Corvette Confessions by Stacy Dawn

Story: 9
Presentation: 9
Total: 18
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Sweet Contemporary
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Blurb: Class of '85 Series

Have you ever been in the right place at the wrong time?

Dumped at the senior spring dance, AJ, who’d always been more into softball and shop class than cheerleading and pep squad, escaped the crowd to mope in the Corvette on loan to the class for the semester. When Greg Roberts unexpectedly joined her, his attempts to cheer her worked—too well. She might have even confessed her love that night if Greg’s longtime girlfriend hadn’t come looking for him.

Twenty-five hard years later, forced to come to the reunion by her best friend, AJ escapes back to her favorite class, only to find the exact Corvette—a little worn and faded—sitting right where she’d left it. Fond memories turn into reality when Greg shows up at her driver’s side window again—and déjà vu takes on a whole new meaning.

Review: What a cute story!! AJ's friend, Janelle, convinces her to attend their 25th high school class reunion. AJ had been a "softball and body shop" type in high school, not really one of the in crowd. Janelle was a cheerleader and popular girl.

AJ trips going up the steps into the gym where the reunion is being held and a male hand saves her from falling on her face. He happens to be Greg, her shop class buddy, a hunk then and still a hunk now. As they are talking Marly, his old girlfriend runs up and kisses him.

During the reunion, AJ leaves to roam her old high school and ends up in the shop class room where she finds the Corvette the class worked on their senior year. It turns out to be the exact same one. As AJ is sitting in the Vette reminiscing about her senior prom when her date left her on the dance floor for his ex-girlfriend, Greg rescued her then and took her riding in the green Corvette. Greg comes in and surprises AJ sitting in the old classic. They talk and catch up with what has been going on in their lives for the past 25 years. She is divorced and has her own business.

Marly shows up and AJ starts to leave, when Greg stops her....and you'll have to read the rest yourself.

For a short story, the main character’s personalities were well developed. Dialogue was realistic. I liked the ending. Like I said above, this is a cute story, and proves the old saying, "It's never too late..."

Gift of Love by Cynthia Moore

Story: 8.5
Presentation: 8
Total: 16.5
Publisher: Cerridwen Press
Sweet Historical
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Blurb: Lady Rebecca Hastings has lost her sparkle, her intense joy for living, since her intended was killed in the Battle of Waterloo. On the day that Rebecca’s wedding had been scheduled to take place, she is reunited with her childhood friend and neighbor, Adrian Russell, Marquess of Burton.

Rebecca is immediately conscious of new feelings of contentment as she speaks with Adrian about the happy experiences they shared as children. Memories of their past combined with the cheer of the Christmas season—and some alarming visits from the spirit of her intended—eventually bring Rebecca the knowledge of an enduring love for Adrian. But can he ever accept her as more than a friend?

Review: Sometimes with the death of someone close to us we don’t realize how sad and withdrawn we have become until those closest point it out.

This was a really heartwarming tale about a young woman who has lost her fiancé and still mourns him. His ghost tells her that she needs to move on or he cannot rest. With the help of her friends she discovers that there is opportunity for a happy life again.

Totally sweet tale that gave me warm fuzzies :) The rich detail and developed characters made it easy for me to feel connected to the story and it is one that I would recommend to others.

Perfect Partners by Kate Richards

Story: 8.5
Presentation: 8.5
Total: 17
Publisher: Breathless Press
Sweet Contemporary
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Blurb: Scarred from dating hell, Rachel never expected to receive a membership to PerfectPartners.com from her meddling mother and co-workers on her birthday. To please her loved ones, she joined the Internet dating service, but on her terms and requesting the impossible—until she received a surprise: Mr. Perfect in the flesh.

Handsome, intelligent, Quinn Everby was everything a woman could wish for, if only Rachel could allow herself to give him a chance. Will she put faith in the site's choice, or will their encounter show Rachel that there is no "perfect partner"?

Review: Awwww! That was one of the sweetest, short lovey stories that I have read in awhile :)

A woman not wanting a relationship…there is no bigger cynic :) But Rachel got a good dose of sweet hot stud and suddenly realized not all guys are losers. This story was a winner for me even though I felt like slapping the crap out of her friends :) Sometimes those who love you do things out of love that you might just wish they hadn’t…but when it all works out for the best….oh what great friends they are to have :)

Made To Order by Johanna Riley

Story: 7.5
Presentation: 9
Total: 16.5
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Sweet Contemporary
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Blurb: The Flower Basket

Between running a diner, refereeing her employees, and pretending she’s not in love with best friend Todd Chambers, Shelby Winters has enough on her plate. But when she receives flowers from an anonymous admirer and dinner invitations from her other best friend, Kevin Grady, she can’t pass up the tempting opportunity to infuse her life with a little fun. Unfortunately, her new life is alienating Todd. Is Shelby’s new joie de vie enough to give her the courage to confess her true feelings? Or will her inherent shyness leave her at a table for one?

