Thanks to the publisher for introducing Brighton Walsh to me, I now must look into the other books Brighton Walsh has written. Caged in Winter was my first to read from her and definitely not my last. In fact, immediately after reading this book I dived into the second book in the series…but let me first review Caged in Winter.

New Adult has been a genre I've loved for a while, but I'm starting to stray away from it. Too many New Adult novels have the same storyline and same kind of characters. Fortunately, Caged in Winter doesn't follow the same kind of story like all others. In fact the characters in Caged in Winter is what kept me clicking my Kindle to keep me reading.  I loved every bit of the chemistry of Winter Jacobson and Cade Maxwell. The moment they met to the very end of the book for their HEA.  They definitely kept me intrigued for their story.

You have the most independent female character, Winter Jacobson (which I just adore her name) who can handle anything that is thrown at her. She's had a crappy life from the beginning, but that is about to change once she graduates and leaves the job that just pays the bills. Although, Cade Maxwell is going to change her life and at first she's not liking it at all. She doesn't need a knight in shining armor. She even lets him know it.

Cade Maxwell has had a rough life as well, but his life has been amazing since the moment he decided to follow his dream. He's having a hard time grasping what the future holds, especially when it means leaving his sister and niece behind, but life is going to be even more complicated once he meets Winter.

The two characters clash at first and when I mean clash…I mean full on Winter is about had it with him. Cade though is determined to win Winter over.  The poor guy had to deal with Winter's attitude for a bit, but he doesn't really realize what Winter has gone through in the past until she finally comes out and tells him.

The only thing that bothered me was how Winter kept pushing off Cade in the story. She's not open to trust people and she doesn't want to need someone, especially when she's proving she can do it all by herself.  She's one hard-headed girl, but I have to give it to her.  She's one determined girl who is trying to prove she's strong. Once you find out what has happened to her, you will realize why she's the way she is.

Cade was lovable from the beginning due to his love for his family and how he wanted to take care of Winter.  Brighton Walsh definitely combined the two characters perfectly.  The story flowed well and kept my interest.  I enjoyed the ending tremendously.  Like I said, this is not your typical New Adult.

I give this book 4 full moons and definitely look forward to reading the next book(s) in the series.  Although, I did already read the next one in the series because of finding out who gets their story next.  =)

Day 15: Favorite male character 

Harold Lauder from THE STAND. No doubt. 

I really wish Crescent City would've been a series instead of a trilogy because I definitely wanted more of Augustine and Harlow.  I felt like I was just getting close to them and now they've been ripped from me.  =*(  I'm going to miss my sexy smoky Guardian and his adorable computer genius sidekick.

Garden of Dreams & Desires picks up where Kristen Painter left the characters off at in the previous book. Yes…I was one of those readers that didn't handle the cliffhanger well.  Seriously, how would you react to an evil spirit taking over the female lead like that?  I couldn't. I was shocked with the ending. Kristen threw me in a loop after the second book, so I was anxious to read the last book in the trilogy. Of course, Kristen has to throw in another loop with the evil spirit and what it's evil plans are. Ahhhh!!!  There's also the issue of what is happening in NOLA with the Fae and the humans.  The Guardian has his work cut out for him, especially with an important person gone missing and the Fae being held accountable for it. Augustine will do anything to find out what really happened. He gets put into situations that I'm surprised he survived in.

Let's not forget the crazy witches.  Yup… I said it the crazy witches.  They have a BIGGER plan that is going to change everything in NOLA.  The Fae and everyone that gets in the way of the witches will be in trouble. I really didn't like the witches.  Grrr!

I won't go into anymore details of the story because I'm afraid I'll give something away and I hate spoilers.

What I liked most about this book is how Harlow grew into a stronger character in this one.  Don't get me wrong, I was mad what she did in the previous book, but she made up for it in this book.  She still made iffy decisions, but she made up for it, darn it!

Augustine finally became a changed guy and realized what he wanted.  He became a stronger Guardian too in this book.  Although, he got caught up in certain things that prevented him on doing what he was supposed to.

I also enjoyed how the evil spirit was handled. I was hoping it would end the way it did.

The only things that did bother me was how fast everything went and how much was put in such a small portion.  This book could have been easily broke into two books to tell the story, but I understand why it couldn't be. I just wish I could know exactly what happened to the bad guys in the story fully. They deserved a lot more coming to them, after what they did.  Grrrr!!  I also would've loved to find out what happens to certain secondary characters.  Cy being one of them.  ****hint, hint***  =)

Thank goodness for Kristen writing another series though, after this one because her next characters should fill that gap I have of losing Augustine and Harlow so soon.  Don't get me wrong I enjoyed reading the last book in the trilogy, but I'm going to miss these characters.  I was just getting to know them.  =*(

I give this book 3.5 stars and I do recommend it to Urban Fantasy readers out there and readers that enjoyed Kristen Painter's other UF series, House of Comarre.

