Becca Howard is a photographer and yacht salesperson who is dealing with finding out the night before that her fiance Steven Whaley is moving to Atlanta with his new girlfriend when she spots her first love Nio Reyes surfing. She hasn't heard from him in 10 years when he left her brokenhearted when he was gone without a word.
As Becca and Steven are both attending the same wedding they agree to pretend that their relationship is still a go in order not to create any drama but when Nio is also at the wedding, tensions arise and secrets are exposed.
Nio Reyes was the gardener's son and never good enough for Becca growing up, no matter how much he loved her. Still in love with her, he returns to Laguna Beach hoping to get a 2nd chance.
But for Nio and Becca there are years of secrets between them that seem to continue to now. As Becca comes to terms with everything from the past and the current she needs to decide if she is wanting real love or if the past is too difficult to get over.
I really enjoyed this novella as it was so engaging right from the beginning. I loved discovering all the secrets and how big they were! I felt so bad for Becca though as she never realized how much Nio truly loved her but how important his family was to him.
I really loved how Nio worked super hard to get to where he thought would be acceptable to Becca's parents although I was also very sad that he felt like he had to do it.
Such a great story!!
4.5 Stars
Saturday, July 16, 2016
My review of One Night in Laguna by Melissa Keir
Melanie Whitman has just about had it with men after her ex Keith got someone else pregnant. Her friends are concerned about her so Laura signs her up with Master Draikoh San, a well known matchmaker with excellent results.
Cole Hayes was once on the reality show Laguna Beach and is now a single father to Rose, after his ex-wife couldn't handle motherhood and dealing with Rose's illness. Cole's brother Parker decides to take matters into his own hands and sends in Cole's information to Master Draikoh San.
When Cole and Melanie meet they hit it off and realize how similar they are. They bond but realize that they only have one night together before distance separates them. Yet when something happens that threatens to destroy their night together will they realize that they are meant to be or will they realize that they are better off as friends?
This was a great story on mending broken hearts in a way that is based on similarities and respect. Cole and Melanie both realize that the other is special and not in a way that was judged on preconceived notions due to who their parents were or being on TV.
Melanie was a wonderful character who was burned in love but it also showed her how much more she was worth. Her love of kids was so evident and her loyalty would be incredible! Cole was great and understandably so hesitant to get involved with anyone as a single father and former "celebrity". Together they were able to form an immediate friendship and really learn about each other.
I'm super curious about Master Draikoh San and how he seems to know everything!! I can't wait to read more about him!
4 Stars
Cole Hayes was once on the reality show Laguna Beach and is now a single father to Rose, after his ex-wife couldn't handle motherhood and dealing with Rose's illness. Cole's brother Parker decides to take matters into his own hands and sends in Cole's information to Master Draikoh San.
When Cole and Melanie meet they hit it off and realize how similar they are. They bond but realize that they only have one night together before distance separates them. Yet when something happens that threatens to destroy their night together will they realize that they are meant to be or will they realize that they are better off as friends?
This was a great story on mending broken hearts in a way that is based on similarities and respect. Cole and Melanie both realize that the other is special and not in a way that was judged on preconceived notions due to who their parents were or being on TV.
Melanie was a wonderful character who was burned in love but it also showed her how much more she was worth. Her love of kids was so evident and her loyalty would be incredible! Cole was great and understandably so hesitant to get involved with anyone as a single father and former "celebrity". Together they were able to form an immediate friendship and really learn about each other.
I'm super curious about Master Draikoh San and how he seems to know everything!! I can't wait to read more about him!
4 Stars
My review of Treasure in Laguna by Heather Hiestand
Crowe Erickson grew up treasure hunting on his dad's reality show but after one bad day he is seen as a failure. Yet he is not willing to give up on his own dream of having his own reality show based on treasure hunting and is after some sponsors and producers who will take a chance on him.
Jenny Croft was on Laguna Nights as a waitress at the local pizza place, which she now owns. Jenny does not give herself much credit and when she learns that Crowe had a crush on her TV persona she begins to distance herself, although she is very attracted to him.
As Crowe begins to reach out for help with his show will Jenny be willing to take a chance with Crowe or does she believe that he is attracted to the fake "TV" her and not the real her? Will she push him away afraid to know how he really feels?
This was a great story on taking chances on the future and moving away from "failures" of the past. Both Crowe and Jenny have issues in their past that are standing in their way of moving onto a future where they are happy. Crowe has to get over the ghosts from an episode on his dad's show and Jenny must get over feeling like she isn't funny or confident as Laguna Beach was scripted. As each of the come to terms with the past they can move forward.
Jenny is slowly able to trust in others and start believing in herself which was so great to see! I love that she was able to trust Taylor and give her more responsibility that afforded her the ability to chase her own dreams with Crowe.
I love that we are able to get the same main characters throughout all of these books and it is so much fun seeing all the different author's takes on the characters.
4 Stars
Jenny Croft was on Laguna Nights as a waitress at the local pizza place, which she now owns. Jenny does not give herself much credit and when she learns that Crowe had a crush on her TV persona she begins to distance herself, although she is very attracted to him.
