Always a Bridesmaid by Elaine Hopper

Story: 6
Presentation: 9
Total: 15
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Contemporary Sweet
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Blurb: Hell has finally frozen over. After nine long years, Breanna Parker has come home to be her sister's maid of honor. Just her luck that the first person she runs into is her ex-fiance, Troy Youngwolf—the man who eloped with her ex-best friend and broke her heart. Now a widowed father and sheriff of their Florida home town, sexy bad boy Troy wants another chance and won't take no for an answer. However, every time Breanna looks at Troy or his little girl, her heart breaks anew. She can hardly wait for her sister to get hitched so she can escape back to her urban family in Ft. Lauderdale. The risk is too high that Troy may discover her most closely held secret, one with the potential to destroy them both…perhaps this time forever.

Review: As much as I love the premise to this story, ex-lovers who get another shot, I had a few issues with this one.
The Hero and the Heroine both displayed very negative qualities. As a woman, who has often wondered "what-if", I must say that if I ever had an ex who did to me what Troy did, a second chance would just not happen. Even if I decided to entertain the idea of a second chance his response to her "secret" would have killed it for me.
NOW, with me having expressed my feelings toward the characters I do have to say that the story kept me pulled in even though sometimes I felt like I was reading just to see if Brenna was going to slap Troy and tell him to bite a big one.
If you enjoy a read where the hero displays some non-hero-like qualities then you may enjoy this one. I just didn't feel connected to him or the heroine very much through the story and wish I had like them both a bit more.

Steal My Heart by Dina Troy

Story: 7.5
Presentation: 9
Total: 16.5
Publisher: Fido Publishing
Sweet Contemporary
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Blurb: When Lauren Hayes decides to treat herself to a necklace after landing a great job as an assistant editor, she encounters Bayard Fredericks working at a new jewelry store, and he’s the most gorgeous man she’s ever seen. The attraction is mutual, and over the next few weeks he comes on strong, buying her expensive gemstones over her objections. But things don’t quite click for Lauren. She’s just emerged from a bad relationship, and she doesn’t want to rush into anything that could compromise her new found independence. And how can Bayard afford such costly presents in the first place?

Lauren is completely smitten, but her concerns deepen when Bayard lies about his past, and her best friend, Sheila, suspects Bayard might be involved in several high-profile jewel heists thought to be “inside jobs.” Shortly thereafter, Lauren’s prized possession, a drawing by a famous artist, goes missing, and Sheila claims she has proof that Bayard is a jewel thief. Lauren may be falling in love, but how can she trust the man who has stolen her heart?


Review: An interesting tale about a woman starting over wanting to stand on her own two feet and a man who wants to take care of her. When you throw theft and uncertainty into the mix, things get a little shaky. It's a good thing that it all works out in the end.
But it makes you think about all the what-if's. I enjoyed the tale and have to say that I would like to read more from Ms Troy in the future. She has a very unique way to pen a tale and keep the reader hooked.

Design for Life by Cate Masters

Story: 8.5
Presentation: 9
Total: 17.5
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Sweet
To Purchase

Blurb: The Flower Basket

Becca Lyndon puts her dreams on hold by leaving art school to care for her ailing mom. Working full time at The Flower Basket leaves precious little time, but she squeezes in night classes at the local college. When Mike Hunter fills in as a substitute teacher, she worries about a repeat of the critical reviews he gave her work when he substituted at her high school three years earlier. His reason comes as a complete surprise, but can she trust him? Or will he disappear like her father? When that possibility looms all too real, she’s determined never to let the design for her life unravel again. Following her bliss requires work, but pays off in more ways than she ever imagined. She also learns that one door might close, but another can open—and lead to unexpected opportunities.

Review: I love this series :) I can't help it. This story justs add's another UMP to an already wonderful collection :)

Ok, So I'm a softy and I love a story that gets me a warm and mushy inside and this one totally did it. I LOVE Ms Master's ability to make me feel the ups and downs along with the characters. It makes for a really good read.

You can rest assured that any other Flower Basket stories that come out, this reviewer will be reading and letting you know how they were. If the two I have read so far are any indication, WOW!!!!!