The last 2-3 ghost stories I have read were abysmal, I really enjoy remembering the good ones I have read over the years. Each and every one of these stories is excellent, but the one with the most chilling ending has to be Bernard Taylors "Sweetheart, Sweetheart". I couldn´t fall asleep after reading this book.

I just realized that the majority of these books fall into the "haunted house" categorie as well. The only exception is Michelle Pavers "Thin Air", which is set on Kanchenjunga in the Himalayas (a setting I prefer over Pavers other ghost story "Dark Matter", which is set in the Arctic) and "Der Schimmelreiter" (The Dykemaster), in which a ghost is haunting a dyke in Northern Frisia.

I hope that I can fit in another ghostly tale in my Halloween Bingo this year. 

Second Chance Sailor: When coast guard officer Sawyer Kole is stationed again in Kiptohanock, Virginia, he's ready to prove to Honey Duer that he's a changed man and the right man for her. But it's not smooth sailing when a hurricane blows their way. To save the family inn she's restored to perfection, Honey will ride out the storm. But can she handle the turbulence of seeing Sawyer again? Years ago he walked away, taking her dreams of love. Now as Hurricane Zelda barrels down, Honey may have no choice but to trust Sawyer to save her life and just maybe her heart.

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Picking up several years after where Lisa Carter's Coast Guard Courtship left off, Coast Guard Sweetheart revisits one of the side stories from the first book: that of Honey (sister of Amelia from Book 1, *Honey's real name is Beatrice, but picked up the nickname due to her hair color) and that fouled up romance Amelia's beau Braeden helped Honey push through. The troublemaker guy in that scenario, Coast Guard Petty Officer Sawyer Kole, is back in town (with Braeden as his boss) and wants to make things right between him and Honey.

Wouldn't you know, she doesn't want to hear it! Or so she's trying to convince herself. Wouldn't you want to hear what story was behind a former flame abandoning you three years earlier? Not the least bit curious, Honey? You KNOW she is! But she's in no rush to give him the satisfaction. Their re-acquaintance comes about via a pretty funny food fight (but SUCH a waste of donuts!). But the two have no choice but to put differences aside and work together when their town faces the arrival of Hurricane Zelda and Honey's newly restored inn sits right in the line of fire. 

Having thoroughly enjoyed Lisa Carter's first installment in this series, I was really looking forward to seeing where the characters ended up here. Though all the elements seemed to be in place for a strong follow-up, sadly this one just did not serve up the same magic as its predecessor. The humor, charming as all get out in Coast Guard Courtship, just fell flat here, felt a little on the canned side. Further, the plot wasn't nearly as much fun. While it seemed promising, opening a story with a food fight, things quickly fizzled out from there. Even with a hurricane in the mix --- you'd expect some great tension or amazing chats or something right? --- nope, even there it was about as interesting as bath water. 

Pretty quickly, Honey's relentless bickering grows tiresome. Not cute. She complains that Sawyer never explained his absence, then when he tries she shuts it down with an "I don't want to hear it"... but then encourages him to try again, but then hardly lets him finish a thought before she's verbally laying into him again. Her level of anger grows unreasonable but she continues to harp on with the "Why won't you talk to me?" Girl, have you only heard your side of things? This whole story has been set up for him to tell his side! UGH, even Max chimes in with a "Stop being a big baby, Aunt Honey." You tell her, kid! Another character takes it further with "Bitterness does not become you, Beatrice."

In terms of dialogue, the writing just gets progressively more cringey as the reader progresses. But if you're really into nighttime soaps, the overkill dramatics might not strike you as problematic. I will note a few highlights though. 1) This novel does touch upon the heartbreak of siblings split up within the foster system and later left unable to reunite with each other as adults because of sealed records. 2) The closing scene was undeniably sweet and romantic. Hard not to pull a grin out of me at the description of a modern couple slow dancing to "Let Me Call You Sweetheart". 3) MAX. It was so great to see Max again in this series. Max is doing great and he totally made it worthwhile to hang in there and keep reading! 

If life doesn't kill with heartache, it inspires through courage. Sort of like a Leslie North novel. The Cowboy's Stubborn Sweetheart is not a lick your wounds, cry in your coffee kind of tale. It's a pick yourself up by the bootstraps and start all over again one. Juliana and Wright have both been knocked down by life, but despite the disappointment, their hearts won't let failure win. I love the message behind this battle of hearts and war of wills. When life gets too real and the pain runs deep, never give up on yourself, always and forever believe. Words have power and North proves just how much.

Small Town Sweetheart by Toni Aleo is available NOW!

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Delaney Abbot has never wanted to live anywhere other than Spring Grove, Kentucky. She loves the town, the people, and the whiskey made right down the road at McElroy’s Distillery. If only she could find a man in her beloved small town worthy of all that love she has to give.

The first thing Reed McElroy did when he finished high school was get the heck out of Spring Grove, Kentucky. He’s happy with his life as a veterinarian in the big city, and he would just as soon never step foot in his small town again. Delaney has had a crush on Reed since she was knee-high to a grasshopper, but he never looked at her the same way.

Now that tragedy has dragged him back home kicking and screaming, Reed has no choice but to make peace with a past clouded by small-mindedness and judgment. He is forced to see his hometown through grown-up eyes, and everywhere he looks, he finds local sweetheart Delaney. It seems like everyone in Spring Grove loves her. So, why shouldn’t he?  

Small-Town Sweetheart by Toni Aleo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is book #2, in The Spring Grove series. This book can be read as a standalone novel. For reader enjoyment, I recommend reading this series in order.

Reed has to come home due to tragedy. While there he catches up with old friends, and Delaney. They have sparks between them that causes both good and bad.

Delaney and Reed have known one another basically their whole lives. This attraction between them is new. The heat is growing and they run into one another everywhere.

This was such a slow burn. The heat just builds between the characters until they are nearly scorched from it. I love the banter, and this series just has the most amazing people in it to read about.


****This early copy was given in exchange for an honest review only.

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This is book #2, in The Spring Grove series.  This book can be read as a standalone novel.  For reader enjoyment, I recommend reading this series in order.

Reed has to come home due to tragedy.  While there he catches up with old friends, and Delaney.  They have sparks between them that causes both good and bad.

Delaney and Reed have known one another basically their whole lives.  This attraction between them is new.  The heat is growing and they run into one another everywhere.  

This was such a slow burn.  The heat just builds between the characters until they are nearly scorched from it.  I love the banter, and this series just has the most amazing people in it to read about.  I give this book a 4/5 Kitty's Paws UP!

****This early copy was given in exchange for an honest review only.