The Bottom Line by Sandy James

Mallory is a High School teacher that has had a long hard year.  Her husband leaves she has been ill and now she needs to start over with her life.  Her husband left lots of projects to finish in the home when he left and now she wants them done.  She asks a friend if they might know a contractor that could do the repairs.  He has her call Ben. 

Ben goes to give an estimate on some repairs that need to be done to Mallory.  He really needs the job as he has a daughter to take care of.  When he starts to work on the repairs at Mallory’s the build a friendship that he wants to see if it can be more.  Although he is not sure he is ready for that as is ex-wife was a not the best.

As they the friendship grows Ben sees the fear and pain that Mallory is hiding.  Will she let him in?  Can he win her heart?

I loved the emotions in this book as they are real in some lives.  This may be because I know what it is like to survive illness and to try to live one’s life.  This is a very moving story on what it is like to move on from pain and let life take you where it wants.

I look forward to more in this series.

Once Tasted (Silver Creek #2) 5-26-14 by Laura Moore

Once Tasted (Silver Creek #2)

I loved this book.  I really enjoyed the how I was able to relate to Mia.  She is shy, quite, and not sure about her life.  I also liked how she grows in confidence and learns that love is import in life.  Reid is the boy everyone wants and he knows it.  I liked that he had to work to earn Mia’s trust.

Everything has come easily to Reid Knowles. But suddenly life becomes complicated when his good friend and neighbor asks him to help run the winery next door. His neighbor’s niece, Mia Bodell, is in charge.

Mia knows that nothing comes easily. In high school, her heart was crushed by Reid, and even though years have passed, the hurt lingers. She will not fall for him. But one taste of unbridled passion changes things. From Reid’s first intoxicating kiss to his unexpectedly tender seduction, Mia is swept into a passionate affair that could tear her heart to pieces . . . or give her everything she has ever wanted.

Mia never saw herself as someone that anyone would want to be with.  She has always felt as no one sees her and if she loves them they will leave her.  As Mia comes to believe in herself her Uncle is ready to move to the next step on his life.  He is going to hand the rains to Mia and let her run the winery, with the help of the neighbors.  He moves to France and Mia takes over.  As she does this she starts to second guess her decisions, starting with Reid.  As Mia and Reid start to work together on the winery the passion start to grow. Reid wants more than just a few moments with Mia.  He starts to spend more time with Mia.  Then trouble comes to the winery. Can Mia and Reid keep the winery going?  Will they be able keep what they have found with each other?

The Rancher Takes a Wife; Montana Brides, #1 by Leslea Tash

It is the 1920s in New York and Chastity Lilly is determined to find a career as a teacher so she can support her family upstate. But with her roommates help she starts to stray. Carl Ward was looking for his sister in New York he meets Chastity Lilly. She helps the rancher in town look for his sister, and she is reminded of the life she wants.   Carl is taken with Chastity and wants to know more about her.  To do this he will help her find the friend she was looking for when he met her.  When Carl has to leave and go home he can’t forget Chastity and helps get a teaching offer back in Montana.  If she takes the job she may have to leave her family behind, but there is not much for her in New York anymore now that her repetition is tarnished.  She decides to make the move and pray for the best and hope her family will be able to follow.

Carl can’t stop thinking about Chastity.  When she gets to town he not only wants her to teach the children but hopes to win her heart.  As his sister Jessica does not want this she does everything to keep them apart, including find out about the trouble Chastity was in before she move to Wedlock, MT.  Can they overcome the pasts they have to build a future together?

I loved how Chastity knows she needs to make the move and hopes to the have her brothers and sister move in with her so she can take care of them.  Carl shows Chastity to not judging others or the natives in town by what she knows.  I was mad at how Jessica treated Chastity and could not help it but to want Chastity to come out on top. I will be looking for more books in this series.

** Book provided by the publisher