Tag: martha keyes

Book Review: Summer Tease (Falling for Summer) by Martha Keyes

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 354 pages
Author: Martha Keyes
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: July 10th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Falling for a Palmer would be the ultimate crime

Wild horses couldn’t drag me back to the small island where I grew up, but you know what can? Making sure the Palmer family–aka the worst neighbors ever–show appropriate respect to the newest resident of their retirement center: my grandma.

But as soon as Grams moves in, her shenanigans put her at risk of being kicked out. Since she’s set on staying in Sunset Harbor until her last breath and there’s no way I’m staying on this nightmare island to take care of her, that’s just not an option.

Enter Beau Palmer, the infuriatingly charming local cop who’s got the connections to keep Grams right where she needs to be and help me get out of Dodge sooner. His price? Use my PR savvy to convince the town council into making his position full-time. That way, he can help his beloved island put the Sawyer/Palmer drama in the past.

But the drama isn’t behind us. In fact, it’s right in front of me, wearing a police badge and a smirk that’s really started disturbing my peace.

Summer Tease is a small-town island romantic comedy with the perfect amount of swoon and none of the explicit scenes or language.

GREW ON ME.

I love a charming guy and Beau fit that bill to a T. I loved his demeanor and soft joy that he brought to the story. It contrasted well with Gemma and they had some great chemistry. There were a few truly standout scenes that I was hoping to get and they delivered.

The Grams plot line bugged me a little because I felt like it kept over shadowing the romantic aspects. I was tired of Gemma getting calls that Grams had caused some other kind of chaos and when the secrets came to light I was let down.

There’s good flirty banter, and like all of the other books in this series, I adore the summer vibes. I feel swept away to this island and love seeing different pieces of it in each book.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: Battling the Bluestocking (The Donovans #3) by Martha Keyes

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Regency Romance
Length: 308 pages
Author: Martha Keyes
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: February 2nd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Great minds do NOT always think alike.
Phineas Donovan is possessed of a sharp intellect. Fresh from Cambridge, he obtains a generous live-in position as tutor for the son of the wealthy Lord Bettencourt. If he can prove his value, he has hopes of being given the patronage of his employer, allowing him to take up a position as vicar. There, he can pursue his intellectual endeavors in peace and relative financial comfort.

In her humble but informed opinion, Lady Sarah Danneville is possessed of an even sharper intellect. If anyone should be tutoring her younger brother, it is she, not the reserved, bespectacled gentleman her father has employed to do the job. He is not fit to instruct a Danneville of Bettencourt Court.

But as Sarah works to undermine him, Mr. Donovan shows more pluck than she expects, not to mention harboring a secret hobby that would be laughable if it weren’t so dreadfully unsophisticated. If she can use this secret against him, she can finally persuade her father she is more than bait to lure a prosperous match.

Now, if only she can avoid being drawn into the unsophistication—and Mr. Donovan’s eyes—herself.

THIS WAS CHARMING!

I have really enjoyed the Donovan series. Each book feels completely different yet the crossing over of siblings and family is the perfect dynamic that gives you all the good emotions of coming back to a favorite series.

The banter between Sarah and Phineas was stellar. I loved the chemistry and just a dash of enemies to lovers as Phineas had unknowingly encroached on Sarah’s space. I thought it was a little slow out of the gate but as the story progressed I was increasingly attached to this relationship. It was sweet and I loved the character growth of both characters separately and how they came together in the end. And I also just really love when side characters you expect to be mean (like the Duke at the end) aren’t! It’s something satisfying to me to see things work at as they did.

I liked the plot a lot too. Sarah’s little brother was a charming addition who brought out a lot of good moments between Phineas and Sarah unwittingly (and some wittingly). It’s a quick regency romance that will bring a smile to your face. I highly recommend this series!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Regency Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: Solo for the Season (Gift-Wrapped Romance) by Martha Keyes

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 206 pages
Author: Martha Keyes
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 8th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

MAGGIE

After being dumped last Christmas, I’m taking extreme measures to ensure nothing and no one ruins my happy holidays this time around. I’ll be safely wrapped in a cocoon of kitschy Christmas decor, complete with surrounding winter wonderland at the ultimate holiday mountain cabin. So what if the countless elf figurines make me a little uneasy or if there are a couple hiccups with cabin maintenance? There’s a bigger the assistant manager happens to be one of (many) teasing classmates from my childhood and my former crush. He keeps showing up to my cabin to fix things. I’m more worried about what he might break…. WES Here at Crystal Peaks Resort, I’ve got everything I tall trees, fresh air, and no cell phone service. This is my happy place, and if I prove to my boss I can handle the job, the management position here will be mine. Everything is falling into place. Until the newest guest arrives. The quirky cabin she’s in is the bane of my existence, causing issue after issue. But the more I’m there, the more I realize the real obstacle between me and my future proving to my boss I can keep a professional relationship with the guests. Or one guest in particular.

A Gift-Wrapped Romance is a five-part multi-author series that can be enjoyed in any order!

THIS WAS SWEET.

I love short and sweet Christmas romance books. This was a gem and I loved Wes and Maggie. The setting was fun with the explosion of kitschy holiday goodness and all of the snow that I’m grateful I never see in real life.

One of my favorite aspects was that even though Maggie was still a little affected by some of the teasing from high school she didn’t let that completely overwhelm her being kind to Wes initially. And the fact he gave her a genuine apology was beautiful. I love see characters act their age and to try their best to communicate instead of running away.

The only tiny thing I didn’t love was Brielle. The conflict that came to that added pages, but not content. I just could have done without.

That last 20% though? I loved it. I loved how not for one second did Wes try to hide that fact he had fallen for Maggie and that they found a way to make things work between them. It was precious.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

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Book Review: The Enemy and Miss Innes (Tales from the Highlands #2) by Martha Keyes

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 311 pages
Author: Martha Keyes
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: June 2nd, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

All that stands between him and freedom? Turning her hatred to love.

Elizabeth Innes has a tongue too sharp for her own good, and she is never more ready to employ it than when faced with the MacKinnons. With just one piece of evidence connecting their clan to a near-deadly attack, she is determined to prove the laird guilty and see him brought to justice. So, when chance throws her in the company of one of the MacKinnon men, she resolves to take advantage of the opportunity to glean more information.

Malcolm MacKinnon has long lived under the thumb of his cousin and laird, Angus, who keeps a secret with the power to ruin him. With his mother and siblings entirely dependent upon Angus’s capricious generosity, he cannot afford to offend his cousin. When Angus proposes a way for him to finally be free of his shackles, Malcolm is more than ready to oblige. All he must do is help Angus seek revenge upon the rival, neighboring clan. The way to do it? Gain the trust—and love—of one of their young women.

As Malcolm and Elizabeth pursue their goals, they find their tasks much more difficult than anticipated, with challenges to their loyalties at every turn. Both must decide how far they are willing to go for revenge—and love.

A GOOD E2L.

I snagged this on audio and devoured it in a day! I love the way Martha Keyes tells stories and this was no different. I really appreciate that this felt true to the enemies to lovers trope and gave me all that angsty banter I love so well.

The storyline was good and moved at a steady pace. I liked the rebuilding aspects (which I felt was an overall illusion to more) and that we got to see the couple from the previous book too! There’s a good dose of drama that doesn’t go over the top and seeing the villain shut down is always one of my favorite parts of a book.

It’s an easy read and I love picking up books in this genre when the mood strikes.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: fires, assault, physical altercations, mentions of past domestic abuse, extortion, animal injury

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