The Dangerous One (Osborn Brothers #1) by Lori Foster

Alone is good. Alone with her is…better.
Hunter Osborn left his family, his friends and his job as a park ranger after uncovering a disturbing crime scene. Haunted by nightmares and dark thoughts, Hunter relocated to a small cabin outside of Ridge Trail, Colorado, where he lives off the land (and mostly off the grid). To pay the bills, he works on classic cars, keeping his interactions with others to a minimum.
Still, Hunter can spot trouble from a mile away, and when he encounters Jodi Bentley, he knows she’s trouble of the most tempting kind—even more tempting when she moves into the run-down cabin next door. But when Jodi’s own past comes knocking, Hunter gets drawn out of his own darkness and into hers.

I’m always sad when a series comes to a close, but picking up a book that’s connected to a previous series takes a little of the sting. 😉 That’s exactly how I felt when I discovered that the Osborne Brothers (at least The Dangerous One) had a connection to The McKenzies of Ridge Trail and that connection was Jodi.

Although there was a definite attraction between Jodi and Hunter, the romance was a slow burn. Hunter didn’t exactly give Jodi a warm welcome to the “neighborhood”. He was a loner and he not only liked it that way, he wanted to keep it that way. He had no idea why anyone would take on a property like the one next door. In his eyes, it wasn’t close to being livable, but Jodi liked a challenge and wasn’t afraid of hard work.

Regardless of his initial reluctance, it didn’t take long for him to grow to respect Jodi and for that mutual respect between the two of them grow into more. They both had their own demons from their past and some were much closer.

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a huge fan of pretty much everything that Lori Foster writes, but her romantic suspense offerings are my favorite. The Dangerous One definitely fell into that category. That suspense, along with a strong sense of family made this one hard to put down. I can’t wait to get to know the rest of the Osborn’s as the series continues.

The Honeymoon Cottage (Cemetery, Indiana #1) by Lori Foster

In The Honeymoon Cottage, locals of a quirky small town help their favorite wedding planner find her own happily-ever-after.
She was fine arranging other people’s weddings… But life had other plans.
When it comes to creating the perfect happily-ever-after, Yardley Belanger is a bona fide miracle worker. From bridal bouquets to matching cowboy boots, the quirky wedding planner’s country-chic affairs have caused quite a stir in the small town of Cemetery. But when it comes to her own love life? She’s clueless.
Completely clueless.
Perhaps it’s for the best. The thirty-one-year-old has poured her heart and soul into her business and doesn’t have time for anything—or anyone—else. And that’s something not even the gorgeous older brother of her newest client can change…right?
All Travis Long wanted was to give his little sister, Sheena, the wedding of her dreams. Ever since the tragic death of their parents, he’s done everything he can to make her feel loved and give her everything she needs. Still…a country wedding? In a place called Cemetery? But Yardley seems to know exactly what to do and how to do it—and Travis finds himself falling for her a little more each day.
Soon Yardley and Travis find themselves being nudged together by well-meaning locals who want to see the town’s favorite wedding planner get her own happy ending. 

I’ve mentioned before that I love pretty much everything this author writes, but I’m usually more drawn to her romantic suspense. However, when I’m in the mood for a sweet romance, she’s definitely an author I trust to give me a realistic story with witty characters that I’m easily pulled into. The Honeymoon Cottage definitely falls into that category.

Neither Travis or Yardley were looking for love, but that’s exactly what they found – with a little help from those who cared about them. As Travis soon found out, that was pretty much everyone who knew Yardley.

As with most of the books by Lori Foster, the supporting characters were just as intriguing as the central ones. I adored the quirky residents of Cemetery, Indiana and can’t wait to get to know them all a little better as the series continues. ❤

Watching Over You (McKenzies of Ridge Trail #3) by Lori Foster

Mysterious, unpredictable and most definitely scorching hot.
While investigating a criminal network, Detective Crosby Albertson keeps crossing paths with members of the highly trained, suspiciously well-informed McKenzie family. They’re always one step ahead of him—especially their alarmingly attractive intel specialist, Madison. And he needs to find out why.
Madison McKenzie is the tech and surveillance whiz of her family’s operation. A recent case introduced her to Detective Albertson. She finds herself irresistibly drawn to the sexy and mysterious cop. There’s just one problem. He’s a detective and her family’s work is secret. When Crosby starts digging for information about the McKenzies, Madison’s got to get him off the scent…while keeping him at a safe distance.

