Books I Plan to Read July 19-25 and last week's results

 

Greetings to all,

How was your week? Hot, wet, cool? It has been quite a mix here. Low 70's up into the 90's with mostly cloudy days. Today, especially, there have been severe thunderstorms, torrential downpours, and the occasional sunny moment. 

It was an on/off week for me energy wise. I did get in a good amount of reading/listening time, but I did not get enough packing time in. I will get there.

Now to the results:

Ebooks:

Romance at Ridgeford Hall by Kate Ellington - 4 stars

The Darker the Night by Brandon Barrows - 5 stars

Rain or Shine by E.C. Land - 5 stars

A Lady Never Concedes by Bronwen Evans - 4 stars

Audiobook:

Grumpily Yours by Teagan Hunter - 4 1/2 stars

Planned Reading for July 19-25:

Ebooks:

Audiobook: 

Well, this is my list for the coming week. I hope to get through it and a lot more time in on packing up the house. I would like the weather to even out a little bit so that I could also get in a little walking and fresh air.

Have a good week. Get in a little reading and relaxation.

Slan (goodbye in Scottish and Irish Gaelic)

Audiobook Review: Grumpily Yours (Stick Taps) by Teagan Hunter, narrators Chloe Ryan and Nelson Hobbs

 

Blurb: 

When a blacklisted chef is forced to work for a grumpy ex–NHL player, sparks fly in and out of the kitchen. A steamy workplace romance about rebuilding dreams, breaking rules, and finding forever.

When a public meltdown ruins chef Summer Turner’s career, she flees to her hometown in the Pacific Northwest, hoping to rediscover her passion for cooking. Summer doesn’t want to work for someone else again, but when her father secures her a job at a local cidery, she doesn’t dare say no, even if it means working for scowling former NHL player Ezra Rawlings.

After a career-ending injury, Ezra knows what it’s like to lose everything. Emotionally guarded, he’s sworn off relationships to focus on business. But sparring with Summer ignites something he thought was gone forever, and what starts as a casual fling becomes impossible to ignore.

As their connection deepens and defenses crumble, their explosive chemistry threatens every boundary they’ve set. Summer’s determined to prove she’s not a failure, while Ezra’s convinced he’s too broken for love. But two stubborn hearts might be exactly what each other needs—if they’re brave enough to stop running.

Amazon: Grumpily Yours (Stick Taps) - Kindle edition by Hunter, Teagan. Contemporary Romance Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Audible: Grumpily Yours Audiobook by Teagan Hunter

B&N: Grumpily Yours | Barnes & Noble®

Bookbub: Grumpily Yours (Stick Taps) by Teagan Hunter - BookBub

Goodreads: Grumpily Yours: Stick Taps by Teagan Hunter | Goodreads

My Review - 4 1/2 of 5 stars - 

4 1/2 stars. This was an enjoyable story. Both Summer and Ezra had their confidence destroyed because of some bad luck/injury/timing. Their attraction was strong, and they helped heal each other. Summer was shy about taking on her own kitchen again, though family and Ezra pushed until she felt stronger. Ezra was a bit self-centered, focused heavily on his "failure". The secondary characters, friends and family, were great support. Loved it.
The narration by Chloe Ryan and Nelson Hobbs was well done. They brought life and emotion to the story. They were a pleasure to listen to.

I received a copy through Valentine PR, and this is my unsolicited review.

Audiobook Release: Sun Up to Sun Down (Fallen Meadows Ranch #1) by Janine Infante Bosco, narrators Harlow Wilde and Theo Sinclair

SADDLE UP, COWBOY ROMANCE FANS!

Sun Up to Sun Down by Janine Infante Bosco is available on Audible now!!
 

https://geni.us/SunUpAudio

 

Welcome to Saddle Ridge, where life is hard and love is wild...

 

Maddox

 

I'm no stranger to hard work. I've got a family ranch that's on the brink of collapse, a grandfather whose health is fading, and a laundry list of other responsibilities that demand my constant attention.

 

Every sunrise brings a new fight. There's no time to worry about what might have been with the girl who got away.

 

But it seems I've avoided Amelia King for as long as I can.

 

One reckless ranch hand making trouble at her bar is more than I can afford. Her outlaw cousin and his gang of gearheads won't take kindly to the mess my man has made. So I swallow my pride and head into town to make things right.

 

The moment I spot her, she takes my breath away. Still gorgeous and igniting that familiar fire in my veins, just the sight of her brings back all of my memories. But before I can grab a broom or write a check for the damages, an unexpected phone call interrupts our chaotic reunion.

