Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 294 - More Than a Phoenix by Ashlyn Chase, Why Not Tonight by Susan Mallery

More Than a Phoenix by Ashlyn Chase
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

While the problems the characters have are serious the tone of the book is very light hearted. That is a combination that is hard to do but Ashlyn Chase handles it with ease. I loved both of the Phoenix Shifters. They were strong but very opened minded. The added paranormal characters added interest to the story line. They all had so many secrets and all were needed to solve the problems in the story. This is book two in the series but works well as a stand alone.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Why Not Tonight by Susan Mallery
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Natalie Kaleta arrived in Happily as a left at the alter bride and decided to stay. Ronan Mitchell came to get away from the family that kept an important secret from him. Natalie turns lemons into lemonade. Ronan broods. Not a good mix but of course in the third book about Happily they end up together but not until Ronan comes to terms with the secret and the people who kept it. A nice romance with some fun moments. It follows the story line of the previous books but is still a good read.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 142 - Way Station by Clifford D. Simak, Krinar's Desire by Cara Bristol, Second Chance Girl by Susan Mallery

Way Station by Clifford D. Simak
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In 1977 Clifford Simak became the third Grand Master of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. His book Way Station was written in 1963 and is still revenant today. In the book we follow Enoch, how is the stationmaster for a Way Station on Earth. He know what is out in the universe but other people on Earth do not. He feels that life will continue for him for years but then something unexpected happens putting the station at risk. A interesting take on humans and how we act. The book has held up through ages and is still a good read today.

Krinar’s Desire by Cara Bristol
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I purchased this because I like Cara Bristol's books. This is the first time to read any of the Krinar series and I did enjoy it. I liked Caitlyn Meadows. She is a hard working woman trying to make her way is a world that has not always treated her well. I had mixed feeling about Arak, the Krinar. He was very bossy. He wanted Caitlyn but he did try not to rush her. It was heavy on sex while doing a good job of presenting the world building that had already been done in other stories. It also did a good job on back story. It worked OK as a standing alone and left me curious about other stories set in the Krinar world.


Second Chance Girl by Susan Mallery
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mathias Mitchell is a one night stand kind of guy. Carol Lund is off limits as she is a keeper. The two are friends but it turns out Mathias is more into Carol than he thought. Mathias is one of the twins who it turns out are not twins and he is still suffering from the withdrawal of his brother. We get more of the drama around the Mitchell family but Carol finally convinces Mathias that she is not like others in his life. She is not giving up on him and she is not leaving. There are two love stories in the book as both Carol and her sister find their HEA. Neither have a easy time and that makes for a very good read. While there is a wedding in book two it just provides the framework for the two love stories. Oh and the giraffe plays an important part in the story and gets her happy ending too. In her case it does not involve a male.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 133 - You Say It First by Susan Mallery, Calling the Change by Michelle Diener, Breaking the Admiral by Ella Drake

You Say It First by Susan Mallery
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A great start, a wonderful ending and a lot of fun in-between - that is You Say It First, the first book in the Happily Inc. series by Susan Mallery. There are characters from her Fool's Gold series and on is the main male characters in this book. There is a lot of backstory in the first part of the book. It slowed the plot down but everything speeded up after that. I loved the setting, the town and the side characters. Sculptor Nick Mitchell and Pallas Saunders are great characters. Their interaction is spot. Both saying they do not want forever but we know best. Happily, Inc is a nice quirky town with a lot of room for new stories and new characters.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


Calling The Change by Michelle Diener
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I felt like most of Calling the Change was filler for the next book in the series but it still was entertaining. Garek has rescued Taya only to lose her again. This time to someone on their own planet. They still have one sky machine and enemies want both it and Taya. Most of the story follows Garek as he tries to catch up with the people who took Taya. The Sky Raiders are still around and Garek realizes that no one will be safe until they are defeated. That does not happen in this book but the ground is set for Garek and friends to try in book three. Once again I loved how Diener has placed story in an unusual situation. This is a low tech people against aliens who should have the advantage. I really like the contrast. It ramps up the tension and helps keep the story moving at a brisk pace.


Breaking the Admiral by Ella Drake
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Admiral Lucinda Ryan wants a man in her bed and she makes a deal that brings her one. Tay Bronson is the man or should I say the alien Scoriah who agrees to the marriage to keep his family safe. He does not want to give Lucinda what she wants in bed but he bends some when he finds he has an instant daughter. Family is everything to the Scoriah and a daughter is a bonus he did not expect. Turns out there is danger to that daughter and that brings Lucinda and Tay closer together. A interesting plot with some very strong characters. This is a side story in the Space Grit Universe. It can stand alone but is better if you have read the books in the series. I started out not liking Lucinda but she did grow on me as she did on Tay.

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