Stacey Joy Netzel

Halli has finally made it to Italy, after a long-planned vacation. She is obsessive about planning all details, much to the dismay of her brother and sister. Her planning, though, is a coping mechanism to hide the vulnerability left over from her childhood. Things quickly go awry, and Halli is left altering plan after plan when the truly villainous baddies realize she's seen something she shouldn't.
Trent wears the guise of the all-American playboy actor, but the parts he plays on screen and show more in real life, hide his own vulnerability. He's trying to make sense of his brother's suicide (or was it murder?) when he is thrown together with Halli.
With bullets flying and tempers flaring, can Halli and Trent find the truth? Can they both survive this Italian vacation?
Both Halli and Trent were well-developed characters. They stayed in character, and were amazingly real. I just adore books where you can relate to the characters, even when you have little in common with them. You could see how their pasts colored their actions, how their coping strategies kept everyone at arms' length, kept their worlds safe and orderly.
I liked this book more than I thought I would. It really did read like an action movie, with the story hopping right along. There was enough excitement and danger to keep me flipping pages long past my bedtime, and the romantic development seemed natural rather than cheesy. show less

Sometimes Kindle freebies are like a box of chocolates...you never know what you're going to get. But every once in a while, you reach in a select a piece of rich dark chocolate with a nougat center that makes the search worthwhile. A Fair to Remember is that coveted piece. The item description offers a glimpse into the second chapter that sets the stage for this interesting romance perfectly, so I won't try to summarize the plot. The characters truly make this story outstanding. Who would show more have thought a psychotic Great Dane (named Sugar, coincidentally) could be so entertaining...and bring about the romance between Wes and Tara? Wes is a great male lead. He has that irresistible "bad boy" quality, but he's turned his life around and is absolutely Prince Charming. Tara, on the other hand, is getting her signals mixed. She's really a good girl who thinks Wes is looking for a bad girl. Between a lactose intolerant dog and Tara's airbrushed tattoos, you will be laughing out loud. The romance is not lacking in this short read. One problem with its brevity is the lack of more development between Tara and Will. Although they share an instant attraction that develops quickly into a deep connection, what we do read is tender and well-drawn. I love how Wes stands up to her intimidating family to fight for her, and I'm guessing you'll love it, too. I can't wait to read the rest in this series! show less

I LOVED MAE AND MERIT'S STORY! Two broken people in the eye's of their family as they struggled for acceptance. First. Mae supported her out of work boyfriend who left her when she said that she was pregnant and once Ian was born he signed all of his rights away! That was six years ago before she started her own construction crew. Then, she attended her best friend's wedding and with too much to drink she ended up in a one night stand with the biggest womanizer of the Diamond family! I loved show more that Mae had the determination to make something of herself. I felt so sorry for Merit when his dad cut off his funds in order to force him to grow up and to be a man by getting a job. It had been years since he got an engineering degree, and he learned the hard way that he needed experience too. I can't wait to read the next in the Diamond series!! show less

Nice little Christmas in July novella. Single parent Marissa unexpectedly ends up chaperoning her daughter's class trip to the zoo when some of the other parents don't show up. Part way through the trip another girl's dad shows up, late. Marissa is attracted to him, but believes he is still married to Reece's mother and is put off by his flirting. Eric is also attracted to Marissa and would like to get to know her better. He is confused by her cold attitude toward him.

Both Marissa and Eric show more have some issues that affect their initial attitudes toward each other. Marissa judges Eric based on her experiences with her ex, who tends to blow off his commitments to his daughter. His late arrival and some things she overhears make her believe that Eric isn't really committed to his relationship with his daughter. Meanwhile, Eric sees Marissa dressed in business clothes and high heels for a trip to the zoo and thinks she's like his ex-wife, who always dressed to attract attention.

It doesn't take too long for them to straighten out their misconceptions. Their caution was understandable given their previous experiences. Once things were made clear, it was fun to see them connect. Eric's rescue of Heather put him in a better light, and then his care for Marissa when she hurt her ankle got them even closer. Marissa was cautious but couldn't deny the interest she felt.

I loved the way "Santa Butch" was there to move things along. Not only did he provide a way for Eric to provide care for Marissa's ankle, he also added a little mistletoe to encourage their first kiss. I also liked the way he encouraged Eric to continue his pursuit after the zoo trip was over.

I loved seeing the two little girls together and how they contributed to the development of the romance. I loved the scene at Eric's house that evening with Eric and the toad - showed just how much he enjoyed being a dad.

Even though the entire story took place over just one day, it was easy to see that they would want to continue to explore their newfound relationship. I liked the epilogue with the progress report, and the bonus appearance of "Santa Butch" and company was great. show less