Lilac Time - Fern Michaels, Lori Foster, Carolyn Brown (Kensington - May 2025)

Sweet collection of stories. A favorite part is that each story had at least one animal (dog/cat) that was important to the story.
 
SWEET AS HONEY * Fern Michaels
Natalie is through with pining over her ex. If only her efforts to be social again didn't lead to repeated run-ins with an infuriating beekeeper at the local farmer's market. Yet Garrett keeps buzzing around. And as Natalie watches his patience and dedication in tending his hives, she begins to wonder if life has a sweet surprise in store.
 
After a difficult breakup with her boyfriend, Natalie was more than happy to return to her hometown to help her parents while her dad recovered from hip surgery. On her first full day, she encountered Garrett, the local beekeeper. With her current distrust of men, she makes a snap judgment of him. She spends an inordinate amount of time thinking negatively about him until she actually meets the man. I liked Garrett and his devotion to the bees, as well as his efforts to educate people about their importance. Meanwhile, Natalie contemplates moving back home for good. She and Garrett circle each other for a while but eventually show their interest in seeing where a relationship might lead.

 
EVERYTHING SHE'D EVER WANTED * Lori Foster
Annabeth can see that her neighbor's handsome nephew, Devlin, has his hands full, raising his little girl single-handed. Yet though his life is frazzled, it's full of the kind of joy and togetherness she longs for. And when Devlin's daughter and Annabeth's tiny dog fall hard for each other, it might be the start of more than one beautiful friendship.
 
Annabeth is lonely, though she tries to hide it. With no family of her own, she has sort of adopted Sony, the elderly man next door. She also got to know Sony's nephew, Devlin, and Devlin's little girl, Mia. Annabeth is a take-charge kind of woman and, as the story opens, steps in to help Devlin during a crisis with Mia. The growing relationship between Annabeth and Devlin is helped along by Uncle Sony's machinations and the love between Mia and Annabeth's adorable dog, Ruby. Annabeth has some self-esteem issues, but Devlin and his family's love and support show her the way to her forever home.

 
THE MEMORY CABIN * Carolyn Brown
Jenna Stewart loves gathering at her Texas lakeside cabin with her girlfriends. It's an annual tradition to reconnect with the women who helped her deal with her mother's passing along with the end of her marriage. But this year, lives are changing, dreams are evolving. And perhaps Jenna's heart has healed enough to welcome a new love that arrives with the first flowers of spring . . .
 
After her mother's death and the end of her marriage, Jenna moved back to the lake house that was her favorite summer memory. There, she becomes reacquainted with Carter, her teenage crush and soon-to-be park ranger. I liked how he stood by her side in support when she faced trouble rather than stepping in and taking over. Jenna also faces a crossroads in her life, as her yearly retreats with her best friends come to an end due to changing lives. I loved her friends and how they remained close even with those changes.

 
 
 
 

A Summer to Start Over - Sera Taino (HSE #3092 - May 2025)

Series: Soledad Bay (Book 1)
 
She needed help…
He needed to begin again.
 
Single mom Indya Linares has always been Ms. Independent -- especially when her family's hurricane-ravaged resort is at stake. But when Indya's boat breaks down at sea, she's forced to accept help from a handsome stranger who immediately makes her heart beat faster. Who would have imagined that he's also her stubborn mother's pick for a new facilities manager extraordinaire? After Santiago Pereira left Venezuela to begin again in Soledad Bay, he's got something to prove to his family…and a mission to bring his daughter back to him. But when Santi just can't stop thinking about his new boss, will hospitality take on a new meaning for them both?
 
Good story about new beginnings. I liked the Gulf Coast setting, the diverse cast of characters, and the role reversal of the main characters.
 
Indya returned to her hometown to help her parents with their resort after it was heavily damaged during a hurricane. She is a single parent with a somewhat tense relationship with her ex, whom she divorced when she discovered her independent businesswoman persona didn't mesh with his expectations of a traditional wife. Her efforts to carry out the needed repairs are hampered by the unexpected departure of her facilities manager.
 
Santiago left Venezuela looking for a better life after a business betrayal left him with nothing. His goal is to bring his daughter and her mother to join him in the US. Landing the job at the resort will give him the income and stability to make that happen.
 
I enjoyed watching Indya and Santi's relationship develop. They first met when her boat broke down, and Santi towed her back to the marina. The sparks of attraction flared as soon as they met, but both tried to resist. Indya isn't interested in a relationship after being burned by her time with her ex. Santi doesn't need the distraction from his goal. Matters become complicated when Indya hires him as the new facilities manager - Santi is now her employee. Working together brings them closer; shared experiences as single parents help them bond. There are some bumps in the road on their way to a happy ending, especially when something Santi does runs up against Indya's insecurities. I liked seeing them work through the issues and develop a stronger relationship.
 
