Linda's Sunflower

Size Matters Alison Bliss Hachette Book Group November 29, 2016 4.5 out of 5 stars! Even though parts of this book were frustrating, I still enjoyed it. Leah Martin owns a bakery, and, let's put it this way, she's not a skinny little thing. She meets Sam Cooper in a bar, but he's got his own issues. Past relationships didn't go so well, and even though he's ready to settle down, he's not sure what he's looking for. Leah's mom is judgmental about her weight - always trying to tell her to lose weight, eat better, etc. But when Sam meets her family, he can't stand how her mother treats her, so he says he's her fiance! Wildness ensues. I enjoyed almost all of Leah's family, but especially her dad and grandparents. Sam has to get past his previous relationships, and decide if Leah is the one for him. I'll be reading more books by Allison Bliss!

FINDING OUR FOREVER by BRENDA NOVAK Harlequin Special Edition Expected release date: April 1, 2017 If the first book in Brenda Novak's new Silver Springs series is any indication, it will be a GREAT series! Cora, who was adopted, finds her birth mother at the New Horizon Boys Ranch. She gets a job teaching art there, but can't decide whether to confide that she is the ranch owner, Aiyana's daughter. Elijah is one of Aiyana's adopted children, and Cora finds herself caring for him. He had an abusive childhood, and is determined not to have a relationship. But he finds himself caring very deeply for Cora. Will Cora tell Aiyana that she is her daughter? Why did Aiyana give her up for adoption? And how do Cora's adoptive parents feel? All these questions are answered. I loved the characters in Finding our Forever, and am eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series! Highly recommend this book!

At First Light Mari Madison Publish Date: March 7, 2017 Berkley Publishing Group Troy Young and Sarah Martin were lovers 5 years ago. But Troy broke Sarah's trust, then left for a reporting gig in war-ravaged Syria. After being kidnapped and tortured, he is finally released. When he comes home, he suffers from PTSD. Sarah is working for a TV station as their entertainment reporter. When Troy is hired at the same station, they end up doing "fluffy" entertainment reviews together. The chemistry is still there, but can they overcome what happened in the past? Will Troy get help for his PTSD? And who is trying to harm Sarah? I loved this book. I won't post any spoilers, but it was hard to put down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book to me. This is an honest review.

Staying for Good Catherine Bybee January 24, 2017 Montlake Romance 5 Stars What a book! Zoe Brown left River Bend right out of high school, determined to make something of her life. She left behind her high-school sweetheart, Luke; and her dysfunctional family, all abused at the hands of her father, who is now in prison. Zoe goes on to make her name as a chef, winning a TV competition and continuing to star in cooking specials. But can she continue to stay away from River Bend, or will her love for Luke bring her home, finally? And what happens when her father gets out of prison after 17 years and returns home like nothing has changed? I absolutely loved this book, even though it had a dark side. The underlying abusive relationship between Zoe's father and mother may seem hard to understand, but I've known women in this position and it is tough to break that cycle of abuse. And the ending leaves us to believe the next story is going to be about Zoe's friend, Jo.  

Little Girl Lost Carol Wyer January 19, 2017 Bookouture 4 Stars This book features Detective Robyn Carter, who has recently suffered a horrible loss. A teacher disappears. A millionaire is murdered. What part does Abigail, mother to little Izzy, play in the puzzle? Is there a serial killer loose? It took me a little while to get into this book because it was confusing with the amount of characters and going back and forth from the past to present; but once you get a little further into it, you see where the story is headed, and the pace picks up. There are a lot of twists and turns, and just when you think you have it figured out, something else comes up and changes your mind. Enjoyed it a lot! Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the chance to read and review.