Both the romance and the suspense are worth reading TEMPTATION TRAILS.
Harper was new in town so couldn’t escaping the matchmakers. Deputy Sheriff Garrett had been divorced several years and did little more than work, take care of a teenage son, and have a beer with his brothers now and then. Neither wanted a relationship and their reasons are part of the drama. I really enjoyed the book.
I love a romance where the two people have been secretly pining for one another. STORMS AND SECRETS adds a little more to it with a bit of competition for Marigold’s affections, and a whole lot of suspense. It’s a good book following the Tilikum tradition.
Melissa is a sassy, filter free character that is full of energy and life. After exchanging texts with Jackson, he shows up at her house one day and whisks her away for ONE CRAZY WEEK.
But Jackson is famous for his parties, wealth, prowess with the ladies, and social media following. Melissa suddenly finds herself in a world beyond her experience. Jackson finds himself with unfamiliar feelings for a woman.
The story is romantic, spicy, and interesting without being over dramatic.
Claire Kingsley does epic small town romance series’ so when I started BEHIND HIS EYES, I knew this was going to be a commitment to a cast of characters and town life.
This story with Nicole and Ryan has topics that could easily be maudlin, but instead become a page turning journey into an intense romance and equally intense life challenges. I can’t wait to get to the next book.
Once the Bailey’s were all wifed (and husbanded) up in Tilikum, we knew the Havens were going to be next. The story was the kind of small town gimpy/sunshine romance with a touch of suspense we expect from Claire Kingsley and I couldn’t put it down.
We have introduced to Josiah Haven and his brothers in OBSESSION FALLS. Josiah is content to live the bachelor life of being alone but not lonely until Audrey returns to the area with her dog Max. What I liked so much about him is that he was a man of few words and they were always to the point.
I am so looking forward to the rest of the series!
I wasn’t sure how I would like a story about June Tucker. Her oddness stuck out in every book so far, but the girls made sure to bring June out to socialize although her social skills were rough.
In BOURBON BLISS, June meets her fantasy football star player George, newly retired and in Bootleg Springs for more rehab on his knee. The story about the missing Callie Kendall takes a shocking turn and things don’t sit well with June’s analytical mind. George’s greatest strengths are understanding and appreciating June.
The second chance romances where the live never dies are among my favorites and MOONSHINE KISS is that and more. Not only does the live never die, but they end up living in Bootleg Springs watching each other go on with their lives even dating other people.
The second part of the story that drives both the romance and the intrigue is the continuing investigation into Callie Kendall’s disappearance/murder/whatever. With Cass being sheriff’s deputy and Bowie being the son of a late “person of interest” the conflict ensues.
I have no choice but to dive right into the next book to see what happens.
HOW THE GRUMP SAVED CHRISTMAS is a small town, second chance romance with stone hearted Elias Stoneheart endeavoring to help his company purchase his ex-girlfriend’s family farm in the quirky, squirrel infused town of Tilikum. Why does Elias hate everything, especially everything Christmas.
I loved this story of Christmas spirit, and the power of family and community. I loved how the poignant details of Elias’ life unfolded as he learned about what he had been hardening himself to his whole life and why. Why he left Isabelle years ago started to make sense.
Claire Kingsley tells stories that are rich in memorable characters and moments - perfect for Christmas
As they say, “still waters run deep” and that is true about Weston in COCKY ROOMMATE. His moodiness, lack of emotion and sparse communication contribute to the facade he embraces of being a real jerk. Kendra, however, doesn’t fill silence with inane chatter, knows Weston needs her even when he doesn’t, and sees beyond the cloak he wears to protect himself.
It will be easy to dislike Weston at times, but as you read, the bricks in his wall start to fall away. His transformation is what makes this book such a great read.
I wanted Logan’s book for a long time because of his energy and playboy ways. I expected a down to earth girl would descend upon the town and reform him with her goodness and calm.
But, no. The wild Bailey boy has a one night stand with the craziest girl in town, and they have done nothing but antagonize one another since they first met.
So what we get is a very unpredictable pairing of two volatile characters that find out they are having a baby together. What results Is a story that shows what “man up” means and how fragile people wear the mask that is easiest for them until they are able to trust.
The whole Bailey gang is part of it and the overarching story of the Montgomery treasure takes a step further involving the squirrels and some unexpected danger. It ends with the tease for Levi’s story and I will just say, I had a feeling I knew what Levi was up to…
Evan has been the lone wolf, mysterious Bailey brother. Rarely leaving his cabin and vintage car restoration shop in the wilderness, Evan has his reasons for keeping himself isolated.
Fiona, on the other hand, looks for the good in everything. She sees the grumpy Evan as she’s supposed to see him - as someone who has created walls to protect himself.
The story has suspense and Evan shows his protective ways even before he admits how much Fiona means to him. Fiona is refreshing because she is without deception and has the kind of loyalty Evan needs to let down his guard completely.
There is so much that was good about FIGHTING FOR US starting with seeing what effect 7 years of prison had on a man like Asher. The writing on this was intelligent and poignant.
It also provided the parallel story of the trauma his family -not only Grace - went through from his brothers to even young Eli next door. It was always lingering in the background that what happened to Asher was unfair, but it became clear over and over that making things fair wasn’t going to happen.
I really felt for these characters, a testament to the quality of the writing. The last chapter leads into the next book, Evan’s story. I think this is one of the brothers I am most interested in next. He’s been so mysterious that there has to be an interesting story there.
Asher is the oldest of the 5 Bailey boys being raised by their grandmother. His story starts as a child with his neighbor and best friend Grace. The grow up and then life happens.
It’s a very good story. The close family characters are introduced well and the mental image of the town is starting to take shape. The girl next door romance is sweet and Asher and Grace are made for each other. What could possibly go wrong?
This story gets finished in the second book, so reading order is important
So they get married in front of the Elvis impersonator and neither remembers anything about it. The book is about them biding time until they divorce and how they get to know one another.
Cox is a pleasant surprise as an accidental husband. He’s more attentive, sweet and caring than I expected. Sophie is the epitome of the altruism. My only complaint about her involves two incidences that I would have expected her to let Cox know about and she dragged her feet telling him. This just didn’t seem to fit the character.
This is a well written book with quite a few secondary characters from other books in the series. The reader isn’t overwhelmed with getting to know all these people, though. The personalities are so striking it is easy to tell them apart.
I sat and read this book from cover to cover, it was that good, I think you’ll agree.