I liked the secondary characters. The kids in the story are well done, with age-appropriate actions and reactions. I liked Indya's mom and could also understand Indya's issues with her interference in resort matters. Santi and his father have a strained relationship due to Santi's past actions, and his dad has trouble letting go of the past. I loved Indya's spirited defense of Santi and its effect on him.
 
I look forward to further books in this series. 

 
 

Twenty-Eight Dates - Michelle Lindo-Rice (HSE #3038 - Mar 2024)

Series: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Book 3)
 
Not looking for a hero…
But she found one!
 
When pregnant widow Courtney Meadows steals away from her duplicitous in-laws in the dead of night, she has one goal: to protect her baby. An unexpected car breakdown miles away and a looming hurricane are the last things she needs! Enter a gruff knight in shining armor in Officer Brigg Harrington. Courtney's compelled by the lawman's compassion and integrity…and she has to admit he makes her pulse race in a way no one has since the tragic death of her firefighter husband. But can a woman as independent and wounded as Courtney let anyone else into her life again -- especially another man courting danger in uniform?
 
Widowed and pregnant, Courtney caught my attention from the first page. After overhearing her in-laws plotting to seize custody of her baby, she sneaked away from their home in the wee hours of the morning. Her destination - her sister's apartment in Ft. Lauderdale. Unfortunately, her car broke down on the way, stranding her on the side of the road. She's rescued by police officer Brigg Harrington, who shelters her in his home.
 
I enjoyed watching Courtney and Brigg's relationship develop. There is no way Brigg can abandon the pregnant beauty. What he doesn't expect is the compulsion he feels to watch over her or the intense attraction when she is near. At the same time, Courtney tries to bury the feelings Brigg stirs in her. The last thing she wants is to fall for another man with a dangerous job.
 
They cannot deny the connection they feel from the beginning, nor their fast friendship. But Courtney is still determined to continue to her sister's place. However, the baby's early arrival keeps her in town longer than planned. Brigg shows Courtney that he is interested in seeing where their relationship is going, but she is wary of risking her heart again. Brigg's plan for twenty-eight dates while they wait for Jayson to get out of the hospital is a clever way for them to get to know each other better. I loved seeing Brigg fall under the baby's spell.
 
A tense situation that put Brigg in danger resurrected Courtney's fears, driving a wedge between them. I ached for both as they faced the future without each other. I loved seeing their loved ones help them see past the obstacles keeping them apart with some well-placed advice. The conclusion was sweet and emotional.
 
I liked spending more time with the Harrington family. The dynamics between the brothers are fun - lots of teasing but all the support needed when things get tough. It was fun to see the couples from the earlier books, especially watching the brothers give advice to Brigg. 

Safe in Her Bodyguard's Arms - Katherine Garbera (HRS #2281 - June 2024)

Series: Price Security (Book 2)
 
A drug cartel murdered Obie Keller's parents. She gets a chance to prove that when she leaves the Florida coast and heads back to where she came from -- with bodyguard Xander Quentin by her side. His reasons for heading into the swamplands are intertwined with her own, and it's not long before their shared mission becomes a shared attraction. But they'll have to stay alive if they're going to have a shared future…
 
Excellent book that kept me hooked from start to finish. Obie manages a Miami coffee shop where a recent hire, Aaron, was arrested for dealing drugs. Accused of working for a drug cartel, he asks her to contact his brother for help. When that gets no response, she agrees to enter his home and retrieve hidden evidence he claims will bring down the cartel. Obie is reluctant but agrees, never expecting to encounter someone trying to kill her.
 
Xander hasn't had any contact with Aaron in ten years. A tragedy in their teen years drove the four brothers apart, but Xander can't forget the better times together. Wary of what Aaron is involved with, Xander arrives at his home just in time to rescue Obie.
 
This is a fast-paced story that takes place over just a few days. The action starts with a bang as the bad guys do their best to stop Obie and Xander from escaping with the evidence. Xander's capabilities are unquestionable as a private security specialist with a Special Forces background. Obie's early life living in the swamps with her family gave her unique skills. I loved watching their teamwork as they escaped into the swamp. Xander's willingness to listen to Obie's expertise won him many points in my book - I love a hero who can admit he doesn't know everything. They deal with weather, wildlife, and dangerous pursuers while trying to ignore the attraction that sizzles between them. Desperate circumstances accelerate their getting to know each other, mutual trust being the only thing keeping them alive. I liked seeing them lower their walls.
 
The suspense of the story was terrific. I was glued to the pages as Obie and Xander fought through the swamp to get the evidence to a safe place. Xander trusts his team to have their backs, while Obie leans toward trusting law enforcement. The intensifying pursuit kept them on edge, with a nick-of-time intervention from Xander's backup. The twist in the final confrontation wasn't a surprise, but I loved Obie's part.
 
I liked the ending and seeing the Price Security people together. I like how they feel like a family to each other, offering professional and emotional support. I look forward to more stories with these characters. I would also like to see if Obie finds out what happened to her brother.