlanta, it's also apparent that Violet and the rest of the town have gotten under his skin. I ached for Violet when he left, her pride keeping her from telling him how she felt. However, Christmas magic being what it is, I loved the ending. Brady's big moment was romantic, emotional, and beautiful.

The secondary characters were fantastic. Violet's best friends, Robin and Simone, were an excellent blend of support and common sense. I loved how the three of them were so determined to breathe life back into their town, though Violet seems to be the engine driving that train. It was fun to see them rein Violet in when she would fade out or get carried away. I would love to see them get their own stories. I also liked Violet's mom. They have an excellent relationship, and the additional activities of planning Lori's wedding added to Violet's life at a dead run vibe. I also loved Brady's kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Brady, who had several sweet scenes with him. show less

Terrific conclusion to the series. Jade was happy to leave her snooty family behind and return to her hometown with her two best friends. She's much happier in Haven than she was in Atlanta. In Haven, Jade teaches yoga and does public relations for the airport that she and the others are renovating. If she butts heads with Cash now and then, well, that keeps life interesting. Cash is one of the pilots and cousin to Jade's best friends' husbands. He is quite the flirt and has a reputation show more with women. Jade isn't too happy when he's the only pilot available to get her to a family wedding, but she'll put up with him if she must.

Engine trouble and a crash landing have Jade seeing a different side of Cash. And when he offers to stand in as her "plus one" for the wedding, she takes him up on it. Cash may not fit in with the rest of the crowd at the wedding, but he has his own set of standards. One thing he doesn't put up with is anyone putting down his friends. When Jade's mother starts in on her, Cash can't stop himself from standing up for her.

I loved the development of the relationship between Jade and Cash. The sparks have been flying between them since the beginning of the series, and in this book they burn out of control. The weekend in Nashville brings those sparks to a head, and the fire between them is nearly out of control. Both of them are shocked by the strength of their passion and agree that what happened in Nashville, stays in Nashville. That doesn't last more than a couple of days after they return to Haven and can't stop thinking about each other. However, neither wants a relationship, nor do they want their friends thinking that something is going on between them, so they agree to keep their time together secret.

There were times I wanted to shake them both. Both have issues that make them hesitant to open their hearts to another person. Jade's recent breakup with a cheating boyfriend has her reluctant to trust another man. Her upbringing has made her wary of strong emotions. Cash was lied to and cheated on by his ex-wife affecting his willingness to trust. Besides Jax and Tanner, the only family Cash has is his alcoholic father, with whom has a difficult relationship. Both of them keep their emotions buttoned-up, reluctant to share those things that show their vulnerabilities. When they feel the other person getting too close, each finds a way to push the other away emotionally though their physical closeness continues to grow. Jade also has trouble believing that anything between them will last, and Cash believes that the gap between them is too wide.

Nothing can stop the feelings that continue to grow between them. I loved Jade's worry over Cash when he got sick, and Cash's appearance at Jade's hot yoga class was a riot. Things move along quite well for them, and Cash is ready to take the next step when trouble appears in the shape of Jade's mother. I ached for Jade, as in her panic, she says things that hurt Cash deeply. Cash's pain was evident as all the dreams he'd been spinning came crashing down. I loved how their friends helped them work through their troubles and see that they belonged together. The ending was sweet and romantic and perfect for both of them.

I liked seeing more of the couples from the previous books, and also from the Monroe brothers series. The relationship between Cash and his cousins is a good one, and their support of each other is terrific. Jade's relationship with her two friends is as close as sisters, and I loved the scenes they had together. There are some funny times as Jade and Cash try to keep their activities secret and their friends stumble on things that make them suspicious. show less

Very good second chance story. Nolan made his first appearance in Twin Secrets, as the oldest of the Elliott men. There's something in his past that gives him the experience to help Colt through his romantic difficulties. In this book we get his story. Ten years earlier, Nolan and Pepper had been young and in love, making plans for a future together. But an unexpected pregnancy followed by a miscarriage drove them apart. Now Pepper is back in town, pregnant with another man's baby.

From the show more moment they meet again, it is obvious that the sparks are still there between them. In the years since they parted, Nolan has dedicated his life to his work with only superficial relationships outside it. He's never forgotten her and his regrets for the way he handled the loss of their baby. Pepper has been drifting through life, looking for her place and purpose in life. With her unexpected pregnancy she has come back to Stone River to rebuild her life. She hadn't expected to run into Nolan so soon, and it's quite a shock to both of them. When her apartment catches fire that night, Nolan happens to be in the area and saves her. His protective instincts kicking in, he steamrollers her into coming home with him that night. But fate isn't done with her yet, and the next day the parents of the baby's father show up, telling her they are going to sue for full custody. I ached for Pepper and her fear of losing this child she wants so much. Nolan can't stand to see her hurting like that and decides that the only way to make amends for the past is to help her now. Pepper doesn't want to accept his help, but doesn't really have any choice if she wants to keep her baby.

I loved the development of their relationship. Nolan has convinced himself he is only helping her because of his guilt over how he had treated her before. And because the attraction is still so strong that he wants her in his bed again. But he doesn't want anything permanent because he's not about to open himself up to that kind of hurt again. He even goes so far as to marry her to ensure that the custody suit goes her way, still insisting that it is only temporary. I loved seeing that, no matter what he says, his feelings are getting involved. There are some really sweet scenes of him doing anything he can to make her happy, from shopping for baby things to indoor picnics. He's also super protective and I loved seeing him take care of her. Pepper is very reluctant to accept his help because she can see herself falling for him all over again. She doesn't want to risk that kind of devastating pain again. I loved watching her try to maintain her independence, reminding herself that it's only temporary. But his care and consideration work their way past her walls, and she can't deny that she's never stopped loving him. When the need for their marriage ends and Pepper leaves, Nolan finally faces the truth about his feelings. I loved his big moment at the end when he finally opens his heart to her.

The family is also a central theme to the story. Though medicine is his calling, being part of the family ranch is a big part of who Nolan is. I liked seeing his bit of envy over Colt and Annabelle's happiness together, reminding him of what he could have had. I loved seeing how quickly Pepper and Annabelle became friends. We also see a bit more of Hayes, the military brother, as Colt and Nolan prepare for his homecoming. The epilogue is a lead-in to his story as we get a glimpse into the pain that is driving him. I can't wait for his book. show less