I’ve mentioned before that I’m a huge fan of pretty much anything that this author writes, but I’m partial to Lori Foster’s romantic suspense offerings over her sweet romances. The McKenzies of Ridge Trail definitely fell into the suspenseful category. By the time we got to Madison and Crosby’s story, I adored every member of the McKenzie family, which to be honest, I never really expected when the series began. ❤

Madison grew up the lone girl in a family of strong, protective men. That didn’t mean she was weak because even though her brothers and father kept her clear of the more dangerous aspects of the family business, they made sure she was capable of taking care of herself. That lack of weakness, along with her obvious beauty and intelligence were just a few of the reasons why Crosby was so attracted to her.

Although Crosby knew that the McKenzies worked outside the well-defined lines of the law that he had to follow, he was still intrigued by them. They had secrets that he wanted to unravel and readers learned in Watching Over You that Crosby had a few secrets of his own.

I loved how this story played out and even though the romance between Crosby and Madison was a long time coming, it was totally worth the wait. There were things about this story that I adored, but I don’t want to give anything away. Let’s just say that in Watching Over You, we get to see an entirely different side of more than one character.

Watching Over You was a great ending to the McKenzies of Ridge Trail, but it was still a series that I was sad to see come to a close. I loved getting to know these characters and although we did get glimpses of the rest of the McKenzie family in Madison and Crosby’s HEA, I would still have loved to spend more time with them. *sigh*

Stronger Than You Know (McKenzies of Ridge Trail #2) by Lori Foster

Their secrets run deep, but desire runs deeper…
Kennedy Brooks has spent years learning how to protect herself, and empowering other women to do the same. Still, there are some hazards that can’t be predicted. That includes Reyes McKenzie, who owns her local gym. Strong, capable, and watchful, he seems like the one man who might understand her past. For once, Kennedy is tempted to let her guard down—something she’s vowed never to do.
The moment petite, fiercely determined Kennedy walked into his gym, Reyes knew that she carried secrets. What he didn’t expect was that she could tell the same about him. When trouble tracks her down, she turns to Reyes, unleashing a maelstrom of protective instinct and mutual desire. But will her need for him end when the danger does, or will they take the ultimate risk—on each other?

I’ve mentioned before that although I love pretty much everything I’ve read by Lori Foster, her romantic suspense novels pull me in more easily than her sweet romances. Stronger than You Know was a perfect example, but I knew that going in. No Holding Back was the perfect intro to the McKenzies of Ridge Trail series and Stronger than You Know was a strong continuation.

Reyes was attracted to Kennedy from the time she started coming to his gym. The attraction was mutual, but Kennedy was cautious, with good reason. Cautious or not, that didn’t stop her from realizing that he was someone she could trust enough to call when she sensed she was in danger. He proved himself from not hesitating at all to come when she called. That was the catalyst to their romance, but it was a slow burn from there. Knowing her history and Reyes’ experience in recognizing the signs, taking things slow made sense. The action and suspense started from the first chapter and didn’t slow down much from that point on.

Aside from the suspense, I think what I like most about this series so far is the family dynamic. Two books in and the character development is easy to pick up on. Parrish was almost distant in the beginning, but as reluctant as he was to open his family up to outsiders, Star and now Kennedy are helping him to open up. In the same way, Cade and Reyes are seeing a side of their father that they thought was gone since they had lost their mother. Even though Madison was the only girl in a household of men, she held her own and brought a skillset to their family “business” that earned their respect. Even Bernard was more than just a trusted employee and even the family has seen another side of him as the series has progressed. The banter and good natured teasing between all the characters was a fun distraction from the danger and suspense.

