Penner Publishing | June 15, 2015 | Contemporary Romance
Michigan Moonlight, book 1
★★★★
SOURCE: PEN & INK BOOK TOURS
Photographer Ian Kroft’s dream is to finish his book on fellow veterans. When his father offers him the funds he needs in exchange for persuading a family to sell their farm, it sounds simple. Then Ian meets Colette and in a flash everything changes.
Cherry Ridge Farm is home to Colette’s family — and to her animal rescue center. The slim, gorgeous veterinarian has no intention of selling. Soon Ian’s chasing after her runaway dog and laughing at her jokes, and he knows that if he lets slip his real purpose, she’ll never forgive him. Ian’s torn between his book and his new romance…all while his father is clamoring for him to seal the deal.
Colette can trust a dog to come back when she calls, but a man? Colette’s been burned more than once. Then a sweet, athletic photographer pops into her life and makes her wonder if it’s time to picture a new future.
Penner Publishing | July 13, 2015 | Contemporary Romance
Michigan Moonlight, book 2
★★★★1/2
SOURCE: PEN & INK BOOK TOURS
With a successful career, and his dream house under construction, the only thing missing from Adrien Peterson’s life is love. Since high school, Adrien’s heart has belonged to the irresistible Gracie Sinclair. If only he could make her see it…
Single mother Gracie’s worked hard for everything she’s got. Between her son, her nursing job, and violin playing, she’s built a life that, if not a dream, is something she can be proud of. She’s had enough lovers and family walk out on her to know not to want more. But then Adrien moves next door while his house is being built, bringing with him a tempting charm she remembers all too well.
Adrien is determined to break down the walls around Gracie’s heart. When she reluctantly agrees to a six-week trial relationship, he has one shot to show her just what a dream love can be.
Penner Publishing | August 10, 2015 | Contemporary Romance
Michigan Moonlight, book 3
★★★★1/2
SOURCE: PEN & INK BOOK TOURS
Police detective Gabe Sinclair sees broken laws and broken lives every day. The last thing he needs is to add to the list is a broken heart. The law he’s made for himself is never let a relationship get serious—that’s how he got burned before. So when Gabe hears the word “love” he calls it off—even though the word is coming from the lovely Sylvia O’Shea.
Sylvia dedicates herself to running her organic farm and to her hot relationship with a darkly handsome detective. When her boyfriend runs off fast as a cop in pursuit and her past comes calling, Sylvia struggles to rebuild her future, still wondering about what might have been. Months later, an investigation brings Gabe to Syliva’s farm. He can’t resist her lure and offers a no-promises relationship. But no-commitment works both ways.
Will Gabe realize that some laws are made to be broken…before it’s too late?
{ about may williams } .
May Williams is convinced she read every book in the public library of her hometown as a kid. They were wonderful inspiration for life as a novelist. If she’s not reading or writing, May can be found pursuing her other two passions – sewing and running. May lives happily in a little town on the shores of Lake Erie with her husband, two children, three cats, and one oversized dog.{ guest post : typical writing day } .
I’m not sure that I’ve ever had a typical writing day. I have one of those day jobs, the kind that lasts from the end of August to the beginning of June, so you might think that I write madly in the summer with all that time and freedom, but I don’t. Too much time and freedom is counterproductive to getting work done for me. Long ago, I discovered that the more tasks on my plate, the faster and more efficiently I managed them. So contrary to anything sensible, I write well in the fall.
Despite the fact that my day job involves instructing others in writing and requires tons of time in the fall, it’s when I want to write. It’s then that the ideas start to flow. On my short drive to and from work as the autumn leaves hit my windshield, I’ll think through the next scene or figure out how to improve what I wrote the previous day. By the time I make dinner, take one of my kids to practice or rehearsal, complete my own school work, I’m ready to head to my hideaway upstairs and write.
It may only be for an hour or two, but I pump out everything in my head or on my scattered collection of notes, working under the theory that words on paper can always be improved later. I spend three or four evenings a week doing this and start early on weekend mornings to review and refine. So my idea of a writing day isn’t a day, but a week-long process.
{ excerpt } .
