Beckett - Josie Jade (Calamitte Jane Pub - Sept 2025)

Series: Warrior Security (Book 1)
 
Beckett Sinclair doesn't do complicated.
 
He trains K-9s at Pawsitive Connections, runs ops with Warrior Security, and keeps his PTSD under control. Until a dead friend's little sister shows up.
 
Audra Cartland is jumpy. Exhausted. Sleeping in the equipment shed when she thinks no one's watching. Beckett knows that look—he's seen it in combat zones, in victims, in his own mirror.
 
Someone's hunting her.
 
She won't talk. Won't explain the fear in her eyes or why she flinches at shadows. But Beckett made a promise to her brother years ago in Afghanistan, and those debts don't die.
 
Beckett should walk away. He's got enough ghosts without taking on hers.
 
Instead, he arranges a job. A safe place to sleep. His protection.
 
When the hunter becomes bold enough to strike in his town, on his watch, Beckett stops playing defense. He's lost too many people already. Failed too many times.
 
Not Audra. Not this time.
 
Some battles choose you.
 
Fantastic start to Resting Warrior Ranch's spin-off series, Warrior Security. This is another book that grabbed my attention and didn't let go until I finished it. The story is fast-paced and emotional, with intriguing characters told from the dual first-person viewpoints of Audra and Beckett.
 
Audra has been running from a stalker for more than a year. She's at the end of her rope physically and emotionally when she arrives in Garnet Bend. Her late brother told her stories of his fellow soldier's life there growing up, telling her to contact Beckett if she ever needed help. She winds up at Pawsitive Connections, where Lark puts her to work without asking too many questions.
 
Beckett works for Warrior Security and trains K-9s at Pawsitive Connections. His survivor's guilt and PTSD keep him from getting close to anyone he might lose. The dogs and cats he works with give him focus, purpose, and healing. Beck is suspicious of Audra when they first meet. He can tell that she's hiding something, and his protective instincts kick in.
 
I enjoyed watching Beck and Audra's relationship develop. It is purely a working relationship at first, as both fight the attraction that pulls them together. Things change when Beck discovers one of Audra's secrets. I loved his brusque and matter-of-fact attitude as he fixed her living situation while trying to hide his attraction. It takes Audra a while to overcome her wariness and trust Beck with the truth about her situation. Once she does, it doesn't take long for her heart to get involved. However, both Beck and Audra will have to overcome their reluctance to let anyone close to them before they can have the future each longs for. There are some gripping, emotional scenes as those walls begin to crumble.
 
The suspense of the story was terrific. Audra's fear was palpable on every page, as was her determination not to endanger the people she cared for. I loved it when she finally opened up to Beckett after the stalker found her again. The intensity of his protectiveness and his immediate involvement of the men of Warrior Security showed how seriously he took the threat. I was intrigued by each member of the team and how they used their various skills. The escalating danger kept me glued to the pages as the team closed in. The evilness of the stalker oozes off the page, intensifying the threat. A twist in the investigation led to a nail-biting conclusion.
 
I enjoyed getting to know the other members of Warrior Security better. Travis and his quirks are especially fascinating, and I look forward to his story whenever it comes. I especially liked Cooper's interactions with Beck, from his teasing to his help with Beck's PTSD episodes. Pawsitive Connections owner, Lark, also intrigues me, and I'd like to know more about her. But my favorite secondary character was Jet, the failed security dog who instantly connected with Audra. He was adorable and clearly worshipped her. I loved how everyone underestimated him.

The Wilderness Hut - Mary Wibberley (HR 1968 - Apr 1976)

Eve Carrick was a spoiled rich girl who had only to lift her little finger to be waited on hand and foot. She was also beautiful, and had always been able to get any man she wanted. Garth Seton was the pilot she had hired to fly her about and generally do her bidding on a trip to Finland - and Eve assumed that he would be as willing to fetch and carry for her as all the others had been.
 
But Garth Seton didn't jump to anyone's bidding. And there was something else about him that Eve didn't know yet......
 
A fifty-year-old romance that shows how much the genre has changed. All in all, I enjoyed the story. There is a spoiled rich girl who thinks everyone should jump to her bidding. Taking her on is the hired pilot who calls her out on her attitude. The sparks fly from the moment they meet.
 
Eve is a spoiled, rich girl who has had everything handed to her her entire life. As the story opens, she feels jaded by the life she's living and decides to visit a school friend in Finland. This friend always treated her like a normal person. She hires a pilot to take her to the remote town and expects him to accede to her every demand. Garth accepts the job but has no intention of being her lapdog. He makes it clear from the start that he has no use for spoiled rich people.
 