Reyes and Kennedy’s story was brought to a satisfying end, but the family’s story is far from over. Madison is next and readers were given a taste of what’s to come. I can’t wait for Watching Over You and more from the rest of the McKenzie family. ❤

The Summer of No Attachments (The Summer Friends #2) by Lori Foster

Summer flings with no strings mean nobody gets hurt.
At least, that was the plan… 
After putting the brakes on her dead-end relationship, local veterinarian Ivey Anders is ready to soak up this summer on her own terms. The way she sees it, no dating means no disappointment. Why complicate life with anything long-term? But when she meets Corbin Meyer—and his troubled young son, Justin—Ivey’s no-strings strategy threatens to unravel before she can put it into practice
Trust doesn’t come easy for Ivey’s best friend, Hope Mage, a veterinary-clinic assistant who’s affected by an incident that’s colored every relationship she’s had. Though Hope’s happy for Ivey, she can’t quite open her own heart to the possibility of love. Not just yet… Maybe not ever. Soon, however, she’s faced with a dilemma—Corbin’s older brother, Lang. He’s charming, he’s kind…and he may just be the reason Hope needs to finally tear down her walls.
And as the sweet summer months unspool, the two friends discover love won’t give up on them so easily.

Even though I’m a self-proclaimed (and self-titled) eclectic reader, sweet romances aren’t my go-to when I’m looking for a new read. I do get in the mood for them from time to time and there’s absolutely no hesitation when they are written by authors I’ve grown to love. Lori Foster is one of those authors. I got hooked on her books with her Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor series when I picked up the 4th book, A Perfect Storm. It didn’t take me long to back track through the rest of the series and since then I’ve read a a lot of her suspense filled books. So, when I want a sweet, low drama read and see a book by Lori Foster offered, I know that I’ll be in for a good read. The Summer of No Attachments was no exception.

Readers met Ivey in the first book in the Summer Friends series, The Somerset Girls. Even though this is the second book in a series, it can definitely be read as a stand alone.

The Summer of No Attachments was a character driven story about two unlikely couples. Not because they weren’t perfect for each other, but because none of them were looking for romance, but fate had other plans. I know that a lot of readers see that a kid is involved in the plot of a romance and cringe. I’m the opposite because that’s a draw for me. Of course if the kid is simply used as a “prop” it can ruin the story, but Justin’s inclusion in The Summer of No Attachments was perfect. Of course he was the main focus of his father and his uncle, but the fact that both Ivey and Hope not only understood, but made him part of their focus as well said a lot for the future for both couples.

Even though there was little or no suspense, there was just enough drama to keep the pages turning. There were some heartbreaking moments surrounding both Hope and Justin, but the way that the other characters handled those situations made me love all of them even more.

So, if you’re in the mood for a sweet summer romance that includes a troubled kid who finds the family he deserves, an adorable dog and her puppies, supportive friends and a fair amount of healing, The Summer of No Attachments is the perfect choice.

No Holding Back (McKenzies of Ridge Trail #1) by Lori Foster

Not needing him won’t stop her from wanting him…
Trucker Sterling (Star) Parson is no stranger to the challenges a woman faces, both in her industry and in life. But she can take care of herself. She’s never needed—or wanted—a man around…until she meets Cade McKenzie. The take-charge bar owner sets off all kinds of alarm bells for Sterling, but he also sets her heart racing.
Cade’s lived in Ridge Trail long enough to know trouble when he sees it, and the moment Sterling—Star—walks into his bar, he knows trouble’s come to call. Secrets run deep in the small town and Cade can tell Star’s got as many as he does, leaving him itching to uncover every last one. But finding common ground will mean trusting one another, further feeding an intense attraction that’s growing impossible to resist.

Another great start to a new Lori Foster series. 😉

Full disclosure, I’ve been a fan of Lori Foster since I picked up my first book in the Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor – which I’m still back-tracking with BTW. I think that the thing that I like most about her books is her use of strong, protective men who are paired with equally strong women. No Holding Back was most definitely no exception.

Cade and Sterling had secrets and more than enough reasons to have trust issues. For reasons that couldn’t explain, they couldn’t help but slowly reveal those secrets to each other. Cade realized what was going on and gave into his feelings way before Sterling – which was totally understandable given everything she had gone through.

As with many of this author’s series and books, the supporting characters were an important part of the story – both the good guys and the bad. Cade’s father was a driving force and I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about him… in the beginning. He kind of grew on me eventually though – just like he grew on Sterling.