When she shut off the engine, Boomer launched himself past her and out the open window. His sharp barks sounded through the night air, and Quince’s baying began inside the cottage. Sylvia stepped out of her vehicle, wiping her damp hands on the front of her cotton sundress. She could have worn her usual outfit of jeans and a sweatshirt, but sometimes dressing like a woman had some appeal. After staring at her closet for several minutes, she’d settled on a cornflower blue dress with spaghetti straps. But now, on her final approach to his place, she felt overdone, too obvious in her attempt to look feminine.Too late to change her mind. Her dog was on the run, and a square of light flooded the porch as Gabe swung the door open. Quince bounded past him, giving Sylvia a cursory glance before chasing down Boomer.
“I brought you something,” she called, her voice quaking slightly. He crossed his arms over his bare chest, keeping his spot on the porch. Shirtless and in old, form-fitting jeans, he was sexy, cool Gabe, not the pissed off cop version she’d seen so much of lately.
“Didn’t expect to see you here,” he commented, his gravelly tones hard to distinguish among the sounds of the crickets and frogs.
“I could do with some help,” she said, climbing out and circling the truck to get the mead. As she lifted the first of two racks of wine bottles, she felt him behind her—close behind her.
“What do you have?” He poked his head over her shoulder, bringing his chin in contact with the bare skin of her neck. She gulped in air as the temperature in the cab started to rise.
“Bottles of mead from the batch we made last winter,” she said, her voice too loud in the confined space. “Since you did half the work, I figured you should get….” She trailed off, letting the softer sounds of the night fill the space around them as his lips brushed her neck.
But then, he lurched back from her abruptly.
“Step out of the way,” he said, his voice gruff, commanding, a little flustered. She flicked her eyes to his face, but the shadows were too deep to see his expression.
She moved to the side, channeling any irritation into appreciating the way his butt looked in those jeans while he leaned in to the cab to lift the racks from the truck’s floor. He hoisted them onto his shoulder and strode toward his front door. She hesitated, waiting for a word of welcome.
“You coming?” he paused, his silhouette highlighted by the light emitted from his open door.
That would have to do. It wasn’t exactly mi casa su casa, but by Gabe standards, it was an invitation, and one she wasn’t letting go.
{ review } .
Animal Prints
I very much enjoyed this introduction to the series -- even if it was a tad predictable. I enjoyed watching the world through Ian's eyes. As a photographer myself, I loved the way Ms. Williams described the way he saw the world: the colors, the shapes, everything. Ian was an enjoyable person who desired acceptance from his father, but truthfully what he wanted was something far greater than himself -- the ability to give to veterans when he, himself, did not receive upon returning home from his multiple tours with the army.
Colette was a strong female who's love for animals and people was evident in everything she did. She was one who didn't trust easily, but once you earned her trust she was in your corner for life -- so when that trust is broken, she retreats.
Watching Ian battle his sense of needing approval, with his need for Colette was a fun ride, even though you had an idea how everything would pan out.
Snow Prints
This one was easily my favorite of the trio.
Our lead male is none other than Colette's geeky, nerdy, biology lovin' brother, Aiden -- the same Aiden who sided with Ian when it came down to it. Ever a romantic at heart, he'd been in love with his best friend since high school, having met her in the sixth grade. When we last saw Ian and Gracie, they were returning from a rendezvous in the woods during Colette's fundraiser -- but that was all Aiden had to give Gracie: a couple romps now and then, but friendship forever. He didn't want her waiting for him to finish school, but vowed that if she were single when he did graduate, he would finally, forever-ly, pursue her --
Which, I have to saw, was likely the corniest scene in this entire series. But then again, we are dealing with a super smart guy, so I guess it's acceptable for the way he broached the subject.
In this book, I loved Aiden's interactions with both Gracie and her son, and while I found him to be an ass 99% of the time, I enjoyed Aiden's interactions with Gracie's brother, Gabe (ass = Gabe, just to clarify). I also very much enjoyed the way Aiden loved heartbeats, fish, dirt, and Gracie.
The only part (other than Aiden's conversation with Gracie at the beginning) I didn't care for was Gracie's trust issue -- only because I felt that Aiden deserved her trust; he'd been in her corner since the beginning and only proved again and again he'd be there for her.
Finger Prints
I have to say...