Although, this is not my favorite of the trilogy, I still enjoyed reading how it all ended.  Seriously...I'm really going to miss Auggie…my sexy smoky Guardian.

The moment I started reading the first chapter of When It's Right, I knew this it was going to be one emotional roller coaster of a book. The first chapter alone grabbed me into the story. It also didn't help with having such a lovable male character who won me over the minute Jennifer switched to his POV. Oh…HOW I LOVE BLAKE BOWEN! He was a sweetheart cowboy the whole entire time in the book. Jennifer definitely matched the female character with the perfect Bowden man. (I'm definitely jealous.)

Gillian Tucker is the female character of the story and she hasn't had it easy at all. Again, the first chapter alone will grip you in and explain what the girl has gone through. The story digs deeper into what Gillian has been through when your reading the story. (but I won't give it away) She is one determined woman who can handle what is thrown at her. Gillian doesn't really trust easily until she meets her Grandfather and one of his co-workers at his Ranch that she is now going to be living at.

The minute Blake sees Gillian he knows he won't be able to let her go. It's an instant attraction kind of thing, but Gillian doesn't make it easy for Blake. She's had it rough. She also has been taking care not only of herself, but someone else too. Blake will do anything to win her over though. He'll even do it very slowly. He's what you will call the perfect caring gentleman.

There's going to be drama in the book that will be uncomfortable at times. Gillian is put in certain situations that definitely make it difficult to read because she's been through so much already. I wanted to go through the book and help her during those tough times. Jennifer definitely didn't make Gillian weak though. She's a fighter. She also has the biggest support system ever in this book.  It just takes her a while to realize she has people to lean on.

I will admit I teared up during certain scenes in the book, especially in one certain point that was a happy moment. Yup…tissues were needed.

I will say it again though, Jennifer wrote the two perfect people to be together. Gillian needed Blake and Blake needed Gillian. These two are my favorite so far in the Montana Men series.

I give this book 4.5 stars and look forward to reading the next in the series. This series is making me want to get a ranch out in Montana now. Maybe I can convince the hubs to move again.  =)

Hero is the first book I've read from Samantha Young and I look forward to reading more books from her very soon. I have actually been meaning to read Samantha Young's books for a while, but my reading schedule has been hectic until now. I was excited to read Hero early because this type of book is one of my favorites to read. A sexy CEO who has made it even after his troubled past and the woman he tries to avoid but can't. The woman also has a trouble past, but she is determined to make it and she's also determined to help the CEO with his past.

Samantha Young had me continuously turning the pages from the minute I started reading Hero due to how the characters met in person. I swear I was on the edge of my seat because once the two characters met, I knew it was going to be a tension filled book.  The synopsis covers a little bit about what is expected, but in the story you go through a world wind of crazy tension (horrid and sexual) between the characters. Be prepared for lots and lots of tension…and of course lots and lots of sexual moments that are VERY heated.  (Is it getting hot in here?)

Caine Carraway had a rough life due to what happened to his parents and what ended up to him, but he made it through. Unfortunately, he holds a grudge against the person who put him in that predicament, when he was younger. Now, he's going to face off with the daughter of the man who ruined his life and he's going to make her pay for what her father did. Although, Alexa has her own hatred for her father and what he did, but it won't stop her from making things right. She is about to work for Caine and he's going to be difficult to her. VERY difficult….but Alexa is going to challenge him as well.  =)

Hero is all in Alexa's point of view, which I wish I could've been in Caine's head for a little bit during the story. I would have loved to read his point of view of what was happening, especially with the one secret that was revealed towards the end.

The only thing that really bothered me was Alexa letting everyone walk over her, especially her family. She just wants to feel loved and wanted and she couldn't even get that with her family. The ending of what happened irked me a bit with her family too…but the ending with her and Caine was amazing. Those two needed happiness.

This is a standalone, so there is no cliffhanger at the end or anything. I highly recommend this to readers who enjoy the contemporary erotic romance genre. Readers that enjoy reading books with sexy damaged CEOs in them, and a female character who is willing to do anything to fix the damaged CEO while fixing herself.

I give this book 4 full moons and look forward to reading again and again in the near future.