As Crowe begins to reach out for help with his show will Jenny be willing to take a chance with Crowe or does she believe that he is attracted to the fake "TV" her and not the real her? Will she push him away afraid to know how he really feels?
This was a great story on taking chances on the future and moving away from "failures" of the past. Both Crowe and Jenny have issues in their past that are standing in their way of moving onto a future where they are happy. Crowe has to get over the ghosts from an episode on his dad's show and Jenny must get over feeling like she isn't funny or confident as Laguna Beach was scripted. As each of the come to terms with the past they can move forward.
Jenny is slowly able to trust in others and start believing in herself which was so great to see! I love that she was able to trust Taylor and give her more responsibility that afforded her the ability to chase her own dreams with Crowe.
I love that we are able to get the same main characters throughout all of these books and it is so much fun seeing all the different author's takes on the characters.
4 Stars
My review of Lucky in Laguna by Rachelle Ayala
Tally Tallahan is a dog walker who is looking for a break into the world of reality shows and will do whatever it takes to get a shot. She relies on friend, Laura Kincaid to let her in and what is happening in the reality world and there isn't a thing Tally won't do to get a shot at becoming famous.
Lucky Lenigan is a script writer in the world of reality shows and when he sees Tally buying a ticket with his lucky numbers he gets the courage to talk to her. When Tally realizes who Lucky is, she hopes she can use him to catch her lucky break.
Yet nothing prepares Tally for actually developing feelings for Lucky and how far is she willing to go to get her chance at stardom. Is she willing to push Lenny aside for two seconds of fame?
I enjoyed this book and getting to know Tally and Lucky. I must admit that I definitely liked Lucky more of the two as I felt he was so much more genuine in working on a relationship between them and had no idea that Tally was initially using him.
That being said I did like Tally and as the book went on I began to understand why she did the things that she did and knew how she felt inside about her actions.
I'd love to read more about these characters, especially Bella in the future!
4 Stars!
Lucky Lenigan is a script writer in the world of reality shows and when he sees Tally buying a ticket with his lucky numbers he gets the courage to talk to her. When Tally realizes who Lucky is, she hopes she can use him to catch her lucky break.
Yet nothing prepares Tally for actually developing feelings for Lucky and how far is she willing to go to get her chance at stardom. Is she willing to push Lenny aside for two seconds of fame?
I enjoyed this book and getting to know Tally and Lucky. I must admit that I definitely liked Lucky more of the two as I felt he was so much more genuine in working on a relationship between them and had no idea that Tally was initially using him.
That being said I did like Tally and as the book went on I began to understand why she did the things that she did and knew how she felt inside about her actions.
I'd love to read more about these characters, especially Bella in the future!
4 Stars!
Friday, July 15, 2016
My review of Dead Lawyers Don't Lie by Mark Nolan
Richard Caxton is a defense lawyer and the one that the rich people call when they need to get off from a crime they committed. Unfortunately this time his sins have caught up to him when he is murdered. Unfortunately for Jake Wolfe, a photojournalist, he witnesses the crime and is now sought after by the killer.
But Jake isn't that easy to kill and along with his best friend, Police Lieutenant Terrell Hayes, they seek to find the killer. Unfortunately this becomes larger than they could have imagined and more people are involved than they could ever imagined.
Will Jake and Terrell discover the identity of the Killer or will he get to Jake first? As the amount of lawyers killed increases they need to try and catch this killer!
This was a great book with so many twists and turns that I wasn't sure who was going to be involved next.
I really liked Jake and right from the drama with Gwen I knew he was a good guy and wanted him to succeed and live! His military background helped him survive the attempts on his life but life isn't all roses for him!
One small thing that bothered me was how quickly Ivan could get information and I seriously hope that the author exaggerated how fast people can obtain information on you. It really made me feel uneasy that things could be found out that fast, yet the police did not have the same Intel.
The choice of food selection by Chairman Banks made me gag through his meal descriptions and it made me wonder if the author himself has tried some of the foods!
This was a great cat and mouse game where you never knew who was involved and how large things could possibly get!!
4 Stars
But Jake isn't that easy to kill and along with his best friend, Police Lieutenant Terrell Hayes, they seek to find the killer. Unfortunately this becomes larger than they could have imagined and more people are involved than they could ever imagined.
Will Jake and Terrell discover the identity of the Killer or will he get to Jake first? As the amount of lawyers killed increases they need to try and catch this killer!
This was a great book with so many twists and turns that I wasn't sure who was going to be involved next.
I really liked Jake and right from the drama with Gwen I knew he was a good guy and wanted him to succeed and live! His military background helped him survive the attempts on his life but life isn't all roses for him!
One small thing that bothered me was how quickly Ivan could get information and I seriously hope that the author exaggerated how fast people can obtain information on you. It really made me feel uneasy that things could be found out that fast, yet the police did not have the same Intel.
The choice of food selection by Chairman Banks made me gag through his meal descriptions and it made me wonder if the author himself has tried some of the foods!
This was a great cat and mouse game where you never knew who was involved and how large things could possibly get!!
4 Stars
Thursday, July 14, 2016
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