While yes, I did say SNOW PRINTS was my favorite, this one's love story was almost fuller than the previous three, almost making me like it the most.
While you can read these books individually, I feel that FINGER PRINTS started extremely abruptly, with the following chapter starting extremely abruptly, and it was helpful to know how Gabe knew Sylvia by reading SNOW PRINTS.
That aside, I enjoyed watching prickly Gabe fall for earth-loving Sylvia. Because dang, was Gabe a prickly bastard. I wish I could say "I wanted to hate him in FINGER PRINTS" but honestly? I detested the guy like nobody's business, so learning that he had trust issues, especially where women were concerned, and that Sylvia was the first woman he had feelings for in years kind of put his anger issues in context.
I so loved Sylvia and her fight -- she was one of six, sure, but the other five were all brothers and with the family she lived in, she had no choice but to be tough.
While I'm not a fan of side characters, I have to say I loved Murphy. My goodness, that man...
end note...
When it's stated that this series is clean and light, it's the truth. These books have proved to be enjoyable contemporaries that can take you away for a small amount of time for good-feels.
I very much enjoyed this introduction to the series -- even if it was a tad predictable. I enjoyed watching the world through Ian's eyes. As a photographer myself, I loved the way Ms. Williams described the way he saw the world: the colors, the shapes, everything. Ian was an enjoyable person who desired acceptance from his father, but truthfully what he wanted was something far greater than himself -- the ability to give to veterans when he, himself, did not receive upon returning home from his multiple tours with the army.
Colette was a strong female who's love for animals and people was evident in everything she did. She was one who didn't trust easily, but once you earned her trust she was in your corner for life -- so when that trust is broken, she retreats.
Watching Ian battle his sense of needing approval, with his need for Colette was a fun ride, even though you had an idea how everything would pan out.
Snow Prints
This one was easily my favorite of the trio.
Our lead male is none other than Colette's geeky, nerdy, biology lovin' brother, Aiden -- the same Aiden who sided with Ian when it came down to it. Ever a romantic at heart, he'd been in love with his best friend since high school, having met her in the sixth grade. When we last saw Ian and Gracie, they were returning from a rendezvous in the woods during Colette's fundraiser -- but that was all Aiden had to give Gracie: a couple romps now and then, but friendship forever. He didn't want her waiting for him to finish school, but vowed that if she were single when he did graduate, he would finally, forever-ly, pursue her --
Which, I have to saw, was likely the corniest scene in this entire series. But then again, we are dealing with a super smart guy, so I guess it's acceptable for the way he broached the subject.
In this book, I loved Aiden's interactions with both Gracie and her son, and while I found him to be an ass 99% of the time, I enjoyed Aiden's interactions with Gracie's brother, Gabe (ass = Gabe, just to clarify). I also very much enjoyed the way Aiden loved heartbeats, fish, dirt, and Gracie.
The only part (other than Aiden's conversation with Gracie at the beginning) I didn't care for was Gracie's trust issue -- only because I felt that Aiden deserved her trust; he'd been in her corner since the beginning and only proved again and again he'd be there for her.
Finger Prints
I have to say...
While yes, I did say SNOW PRINTS was my favorite, this one's love story was almost fuller than the previous three, almost making me like it the most.
While you can read these books individually, I feel that FINGER PRINTS started extremely abruptly, with the following chapter starting extremely abruptly, and it was helpful to know how Gabe knew Sylvia by reading SNOW PRINTS.
That aside, I enjoyed watching prickly Gabe fall for earth-loving Sylvia. Because dang, was Gabe a prickly bastard. I wish I could say "I wanted to hate him in FINGER PRINTS" but honestly? I detested the guy like nobody's business, so learning that he had trust issues, especially where women were concerned, and that Sylvia was the first woman he had feelings for in years kind of put his anger issues in context.
I so loved Sylvia and her fight -- she was one of six, sure, but the other five were all brothers and with the family she lived in, she had no choice but to be tough.
While I'm not a fan of side characters, I have to say I loved Murphy. My goodness, that man...
end note...
When it's stated that this series is clean and light, it's the truth. These books have proved to be enjoyable contemporaries that can take you away for a small amount of time for good-feels.
Thank you for hosting me today and for the lovely reviews!
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