Review: This one really started out with a bang. I was introduced to the characters and like them instantly. Then comes chapter 4, I get left going…huh? How in the world did she put two and two together? I was totally in the dark as to how she figured out what Kevin was doing. Then there was a mention of Todd and when was he going to realize he was in love with her….While I know he is, SHE doesn’t or at least has never said where I the reader can understand where she is coming up with these conclusions.

There was sooooo much that could have been expanded on so I wouldn’t have felt half blind while reading the story. Kevin, Todd and Shelby were all fantastic characters, but I always felt like I was only getting half a glimpse of them and the story.

In the end, while I loved the way the story worked out…just as I knew it would, I was left with an incomplete feeling. One that really, really wants to know more about the why’s and how’s.

Don’t get me wrong, I am a HUGE Flower Basket series fan. I have read them all and will continue to do so. Ms Riley came up with a story and plot that I am a huge fan of….friends to lovers can’t be beat for me. The story for me is like Swiss cheese, delicious and bright, complete in every way…even with the holes :)

His Darling by Ashley Elizabeth Ludwig

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

Blurb: The Flower Basket Series

Love can bloom at any age…But, will it wilt under the spotlight?

Former fifties Hollywood starlet—Nona Darling—fell in love onscreen over and again. In her granddaughter Misty’s opinion, true love only exists in the movies and too often, she falls for the villain. Running from a failed relationship and her film production company turned tabloid, she returns to Almendra, California to care for her grandmother, and hide from the world.

Cain Trovato, a small town jack-of-all-trades, finds Misty and refuses to let her escape into obscurity. Blocked for years from songwriting, he starts putting words to music as a way to define his growing feelings.

When the Almendra Film Festival spotlights Nona Darling, Misty’s former fiancée makes a claim to reveal her grandmother’s secret past. No amount of editing will spare the coming scandal. With Cain at her side, can Misty believe in a happily ever beyond the rolling credits?

Review: Another fine addition to this series. Almendra is begining to feel like home to me :) I feel so connected to the characters and the stories. Can I move there? ;)

A witty, sweet wonderful story that really bounced for me. A sassy movie star, her lovely granddaughter and a hometown man who does just about everything. They all made this story come to life. Of course the wonderful women at the Flower Shop added their spice to the story :) as they always do :)

With not one, but two romances playing out in this one, Love is certainly in the air and really hard to ignore. And let me just say that I will never look at olive oil the same....Oh I wish Cain was the one I was buying it from. CUTIE!!!! And a musician to boot :)

Rest assured that I will be waiting for the next installment of this series. Ms Ludwig's addition makes the collection shine just a bit more than it already did :)

Only in Novels by Laura Briggs

Story: 7.5
Presentation: 9
Total: 16.5
Publisher: White Rose Publishing
Contemporary Inspirational
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Blurb: When a simple mistake lands bookstore owner Lannie Maxwell with the wrong author for her book signing, she wonders if her tiny business is destined to fail. Instead of Ms. Modern Homemaker-an author sure to multiply the bookstore's gross revenue-Lannie finds herself stuck with D.E. Hensen, an unorthodox and infuriating adventure novelist. The dashing D.E. is determined to help Lannie rescue her struggling business, but his outlandish ideas threaten to turn her world upside down. Can the two put aside their differences to save the store-and find their own version of happily-ever-after?



Review: This was a cute little story. The emotion that she felt about her bookstore literally jumped of the pages at me from the beginning. While I thought there were some…silly ideas :) suggested by the hero, I think the author did a really good job making it all work. In the end I was pleased with the journey I made.

The inspirational aspect of the story was not over the top, but a pretty steady influence throughout. All in all it was a story that had likeable characters, a cute plot and story line and a good conflict that I found to be believable.

Good job Ms Briggs :)

In His Sight by Pamela S. Thibodeaux

Story: 6
Presentation: 8
Total: 14
Publisher: White Rose Publishing
Inspirational
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Blurb: Grade school teacher Carson Alexander has a gift—a gift that has driven a wedge between him and his family. Worse, it’s put him at odds with God. Feeling alone and misunderstood, Carson views God’s gift of prophecy as the worst kind of curse…that is until he meets Lorelei Conner, landscape artist extraordinaire, and perhaps the one person who may need Carson and his gift more than anyone ever has.


Lorelei Connor is a mother on the run. Her abusive ex-husband has followed her all over the country trying to steal their daughter. Distrusting of men and needing to keep on the move, she’s surprised by her desire to remain close to Carson Alexander. Through her fear and hesitation, she must learn to rely on God to guide her—not an easy task when He’s prompting her to trust a man.

Can their relationship withstand the tragedy lurking on the horizon?
Review: While fraught with inspiration and the Lord, the plot seemed to be weighed down at times by scenes that just didn’t seem to move the story forward at all.

I enjoyed the characters for the most part. I think the light paranormal element could have shined a bit more giving me, the reader, a better look at it rather than just a passing glance. While it was discussed, the actual “feelings” seemed rather vague and gone before I knew it.

All in all it was a story that I think had really good potential but I felt like I read a first draft rather than a final product.