I didn't like Eve much at first. She was entitled, sarcastic, and snooty, though not mean. Garth rubs her the wrong way from the moment they met. She always feels as though he is laughing at her. He does come across as judgmental. He teases her frequently about her easy life, and seems amused when she talks back to him. There's a hiccup in the plan to visit her friend, which forces them to spend more time together. There are some good moments between them, but there are also more instances of Garth's judgmental attitude.
 
Matters became complicated when the plane malfunctioned on their flight back to Helsinki. A forced landing in the midst of a storm strands them in a primitive wilderness cabin. The situation calls for cooperation, not confrontation. I liked seeing the changes in Eve as she discovered new abilities. Along with the decrease in antagonism came the realization that she had very different feelings for Garth. Before she can do anything about those feelings, she makes a disturbing discovery.
 
I felt bad for Eve and understood the feelings of hurt and betrayal that led to her injury. I liked how he took care of her and that he accepted his responsibility. I liked the ending and that she made him work for her forgiveness.
 
One of the differences I noticed about this older book is the lack of the male viewpoint. In most current romances, we see events from both main characters. I missed getting a look at Garth's thoughts and motivations. 

 
 
 

A Lyon's Promise - C.H. Admirand (Dragonblade - Sept 2025)

Series: Lyon's Den (Book 89)
 
He has never forgotten how he failed her!
 
Gavin King has been with the Bow Street Runners for years, with twenty men who report directly to him—a handful of whom he trusts implicitly to handle any issues that come up regarding the Duke of Wyndmere and his family. King has investigated crimes that still keep him up nights. One of those crimes involved the gruesome sight of Lord Hughes's body stuffed into a sea chest. Though he solved Hughes's murder, and the killer was brought to trial, he will never forget the anguished look, nor the tears that followed, when he delivered the news to Lady Lucretia Montfort as he promised. God help him, he felt helpless bearing witness to her pain.
 
She has no choice but to enter the Lyon's Den!
 
Widowed for a decade, Lady Montfort hoped to find contentment when Lord Hughes proposed a marriage of convenience. His brutal murder was the catalyst for the recent salacious rumors, and the wager in White's betting book that threaten the widow's reputation.
 
King vows to keep another promise, one that he made to himself—that he would place Lady Montfort under his broad wing of protection. The rumors escalate and turn ugly. King receives an urgent missive from one of his longtime contacts, Mrs. Bessie Dove-Lyon, advising that Lucretia has asked for her help finding a husband. King demands Bessie sever the contract. She refuses. Little does he know Mrs. Dove-Lyon has a plan of her own!
 
Gavin King is one of the secondary characters in the Duke's Guard series. His stellar reputation as a Bow Street Runner and the trust he's earned from the Duke of Wyndmere made me want to know more about him. I loved getting to know him better and seeing him join the ranks of the happily married men. Gavin has been drawn to Lucretia since the day he informed her of her fiancé's death. He hasn't been able to forget her and has kept a watchful eye on her from a distance. When he learned of the nasty rumors about her, he vowed to protect her.
 
Lucretia's abusive husband died a decade earlier, leaving her a widow. Her most recent attempt at happiness ended in disaster, and the rumors swirling around her fuel her fears that she'll never find a husband. Desperation sends her to Bessie Dove-Lyon at the Lyon's Den.
 
When Gavin hears of her plans, he tries to get Mrs. Dove-Lyon to cancel the contract. When that doesn't work, he demands to become one of the men vying for her hand. The challenge scene was typical of her devious nature, and I was glued to the pages to see how it would unfold. I knew Gavin would win, but the process was daunting. The second challenge was particularly vile!
 
I enjoyed the development of Gavin and Lucretia's relationship. Lucretia spent ten years being manipulated and dismissed by those around her, but under his watch, she finds her strength. Gavin is accustomed to being in charge, so it is fun to see the new Lucretia push back when he gets a little overzealous. At the same time, the always-in-control Gavin loses some of that control whenever he's around her. Lucretia has a few fears to overcome, but her trust in Gavin makes that easier than expected. The ending was fantastic, and I laughed out loud at the pre-dinner party scene. Gavin's actions at the cemetery in the epilogue made me grin.
 
There were some suspenseful moments as Gavin searched for the truth about Lucretia's inheritance. The more he learned, the worse it was. The confrontation with the culprits was intense, and the resolution quite satisfying. Lucretia's acceptance of her treatment by some of her staff members frustrated me a bit, though her late husband's treatment contributed to her lack of confidence. With Gavin there as backup, I liked seeing her take charge. The kidnapping incident was intense, but Lucretia's actions made me cheer for her. I always love seeing Gavin in action, and this was no exception.

