{Blog Tour} Stick in the Mud Meets Spontaneity by Rachael Anderson

 
Title: Stick in the Mud Meets Spontaneity
Author: Rachael Anderson
Series: Meet Your Match #3
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Purchase: Amazon

Home from college for the summer, Samantha Kinsey steps into her role as nanny for her two favorite little charges. But when she finds herself playing chauffeur more than playmate, her summer outlook quickly turns from fun to bleak. That is, until she drives the girls to a family-owned ranch and meets Colten McCoy—a genuine, hard-working cowboy, who's as set in his ways as he is handsome. Although he claims he doesn't need any fun in his life, Sam’s determined to help him find it. But she'll soon discover that cowboys are about as easy to train as wild mustangs. Stick in the Mud Meets Spontaneity is about an adaptable girl and a not so adaptable guy. It’s about learning to accept people for who they are and realizing that sometimes who they are is exactly who they should be.

There is no secret for how I much I love this author and her books. I have really enjoyed the other stories in this series, and although I was sad to see this series come to a close, I was excited to finally get Samantha's story.

Sam is home from college. Newly graduated, with a prestigious job in NYC lined up to start in August, she's ready to make the most of her summer as playmate and nanny for our favorite little girls. Only she finds out that Kajsa and Ari are growing up, with plans of their own and things to occupy their time this summer. Sam is relegated to chauffeur and she isn't sure how to feel about this. That is, until she meets Colton.

I liked Sam a lot. She was spunky, and fun, and honestly inspiring. That might sound weird, but I'm not going to lie: I can be more of a stick-in-the-mud like Colton, and I loved her creativity and craziness. She wants to live a memorable life, and is all about doing fun, crazy things to make each and every day fun and memorable and I loved that. Colton, on the other hand, is hard-working and dedicated to his family ranch. He likes the comfort of home and his routine, and doesn't really like disrupting his life. (Not that he really can, since you can't really leave the ranch for any period of time). Yet the two of them still worked.

I've always loved Anderson's characters because of how real they are. They have real problems, that are relatable. We can understand what they are going through. Colton and Sam may have that initial magical fairy-tale feeling of falling in love, but they were also realistic. Especially with Sam leaving for New York, and them having to figure out how to work with that.

But I loved this story. It was cute, it was fun, and it was enjoyable. You will fall in love with Colton and Sam, with Kajsa and Adi, with the ranch and even Your Majesty, their persnickety horse.

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Rachael Anderson:

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USA Today bestselling author, Rachael Anderson is the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can't sing, doesn't dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.

Valentine's Day #booklove!

Happy Valentine's Day, booknerds! I think I speak for most of us when I say that books are, and always will be, our first love. I personally don't usually do much to celebrate Vday (except use it as an excuse to bake treats).

However, I saw that Jessica Brooks was doing a #booklove giveaway to spread love. Click the image below to be taken to her post, which has a GIVEAWAY, but basically she is asking to spread the book love by crossposting reviews to Amazon/BN/other purchase sites. This is an easy and simple way to spread the love for your favorite authors and books, especially if you have some favorite Indie/self pub books.

I thought I would also take a moment to spread the booklove by showcasing some of my recent favorites as well. As much as I would like to, I can't review every book I read, and some slip through the cracks. So these are just a few of my recent favorites, as well as some of my indie favs.

Jackaby by William Ritter
This is my most recent favorite. I loved this book so much. I mean, it's pitched as Doctor Who meets Sherlock, so how could I not? Not to mention a stunning cover. But I loved, loved this book.

Just Pru by Anne Pfeffer
I actually just finished this self-pub, but it surprised me in the best way. It was hilarious and fun, but still dealt with serious topics. Pru is one of my new favorite MC's.

Solving for Ex and First World Problems by Leigh Ann Kopans

LeighAnn Kopans is one of my favorite indie authors, so of course I had to mention her again, even though she's technically not a "new" fav. SfE is YA, and FWP is NA, but they are both amazing and I love them both so much.

Fish Out of Water by Natalie Whipple
I know I already reviewed this one, but it was so cute that I had to mention again. Also self-pub, I loved how cute and fun this was and how awesome Mika is.

anything by Rachael Anderson

If you're into (clean) adult romance, then Rachael Anderson is your girl. Her books are super cute, sweet, and fun to read.

The Superlatives Series by Jennifer Echols I loved this series, but Most Likely to Succeed was my favorite, hands down. It was cute, and fun, and hilarious, and I loved the characters (but especially Sawyer). They're the kind of cute, sweet reads that would be perfect for Valentine's Day, actually.