There was plenty of action, twists, turns, danger, plenty of romance and even a touch of humor that kept the pages turning – even while setting the stage for the rest of the series. There were plenty of hints about what’s in store for the McKenzies of Ridge Trail next and I can’t wait to see what happens next. 😉

The Somerset Girls by Lori Foster

No one knows you quite like a sister…
Summer in Sunset, Kentucky, means long, hot days—and sometimes surprising new beginnings. Through it all, the ties of sisterhood will be there, guiding Autumn and Ember to the lives, and loves, they need…
When they’re running the animal-rescue farm they inherited from their grandparents, Autumn and Ember Somerset are perfectly in sync. At all other times, not so much. Dependable Autumn would rather curl up with a good book than paint the town red with Ember. After the disaster that was Autumn’s last relationship, it’s pure self-protection. But when her high school crush comes back to town with his adorable young daughter, igniting memories best left forgotten, there’s only one person Autumn can turn to…
Beneath Ember’s free-spirited facade is a layer of deep hurt. She’ll gladly nudge Autumn toward a second chance. But risk her own heart? Not likely. The closer Autumn gets to her own happily-ever-after, the more Ember wonders what she might be missing—and if it isn’t her time to be bold, too.

I’ve been a fan of Lori Foster for a while now. The first book that I read by her was A Perfect Storm, which happens to be the last book in her Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor series. I know, I know – not the best way to dive into a series, but it got me hooked and I’ve recently started at the beginning of the series, so there is that. What I’ve discovered is that although I love the sweet romances, I think I get wrapped up in the romantic suspense more. For the record, I knew that little tidbit before I picked up The Somerset Girls. My reading’s eclectic, remember? So I won’t turn down a book from pretty much any genre, especially when it’s written by an author I love and this author definitely falls into that category. 😉

Which brings us to The Somerset Girls… It follows two sisters and their search for love… even if they didn’t realize they were looking. Autumn and Ember are almost total opposites. The one thing that they have in common is their fierce love of each other and animals. They’ve also experienced their own share of heartbreak and it’s pretty much turned them off romance – at least they thought that it had. Ember is determined to make sure that Autumn gets another chance at love and Autumn is determined to make sure that Ember gets that same chance. With well-meaning yet clueless parents; a precociously adorable, yet heartbroken little girl; an old flame that knows exactly how much he screwed up the first time around and a farm hand determined to prove he cares and can be trusted to help mend a broken heart, The Somerset Girls was a sweet story filled with love and hope. Aren’t those the best kind?

All Fired Up (Road to Love #3) by Lori Foster

Charlotte Parrish has always wanted a certain kind of man: someone responsible, settled, boring. Bad boys need not apply. But when her car leaves her stranded and a mysterious stranger with brooding eyes and a protective streak comes to her rescue, she can’t deny how drawn she is to him. In town searching for family he’s never met, Mitch is everything she never thought she wanted—and suddenly everything she craves.
Finding his half brothers after all these years is more than Mitch Crews has allowed himself to wish for. Finding love never even crossed his mind…until he meets Charlotte. She’s sweet, warmhearted, sexier than she knows—and too damn good for an ex-con like him. But when his past comes back to haunt him, putting Charlotte—and the family he’s come to care for—in danger, Mitch isn’t playing by the rules. He’s already surrendered his heart, but now he’ll risk his life.

I’ve loved all the books in the Road to Love series so far, but I’ve gotta admit, I think All Fired Up may have been my favorite. It features Charlotte, who has been around since the series began and Mitch, who readers were hinted about at the end of Slow Ride.

Charlotte is the “little sister” to overprotective brothers, Jack and Brodie. She lost her parents when she was younger and was “adopted” by the Crews family with no hesitation whatsoever. Mitch had a plan. He wanted to establish himself and then at least meet his half brothers. That plan fell apart as soon as he ran into Charlotte. He was attracted to her from the start – even before he knew her connection to the Crews brothers. That should have nipped his attraction in the bud, but it soon became impossible to ignore.

When Mitch found out that he’d brought danger to his new family, he planned on keeping it as far away from them as possible, whatever it took. He didn’t know his family well enough to realize that they took care of their own and were more than capable. He didn’t expect the immediate devotion and trust for someone who should have been considered a total stranger. That’s just not how the Crews family worked.