 

The Forever Wedding Date - Tif Marcelo (HSE #3104 - Aug 2025)

Series: Spirit of the Shenandoah (Book 3)
 
He tried to play Cupid…
But was he playing with fire?
 
Wedding planner Gabriella Espiritu's down on her luck: first, she flunks the CPA exam, then her long-distance internet boyfriend vanishes just before her brother's wedding! Fortunately, Gabby's best friend, Chip Lowry, jumps in as matchmaker. Unbeknownst to Gabby, though, Chip's been crushing on her for years! And the more he tries to play Cupid, the more he falls under the spell of his lovely friend. But he can't help fearing that finally baring his soul to his bestie would destroy everything…or is going from friends to lovers a leap worth taking?
 
Good friends-to-lovers story. Gabby is having a rough time. She failed her CPA exam, her internet boyfriend, who is supposed to be her plus-one for her brother's wedding, is ghosting her, and she's stressing about planning her brother's wedding. Complicating matters, her ex-boyfriend wants to try again. Nathan ropes their mutual best friend, Chip, into helping him convince Gabby to give him another chance.
 
The problem is, Chip wants to be more than just best friends with Gabby. He's been in love with her for years, but she has firmly placed him in the friend zone. He hesitates to make a move because he doesn't want to lose her as a friend. He also feels guilty about harboring feelings for the woman his other best friend wants for his own.
 
Meanwhile, Gabby is torn. She parted with Nathan because he had taken her for granted during their dating period. Now he claims to have changed, but can she believe him? And if she is willing to give him a chance, why is it Chip that makes her heart beat faster? Friends-to-lovers only happens in books!
 
I rooted for Chip from the start. He's a nice guy who is there for everyone who needs him, sometimes to his detriment. There are some sweet scenes between him and Gabby where you can see where his heart is, but Gabby is blind to it. I ached for him as he was torn between his two friends. The double date scenes were both funny and heartbreaking.
 
Mostly, I wanted to shake Gabby until she woke up. Even when she began to realize her feelings for Chip were changing, she continued to try to deny it. When they shared a kiss, she wanted to write it off, but she couldn't forget it.
 
I liked the ending and seeing Gabby finally admit her feelings. There were some rough patches in the resolution, especially dealing with Nathan, but they eventually worked through it all.
 
I'd like to see Chip's friend Regan get her own story; she was such a good sport in this one. I also loved the storyline with the dog, Lucky, and her puppies. Chip's dad was a great character and added some extra heart to the story. 

 
 

Fake Date on the Orient Express - Jessica Gilmore (HR #4959 - Aug 2025)

Series: Summer Escapes (Book 7)
 
THE PERFORMANCE OF A LIFETIME?
 
When millionaire Lucas West rescues a stunning actress on board the Orient Express to Venice, he has a brilliant idea. He needs a fake girlfriend for the summer, so who better than a woman who pretends for a living? It's certainly the most unusual role Tally has ever had -- and handsome Lucas is now her favourite costar! Soon, their relationship begins to go off script, but can they trust their emotions enough to write the next act?
 
Good story, lovely descriptions of the locations. Lucas is a workaholic entertaining some business contacts with a murder mystery scenario on the Orient Express. Tally is an actress portraying one of the characters. Lucas rescues Tally after the evening performance, when one of the (inebriated) guests gets a little handsy with her.
 
The next day, Lucas approaches her with a proposal. He needs a girlfriend for the summer to protect him from a matchmaking friend. Would she be willing? Tally has nothing important scheduled, so she agrees.
 
Neither expects the attraction that flares between them or the growing feelings that they experience. Both have failed relationships that make them wary of trusting those feelings. Lucas believes that he doesn't have room in his life for love because of his work commitments. I loved their sightseeing trips and seeing them enjoy each other's company. It was fun to see how the people around them saw how right they were for each other, which made it so frustrating when Lucas freaked out about his feelings and ran from them.
 
I liked the support both received from their families. Lucas got the eye-opening advice he sorely needed. Tally's family and best friend gave her the encouragement she needed to recover from the hurt. A secondary storyline involving a person from Tally's past popped up while they were in Tuscany and provided an interesting twist. Lucas did a nice job of redeeming himself in the end. I liked the epilogue and the unexpected direction their future took. 

 

Full Speed Ahead - Merline Lovelace (Merline Lovelace - Sept 2025)

She came to catch a traitor. What she found was trouble, temptation—and a man too dangerous to resist.
 