I could go one forever about books I love, but I figured I should just stick with books I've read recently so we aren't here forever. In fact, I might start doing this every once in a while to highlight books. So, tell me, who are you spreading the #booklove to today?

Mini Reviews: Working it Out, The Reluctant Bachelorette

Title: Working it Out

Author: Rachael Anderson

Genre: Clean Adult Romance

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Source: eBooks for Review

 

A chance encounter . . .
Grace Warren's life is safe and predictable—exactly the way she likes it. But when she gets roped into going to an auction to help out a friend, everything changes. She meets Seth Tuttle—a guy who unexpectedly kisses her then disappears, leaving her flustered and upset. If she never sees him again, it will be too soon.
A chance for love . . .
Weeks later, when Seth limps into Grace's rehab clinic post surgery, he's every bit as frustrating and annoying as she remembered. Yet there's something about him that makes her second-guess her carefully placed boundaries even though he's everything she's sure she doesn't want in a man. But maybe Seth is exactly what Grace has needed all along—assuming she's willing to risk safe and predictable for a chance at love.

 

This was a cute, fun read. It was light, fluffy, and so sweet. It was quick, but also entertaining. I can count on Anderson for a sweet, romantic read and she did not disappoint.

I liked both our characters. Grace is a physical therapist, and she's worked hard to become the best in the area. While she used to be more adventurous, she has put that behind her to live a safer life. I like her because she was independent and hard-working (although she was kind of a workaholic). She cared for her brother, even when he wasn't the easiest to care for. Seth is a thrill-seeker. Although he comes across as egotistical at first, he has a good heart and is a lot of fun. 

The romance wasn't instant, which was good. In fact, at first Grace can't really stand him, although he's attracted to her from the beginning. Their banter was humorous, as we watch Seth try to get under her skin--a lot. But it was cute and fun and I loved seeing them together. 

I also loved how this one went past them getting together, as most of the time romance stories just stop there. But after they got together, there were still problems. But they worked through them, and I appreciate that being shown because everything isn't all perfect after two people get together. There can still be issues, but the key is to work through them. 

I flew through this one, because it was cute and fun. I also appreciate how Anderson keeps her stories clean without slacking on quality. If you enjoy romance, then you will definitely enjoy this one.

This review can also be found on   

Title: The Reluctant Bachelorette

Author: Rachael Anderson

Genre: Clean Adult Romance

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Source: eBooks for Review

 

Luke Carney has no idea what possessed him to move back to Shelter Springs, Colorado, to set up his veterinarian practice. His parents have long since left, the small farming community is on the brink of extinction, and only one close friend from his childhood remains--Taycee Emerson, his best friend’s little sister, who isn’t so little anymore.
Then there’s the matter of Shelter’s Bachelorette, an online reality dating show created to raise some much needed funds for the town.
Unwittingly cast as the bachelorette, Taycee wants out, especially when she discovers that Luke, her childhood crush, is back in town and will be one of the bachelors. To make matters worse, it's up to the viewers--not her--to decide which bachelors stay or go. And they all seem to like Luke.
Unwilling to let him break her heart again, Taycee launches a subtle attack on Luke’s good name with the hope of getting him voted off the show. But she’d forgotten that Luke's an eye-for-an-eye kind of guy, and when he discovers what she's up to, it means revenge.

I really enjoyed this one. It was fun, and different, and all-around cute. I was intrigued by the bachelorette part, and that's what made this story fun and unique. 

Taycee loves flowers. She owns a little flower shop in her hometown of Shelter and loves her job. However, she can't seem to settle down or find a serious boyfriend, because all her thoughts are tainted by her first love--a guy that left town 10 years ago, and never looked back or kept in touch. Until the day she finds out he's coming back to shelter. 

At the same time, Taycee's best friend Jessa has signed her up to be Shelter's bachelorette for an online reality dating show to help save the farms. And guess who's one of the bachelors…

I liked Taycee, as she was spunky and independent but still minimal. She likes simple things, likes her small town, and doesn't like change. But she was fun. I liked the supporting characters as well, from Taycee's brother, to the bachelors. I did not like Taycee's best friend Jessa. Just couldn't stand her. 

The bachelorette show was a little iffy. Not sure if it really would have worked that way, as I feel like there wasn't much to go on in the episodes. But it was still a different plot point, and made things interesting. 

All in all, this was a cute and fun story that I really enjoyed reading.