I think that’s what made me love this series so much. The strong sense of family that came from all the Crews members. I had only one little issue with the family aspect and it centered around forgiveness. I’m not going to give it away. I think most readers will know what I’m talking about when they get to it. It wasn’t enough to tarnish my love for this series or All Fired Up. As usual, I can’t wait to see what Lori Foster has in store for readers next.

Sisters of Summer’s End (Summer Resort #2) by Lori Foster

As the summer ends, friendship begins…When single mom Joy Lee abandoned her old life to take a job at a lakeside resort, she found something that her family’s wealth and influence could never buy: peace of mind. Not easy to come by for the once-burned divorce who keeps everyone at a distance. But when her new friend, Maris, dares her to take a chance with the drive-in’s charismatic new owner, everything changes for Joy and her young son. A difficult childhood has left Maris Kennedy with definite priorities. Her job running Summer’s End, the camp store and cafe, comes first. Always. Nothing could ever make her risk that hard-won security–especially not her free-spirited colleague. But the more she encourages Joy to open herself up to new experiences, the more Maris begins to wonder what she, too, might be missing. Learning how to trust will bring Joy and Maris together.
And soon they form a friendship that leaves them as close as sisters–and open to love where they least expect it…in Summer’s End.

I’ve really enjoyed the Summer Resort series, which started with Cooper’s Charm. I think that Sisters of Summer’s End may have been even sweeter than the first book. For one thing, the only real conflict in this one was emotional. There was a touch of danger in Cooper’s Charm that was absent in the second book. That’s not a complaint though. Although I love Lori Foster’s suspenseful books a little more, the sweet ones definitely have their own appeal 😉

Just like Cooper’s Charm, there were two couples featured in Sisters of Summer’s End and I enjoyed both of them. Both women had interesting back stories and both men were determined to find a way into both of their hearts.

I’m not sure if there’s more to come with the Summer Resort series, but I have no doubt that there’s much more to come from Lori Foster, regardless.

Driven to Distraction (Road to Love #1) by Lori Foster

When desire gets this hot, you’d better buckle up…
Mary Daniels doesn’t let anything get in the way of her job acquiring rare artifacts for her wealthy boss. But this particular obstacle—huge, hard-muscled, unashamedly masculine—is impossible to ignore. Stuck in a cramped car with Brodie Crews for hours en route to their new assignment, Mary feels her carefully crafted persona—and her trademark self-control—is slipping, and she won’t allow it.
Brodie can’t imagine what secret in Mary’s past has left her so buttoned-up, though he’d dearly love to find out. Maybe then she’d trust him enough to explore their explosive chemistry. But he needs this job, so he’ll play by her rules and bide his time…until an enemy determined to outwit them strikes and he needs to get close—in every way—to protect her. Otherwise they could lose much more than a precious collectible. They could lose it all.

I always get excited when I find out that Lori Foster has started a new series. It almost takes the sting out of one of her series ending. 😉 (Just kidding – I mean I can always go back and for a re-read…)

Mary and Brodie had a rough start. Brodie thought she was stuffy and Mary thought he was not professional in the slightest. She would have much preferred working with his brother. Her boss was specific in his request for Brodie though, so she didn’t have a choice. She didn’t have to like it though and she made that pretty clear from the start. It wasn’t like Brodie was excited about the prospect of spending so much time with Mary, but he had to admit she was a mystery that he definitely wanted to solve. He knew there was more behind her than she revealed. He considered it a challenge.

The more these two spent time together though, the more they couldn’t deny the attraction. Beyond the budding romance between Brodie and Mary there was a lot going on in Driven to Distraction. Mary had a few hang-ups and emotional attachment of any kind was one of them. It took her a while to realize that there was more than one way to define family. She had more than she realized and she gained even more with her connection to Brodie. There was also the element of danger and craziness surrounding Mary’s boss’s obsession. It definitely kept things interesting.

I know that there’s at least one more book in this series that will be centered on Brodie’s brother, Jack. I personally can’t wait for the Road to Love series to continue with Slow Ride. 😉