One of many things I love to do right now is beta/arc read for authors. I have come across some great reads as well as "talked" with some great people. Carol Burnside is no different. She's a very sweet person with a great grasp of family and real life issues.
A Suitable Wife & Her Unexpected Family are books 1 & 2 respectively in the Sweetwater Springs series by Carol Burnside. Each book builds off of the previous ones as far as character's used for story lines. You get to see how some of the wonderful secondary characters from previous books are dealing with their own demons and check in with your favorites. That's a win in my book especially with series that get over 3 books in it.
Book Blurb:
Sam Moreland is desperate to
keep his daughter out of the clutches of her abusive mother seeking custody. He
resists legal advice to provide the court with a complete family unit because
past relationships have soured him on love.
Though she yearns for
children, Rosie Baxter knows a failed pregnancy has likely left her barren. She
remains single rather than bring her problems into a marriage and concentrates
on her business with its financial woes.
A temporary marriage pact
means Rosie provides Sam with the illusion of family in return for an influx of
cash into her store. But kisses for show become all too real. When outside
threats shake their growing bond, each must trust the other with their darkest
secret or lose their best chance for love and happiness.
Warning: This book contains a heated tryst in
the kitchen, a cricket choir, conniving exes, and big family gatherings. Do not
read if you are allergic to tall, dark and handsome men with sweet baby girls or
determined red-haired women with strong maternal feelings. The author makes no
guarantees against sudden urges in the reader to move to a small southern
town.
My thoughts on A Suitable Wife (Book 1 in series):
This
is book grabs your heart and doesn't let go. There are questions I hope
will be answered in the future books but I over all liked it. It's an
emotional read that has you pulling for them both. Controlling
and desperate ex's team up to try to break them down. There is joy and
sadness that takes you through this emotional journey. The reality of their situations hit them hard and they are two great characters with some gumption to them. I loved both of them. The way this is written you can feel their pain in your soul. The writing is wonderfully done. I enjoyed this book very much.
Book Blurb:
Former bad boy, Travis Baxter, has a reputation to
live down, a job to do fast, and one woman he can’t seem to avoid. He’s starting
a 24/7 renovation flip on Claire’s beauty salon when a surprise appears at his
door . . . a three-year-old son. Immediate custody brings Travis a major
problem. He needs a nanny.
Claire Larkin glimpsed a rare and appealing side
of Travis during one ill-fated date, but her personal policy is no involvement,
no strings. Not even a pet until she’s pronounced cancer free. With free time
until her salon is done, Claire pitches in to help the grieving little boy and
stunned father. Despite her best efforts to resist, she and Travis succumb to
their attraction.
When it appears Claire’s cancer has returned, she
pulls away and Travis is faced with a seemingly impossible decision. Protect his
son from another loss or support the woman he’s come to love?
Warning: This book contains hair salon gossip,
hunky construction workers, sex in the shower, sudden humor and it might tempt
you to gorge on pizza and brownies. Even so, at certain points the reader may
wish to keep tissues handy.
My Thoughts on Her Unexpected Family (Book 2):
This was a beautiful story that deals with the raw emotions linked
to trials and tragedy that happens in real life. The tissues were ever
present for me. I was on an emotional roller coaster from start to
finish. This series does not avoid tough topics and situations that most
people experience and does so in a way where you feel like your own
heart is being wrenched out of you! Travis and Claire are perfect
for each other and embrace their new relationship with a push-pull. He
wants to push her and she wants to pull away to protect him. They deal
with their new bumps as a team that is cohesive but believable. Travis
has matured from his player ways while Claire learns to let people in
to the real her. They help each other become better versions of
themselves. Another great, well crafted story in this series.About the Author
Carol Burnside is an award-winning author of the Sweetwater Springs series of “sizzling romance with heart and humor.” Her personal second-chance-at-love story resulted in a marriage to her high school sweetheart of thirty-plus years. Also published in short stories, Carol’s novel length manuscripts have placed in numerous contests and won several, including the prestigious Maggie Award for Excellence.
Writing as Annie Rayburn, she produces soft sci-fi and lite
paranormal erotic romances which have been favorably received. Talk about
cross-genre! Enjoy excerpts, review snippits, and more
about her sexy Crainesian characters on her website or
connect with her on www.PetitFoursAndHotTamales.com.
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