Soraya Lane

The “River Ranch” series start off quite well. Do not expect something overly explosive in this first book, it is a normal development of a relationship, with a little something on the sides. And that is why I liked it. Nothing bad to say about it, but here are my thoughts.

As the blurb says, both our main characters come from different environments and have worked a lot to become independent. And that is just one of the thinks that links them. Mia is training to be the best jumper, working every day with her horse. Sam has built a career from his passion, tending horses, and now has more success than he could ever dreamed of. A beautiful stallion brings them together when Mia’s father hires Sam to help out with Tax.

All need healing. Sam wants to mend his broken heart. Mia wants to make peace with her friend’s passing. Tax, well, he is as arrogant and as stubborn as our characters. Oh, in case you haven’t figured it out yet, Tax is the stallion in discussion.

The relationship starts with changing those bad first impressions and then continues with physical attraction. Nothing more can happen. She doesn’t have time, he doesn’t have the heart to be involved in something serious. One way or another, they will have to overcome the preconceptions and errors in judgment.

My favorite item in this book was definitely Tax. The author has created a mirrored image of our characters and, to a point, their relationship goes in line with Tax’s own healing and taming process. I think this is a fine detail to include in a story that would otherwise be a simple romance.

All in all, if it hadn’t been for the abrupt ending and my own pickiness, I would have gone with 5 stars. But because I am me, I’ll go with 4 and looking forward for the other books in the series.… (more)

1937: Estee plans to make her mother’s dream come true, but for different reasons. Estee would remember Felix Barbieri’s words all her life.

"You’ll be the most beautiful dancer at La Scala..."

Present Day: Lily is honoring her father’s legacy by making his dreams her own and the next step as assistant winemaker is a position in Italy. Is the planned time in Italy serendipity that may unlock a connection to ancestry?

I was enchanted by the story. In the pleasure of reading dual timelines, as indispensable as both features are to the storyline, it is sometimes the past, sometimes the present, that offers more intrigue and/or takes my breath away. In this novel, I was mesmerized and immersed in the present and the past, and together, a most romantic excursion by armchair travel in Italy, that met every anticipation of falling in love with Italy and falling in love in Italy. Magnificent! I loved the novel from beginning to end.

I look forward to reading more of the series and being captivated once again by the author’s writing.… (more)

Amazon’s blurb:
When Hazel is given the chance to parachute into Nazi-occupied France, she seizes the opportunity to do more for the British war effort than file paperwork. Alongside her childhood friend, French-born Rose, she quickly rises up the ranks of the freedom fighters. For Rose, the Resistance is a link to her late husband, and a way to move forward without him. What starts out as helping downed airmen becomes a bigger cause when they meet Sophia, a German escapee and fierce critic of Hitler who is wanted by the Gestapo. Together the three women form a bond that will last a lifetime.

You know those cozy mystery series with cats or bookstores or knitting? Well WWII is like my cozy mystery genre. It doesn't have to be groundbreaking or novel, it just has to follow the formula and hit all the familiar guidepost and it will do. Hearts of Resistance is a perfect example of that. It did everything it was supposed to and I enjoyed my time with it. Now I will likely forget the details in a bit and will only remember that I read it because I log my reading here on LT. Not to say that it's a bad book, just explaining how I read in this genre… (more)