At the elegant Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Alabama, the world's top scientists have gathered for a high-stakes summit. But behind the scenes, a covert task force hunts a traitor ready to sell America's secrets to the highest bidder.
 
NCIS Special Agent Elizabeth Stanton is sharp, relentless, and used to getting her man. So when she spots the suspect her team has been on the lookout for, she doesn't hesitate to act—with a takedown that lands biotech executive Dave Andrews flat on his back.
 
Only Dave isn't the enemy. He's the developer of the sensitive technology now in danger, and he's just as determined as Liz to find the real mole. With the clock ticking and tensions running high, Liz and Dave form an uneasy alliance that quickly sparks into something hotter than the Alabama sun. But trust is hard to earn and easy to lose. Especially when secrets, and lives are on the line.
 
Good, fast-paced, and action-filled story. Liz's assignment: find and stop the man they suspect of selling secrets to the enemy. But not everything is what it seems to be. I loved her ruse to get close to him, and the surprise effect it had on her. However, the confrontation doesn't go as planned, and she discovers her suspect is the victim and equally determined to find the traitor.
 
Dave is the creator of the endangered technology and is furious about the threat. He and Liz team up by pretending to be a couple, using it to conceal their actions. Neither expected the sparks that flared between them. Each has been burned by failed relationships, so they are wary of moving too fast. As the book only covers a couple of days, I like that they acknowledge something is there and that they want to pursue it. They just need to survive to do so.
 
The suspense was good. It kept me turning the pages to see how it would end. I'll admit to figuring out the culprit pretty quickly, though I wasn't sure how the theft would take place. The ending was intense and had me on the edge of my seat until it was over.
 
I loved the conclusion, and the last page made me laugh out loud. 

 
 
 
 

The Duke's Sharpshooter - C.H. Admirand (Dragonblade - Sept 2025)

Series: Duke's Guard (Book 14)
 
Marriage is the farthest thing from Flaherty's mind…
On a rain-soaked morning, patrolling from Wyndmere Hall to the Village, a shadow shifts at the base of an oak by the graveyard. Ready to defend, or chase down a vagrant, Flaherty is shocked to discover an exhausted widow shielding her four-year-old daughter from the rain. In that moment his life irrevocably changes.
 
Exhaustion has Temperance pausing to rest near the church…
The deep rumble and harsh tone of the huge man garbed in black has her springing to her feet, poised to run. His order to stop in the name of the duke, has her glancing over her shoulder into eyes the color of a springtime sky. The irresistible promise of tea and cake for her daughter tempts her to tentatively trust him.
 
Danger stalks in the night, but it will have to get past The Duke's Sharpshooter before he will let harm come to those he has sworn to protect with his strength, his honor, and his heart.
 
The men of the Duke's Guard continue to fall fast and hard and Rory Flaherty is no exception. On a rainy day during his regular patrol, he discovered a young woman and her daughter shivering near the graveyard. The pair immediately rouse his protective instincts.
 
Temperance is on her own after her husband died in a mining accident. However, finding work when you have a child to care for can be difficult at best. By the time she reaches the Wyndmere area, she is near the end of her rope.
 
I enjoyed watching the relationship between Temperance and Flaherty develop. Flaherty is immediately smitten with Maddy and Temperance. Sweet little Maddy enchants him with her directness and her attachment to "Just Flaherty." Temperance touches him on a much deeper level. He admires her strength and resilience and her determination to provide for Maddy. His frustration was evident when he couldn't immediately fix whatever bothered her, and when he would run up against her independence. It doesn't take him long to realize the depth of his feelings for her, but convincing her won't be easy.
 
Temperance falls just as hard for Flaherty, his kindness to Maddy causing the first crack in the wall around her heart. However, the difficulties of the last few years had left her doubting herself and her worthiness of an honorable man like him. I ached for her as she remembered her past. Her surprise at being well-treated by the Duke and Duchess and their staff was heartbreaking. I loved the interactions between Flaherty and Temperance. The sparks are obvious, though Temperance's self-doubts hold her back. A little well-meaning advice helps her get past those fears. The intensely emotional proposal scene gave me goosebumps.
 
Matters become complicated when nasty rumors about Temperance surface. I loved Flaherty's refusal to give up on her and how everyone rallied around her. An unpleasant twist put Flaherty in danger, and it didn't take long to figure out who was behind the trouble. While the resolution was satisfying, I feel like the culprit got off easier than they deserved.
 
The ending was great, followed by a terrific epilogue. I love catching up with characters a few years down the road. I can't wait for the next book, even though it brings me closer to the end of the series.