This review can also be found on   

Rachael Anderson: 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Righting a Wrong {by Rachael Anderson}

Title: Righting a Wrong

Author: Rachael Anderson

Series: A Ripple Effect Romance Novella #3

Genre: Clean Adult Romance

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Purchase: Amazon

Received for review

Seven years ago, Cambri Blaine fled her small hometown of Bridger, Colorado after her senior year of high school ended in a fiasco. But now her father needs help, and Cambri has no choice but to return home. So with trepidation, she takes a leave of absence from the landscape architecture firm where she works and heads home, hoping against hope that Jace Sutton is no longer around and that the past can stay where it belongs-in the past. If only life worked that way. Jace never expected to see Cambri again. After she walked out of his life without a backward glance, he was left with no choice but to try to forget her and move on. But now that Cambri is back and looking more beautiful and sophisticated than ever, some of those old feelings resurface, and Jace instinctively knows, for the sake of his heart, that he needs to avoid her at all costs. If only it were that easy.

This was a cute little story. It was a sweet and light and fluffy, a quick read that will satisfy any romance craving you have.

Cambri left her small town to go off to college and become a big-city woman, leaving and hurting her father and friends in the process. She's back to take care of her ailing father, hoping she doesn't see the man whose heart she broke when she left. But she does--everywhere.

The romance in this one was sweet. It wasn't insta-love, as they were already in love once. But we get to see them fall in love all over again. They hold back because of the past and past hurts, but once they decide to move past that, it was a really sweet relationship.

Cambri also does some growing in this short story. She left her town because she couldn't stand being in such a small place, but she starts to realize that it isn't all so bad, and there are some things she actually misses. She goes from being dead set against it, to at least being willing to see both sides.

This was a novella, so it was short and not as developed maybe as a full story. But it was still a cute, fun read.

This review can also be found on   

Rachael Anderson: 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

{Blog Tour} Review: Rough Around the Edges Meets Refined by Rachael Anderson

 

Hey guys! Today, I am excited to be on the blog tour for the second book in Rachael Anderson's Meet Your Match series. I loved the first one, and am so glad that I liked the second one just as much. You can read my review of Prejudice Meets Pride here.

Title: Rough Around the Edges Meets Refined

Author: Rachael Anderson

Series: Meet Your Match, #2

Genre: Clean Adult Romance

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase: Amazon

For Noah Mackie, life is finally back on track. He has a great support system, a promised promotion is on its way, and he's finally getting the hang of this single father thing. But when the job falls through and his neighbor's matchmaking efforts become more aggressive, Noah is in for yet another unwanted detour. With his career and two spirited daughters to worry about, he doesn't have time for dating—especially not someone like Cassie Ellis, his girls' beautiful and sophisticated dance instructor, who is about as open and approachable as a brick wall. Rough around the Edges Meets Refined is about two people who think they know exactly what they want but who have no idea what they really need. It's about learning that people aren't always what they seem and that sometimes life’s detours take you exactly where you need to go.  

  

I loved this one. It was cute, and sweet, and romantic. We don't get to see much of Noah in the first book, because he was away, but I had been curious about his story. This takes place a few years after Prejudice Meets Pride, although you don't really have to read that one in order to understand this story. (But you should, anyway.)

Noah and Cassie are both widowed. Noah for a few years now, Cassie for less than one. They are both tired of being set up by well-meaning neighbors, which is why both of them were insistent on not falling for each other after meeting through Becky's not-so-subtle plans to get them together. But Noah ends up taking the job to refinish her basement, putting the two in close proximity for a while.

Both of these characters were deep, and I love that they had a backstory that we got to see. Like I said, both were widowed. Noah had a great relationship with Angie and loved her, and therefore didn't think about dating because he didn't think he could love someone as much, and has two girls to think about. Whereas Cassie wasn't interested in dating because her first marriage was a mistake, and she didn't trust herself to not do the same thing. Both had issues to overcome, and it made them seem like real people, able to relate to. They were complex characters, ones that grew over the course of the book, and I loved them.

Of course, don't forget about our favorite secondary characters from book 1. Loved seeing Emma and Kevin, Becky, Sam, and of course the girls. They made everything more fun and felt actually like a family, which of course made the book better.

I also loved how their relationship progressed slowly, and realistically. It was so fun, and sweet, and let's face it , Noah had me swooning in some places because he is just a great guy. Of course, they had their issues, but it was good to see them work through them like a real couple.

This book was super cute, and fun. If you're looking for a sweet, romantic book, then this is the one for you.

This review can also be found on   

Rachael Anderson:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

USA Today bestselling author, Rachael Anderson is the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can't sing, doesn't dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.

