All A Man Can Be by Virginia Kantra is a fabulous romantic suspense.  Ms. Kantra has given readers a well-written book.  The characters are outstanding and make this book fun to read.  Nicole arrives in town as the new owner of the Blue Moon.  Mark is the manager and was hoping to buy the Blue Moon but it was snapped up before he could get his plan together.  Throw in a son Mark didn't know he had and the story just gets better.  Mark and Nicole's story is loaded with drama, action, humor, spice and suspense.  I enjoyed reading All A Man Can Be and look forward to reading more from Virginia Kantra in the future.  All A Man Can Be is book 3 of the Trouble In Eden Series but can be read as a standalone.  This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

All A Man Can Do is my first book by Virginia Kantra, but won't be my last.  Ms. Kantra has provided readers with a well-written book.  The characters are imperfect people but perfect for this book.  Jarek left his detective position in Chicago to take the Chief of Police job in small-town Eden.  Tess is a reporter for the Eden paper.  Tess and Jarek's story is loaded with drama, humor, spice, action and suspense.  I enjoyed reading All A Man Can Do and look forward to my next book by Virginia Kantra.  All A Man Can Do is book 1 of the Trouble In Eden Series but can be read as a standalone.  This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

I read a print copy of this book.

http://witandsin.blogspot.com/2016/02/review-carolina-dreaming-by-virginia.html

Two endearing characters get a shot at happiness they never thought they’d have in Carolina Dreaming. In this fifth Dare Island novel, Virginia Kantra manages to deliver a romance that’s incredibly sweet, but never edges into saccharine territory.

Gabe Murphy is a hero who has been through hell – an abusive home, war, and then jail. Despite all this, Gabe has never broken. He arrives on Dare Island because it’s the home of his best friend and he has nowhere else to go as he tries to put his life back together. Dare Island is like a dream come true for Gabe. Though people are wary of him, they give him a shot to prove himself, which is more than Gabe expects from anyone. Gabe’s past and the way he’s been treated broke my heart, but I loved watching him find a life and a home for the very first time. Best of all, Gabe finds love with bakery owner Jane Clark. Jane’s life hasn’t exactly been easy either. She escaped an abusive marriage and is now a single mom working hard to make a life for herself and her son. Jane has a huge heart and is a soft touch, but she’ll go to the mat to defend those she loves, which makes her a great heroine. She and Gabe just click right off the bat, and it’s easy to be swept away by their romance, which is by turns sensual and sweet.

I have a weakness for small town romances and Carolina Dreaming is a lovely one. Ms. Kantra’s writing style is so smooth that you slip right into the story without noticing, which made the story all the more enjoyable. Dare Island isn’t an idyllic small town (that kind of perfection would be boring), but it’s close enough that you wish it were real so you could move down there. Fans of series will love revisiting some of their favorite characters, but for readers like me who haven’t read the first four Dare Island novels, you needn’t fear – this book can easily be read as a standalone. Of course, I was so hooked by Gabe and Jane’s story that I will definitely be reading the rest of the series. If you enjoy quietly romantic stories with genuinely kind characters, you won’t want to miss Carolina Dreaming.


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Carolina Dreaming (Dare Island #5)

After escaping a disastrous marriage, bakery owner Jane Clark has convinced herself that she has everything she needs—her precious son, a thriving business, and a roof over her head. But the arrival of a handsome stranger on the island shows her exactly what she’s been missing...   

The only home Gabe Murphy ever had was the Marine Corps. He's working hard to rebuild his life. It will take a special place, and a special woman, to make him want to stay.   

Now Gabe is determined to prove that he's worthy of Jane’s trust—and her love. But when her past reappears, that trust will be tested, and Jane and Gabe will have to fight hard to hold onto their love and make their dreams a reality..

My Review:

 I thought the book was sweet, I liked the characters and I enjoyed the happy ending, but I'm kind of burnt out on return home military hero romances like this.

My Rating:

4 Stars

Reviewed By: Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews

http://kkmalott.booklikes.com/

Note: I received a print copy in exchange for an honest review from Berkley

Lightning Review:

- Of the three books in this series so far this is my least favorite

- I didn't really connect with the heroine or the romance. The hero was fine as a character, but the romantic tension & chemistry was just not present for me.

- ...but the plot surrounding Taylor is worth the story. It was the thread that wound through all three books and it more than Luke's (the hero in this) possible romance is what prompted me to read this. I was more interested in the family stuff than the romance really

- Apparently this series is not stopping at a trilogy but has at least another two books... probably won't  continue since one of the biggest draws has been the siblings/Fletchers and the family stuff (Taylor, their mother's accident, their Inn) and it looks like the other books don't follow any Fletchers.