$25 Blog Tour Giveaway Enter to win an Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 1/19/15 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by readinglight.com. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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Twist of Fate {by Rachael Anderson}

Title: Twist of Fate [novella]
Author: Rachael Anderson
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Received for review


When a postcard meant for Kenzie winds up in Ty's mailbox, Ty's faced with a decision. Should he tell her that her fiancé is breaking up with her and let it ruin her favorite holiday, or should he do what he's wanted to do since he met her - make a move and hope that he can win her over before she discovers there won't be a wedding after all?



This was such a cute little novella. Bringing some Christmas cheer to the blog, I suppose. Although short, it was a fun and cute little story.

Kenzie and Ty have been neighbors for almost a year now. Kenzie is happily engaged to her childhood sweetheart, who is currently in Madagascar. But Ty has a secret: he's been in love with Kenzie practically since they met. So when her fiance's breakup postcard accidentally gets put in his mailbox, he's faced with a decision: let it ruin her favorite holiday, or show her how he feels?

This was an interesting concept. I mean, he hid the news that her fiance was breaking up with her. (Although, since he apparently had no class and did it was a postcard, Ty was probably doing Kenzie a favor. ) But the characters were set up quite well, especially for how short this was. They were fun, and cute, and funny.

I did think this moved way fast, but then, it is a novella. I mean, the events happen in the course of like two weeks. But I liked the two of them together. Was it slightly weird? I don't know, I thought so. But it was sweet and cute and fluffy, and I did enjoy it overall. This will definitely fill you with the warm fuzzies and Christmas spirit.

This review can also be found on   


Rachael Anderson: 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

{Blog Tour} Review: Prejudice Meets Pride by Rachael Anderson

 

Title: Prejudice Meets Pride

Author: Rachael Anderson
Series: Meet Your Match
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

After years of pinching pennies and struggling to get through art school, Emma Makie’s hard work finally pays off with the offer of a dream job. But when tragedy strikes, she has no choice but to make a cross-country move to Colorado Springs to take temporary custody of her two nieces. She has no money, no job prospects, and no idea how to be a mother to two little girls, but she isn't about to let that stop her. Nor is she about to accept the help of Kevin Grantham, her handsome new neighbor, who seems to think she’s incapable of doing anything on her own.Fun, compelling, and romantic, Prejudice Meets Pride is the story of a guy who thinks he has it all figured out and a girl who isn't afraid to show him that he doesn't. It’s about learning what it means to trust, figuring out how to give and to take, and realizing that not everyone gets to pick the person they fall in love with. Sometimes, love picks them.

This one definitely caught my attention with that summary, although I wasn't sure what to expect when reading it. However, this turned out to be a hilarious, fun, cute story.

Everything was going perfect for Emma, until she had to take guardianship of her two nieces, and move to Colorado Springs with no job, no money, nothing. Everything was going perfect for Kevin, with his dental practice, quiet neighborhood, and mother-approved girlfriend...until Emma and her two nieces move in right next door.

I definitely loved the characters in this one. They are perfectly flawed, although I was a bit more forgiving of Kevin's flaws than Emma's. Emma seemed a bit much, and it came off quite annoying at times. I definitely understand not wanting to take charity, or hating when someone else thinks you're not capable, but she had to pick a fight about every. single. thing. and sometimes, it just wasn't worth it. At the same time, she was a very strong woman, and has a very willing and caring heart, as seen by the fact that she agreed to care for her nieces for a year. She just wants to do the best she can, but do it herself. As an independent woman myself, I can appreciate that. But she also learned when she just needed to ask for help, and I think her character underwent a lot of growth as the story progressed.

Although Kevin came off a bit presumptuous and arrogant at the beginning, his character went through a change too. Kevin is a very uptight, orderly person. This isn't a bad thing, but throughout the book, he also learned to loosen up and go with the flow. Seeing him fumble trying to keep his cool around Emma was adorable, and the way he was with her nieces was the cutest. I loved how Kevin and Emma were together as well. It wasn't a fast, unrealistic, insta-love type thing. Instead, there was actual chemistry that made the relationship enjoyable to read about.

The secondary characters really helped bring another layer to this book as well, with Sam and her mother, and especially the two nieces. They were SO cute and will definitely bring a smile to your face while reading. The writing was also very well-done. The pacing was right, and the writing style will make you want to read more. Anderson does a lovely job with descriptions, especially of Emma's artwork (jealous! I want a room like that!).

This is a genuine, fun, cute story with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. If you're looking for a good clean romance, then this is the one for you.

This review can also be found on   

Rachael Anderson: 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

A USA Today bestselling author, Rachael Anderson is the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can't sing, doesn't dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.

 $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 5/31/14 

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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