 

With my grandfather's legacy now on the line, I'm desperate to preserve it if it's the last thing I do. We're facing an enemy with a dangerous connection to Amelia of all people, and they're determined to stop me no matter who gets hurt in the process. As the stakes get higher, lives hang in the balance, so I do exactly what my sister begs me not to. Forming an alliance with the Fallen Demons Motorcycle Club could cost my family everything. But there's something more dangerous than going into business with the outlaws: admitting I'm in love with their vice president's cousin.

 

Audiobook Release: Property of Shotgun (Kings of Anarchy MC: New York #1) by Janine Infante Bosco, narrators Emery Blake and Clark Dawson

TAKE A WILD AUDIOBOOK RIDE TODAY!

Property of Shotgun by Janine Infante Bosco is now available as an audiobook!!
 

https://geni.us/ShotgunAudio
 

When anarchy reigns, nothing is truly forbidden.

From the time they were kids in Brooklyn, Shotgun knew he was meant to follow Irish everywhere. But living in the shadow of the man who got everything he ever wanted has tested the limits of Shotgun's loyalty. So when Irish brutally meets his maker, Shotgun's devotion shatters once and for all.

Stepping up to fill his fallen brother's shoes, Shotgun accepts his new role as VP of the Kings of Anarchy MC. Then the first in a long line of betrayals begins as Shotgun finds himself drawn to Irish's overwhelmed widow. Jade is the one woman Shotgun always wanted but could never have, and he can't stand by and just watch as she and her children drown in their grief.

Heartache pulls Shotgun and Jade together quickly, their connection deepening as they cope with their shared loss. Soon neither can deny that beneath their sadness simmers the potential for a red hot passion. But defying the Kings' code would be a costly mistake for both of them since Jade still belongs to Irish in the club's eyes.

As Shotgun wrestles with the decision to face the wrath of his brothers, chaos erupts, and the new VP finds himself face-to-face with a deadly shot at revenge. But surviving means facing the demands of outlaw justice. Will Shotgun finally claim Jade or will their forbidden love also find its way to an early grave?

Property Of Shotgun is a thrilling tale of loyalty and forbidden love. Grab your kutte and get ready for a heart-wrenching ride that will leave you breathless.

 

Release: Wolf Valley Grumps Volume 3 by Shaw Hart

GRUMPY COLLECTION NOW LIVE!

Wolf Valley Grumps by Shaw Hart is available now!

 

https://geni.us/WolfValleyGrumps3
Available on All Platforms

 

Welcome to Wolf Valley, where grumpy men hide out in the mountains... 
until love finds them anyway.

This binge-worthy romance collection is packed
with grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, protective heroes,
and curvy heroines who refuse to let these rugged men stay
lonely for long.

They swear they don't want love, but in Wolf Valley?
The grumps always fall first.

Books in this collection include:
A Very Grumpy Ranger
A Very Grumpy Navy SEAL
A Very Grumpy Roommate
A Very Grumpy Mechanic

Release: Rain or Shine (Fallen Meadows Ranch #2) by E.C. Land with my review

ONE NIGHT STAND COWBOY ROMANCE

Rain or Shine by E.C. Land is officially here!!!

https://geni.us/RainorShine

When your world is always stormy, it's easy to hide from the sunshine...
Tyler
After all that I've been through, there's nothing I won't do to protect what matters most. I've devoted my life to this ranch and my son, and I promised I’d never let anyone get close enough to risk losing either one of them again.
But even the most disciplined man makes a mistake from time to time.
I didn't expect to see her again, so when Delaney reenters my life with news that scares us both, the safety I've carefully built for myself shatters. It was just one night of weakness, but now it ties us together forever. I've been down this road before, and I'm terrified of how the journey will end.
She's far too young to shoulder this burden alone, but the ranch is expanding, and there's no room for distractions. Delaney thinks she’s cursed to lose everyone she loves. I’m terrified that if I trust her, I’ll lose the son I’ve spent years shielding from the world. But the day our lives change forever is coming soon, and it's time for me to decide: do I keep guarding my heart like a fortress, or do I step up and be the man everyone needs me to be?

About E.C. Land

E.C. Land grew up in the country and has it deep in her bones. As she grew up, if she wasn’t out on the ball field or playing in the woods, she had her nose stuck in a book. Now she writes romantic suspense stories, specializing in MC (motorcycle club) romance. She plans to broaden her writing horizons in the near future and move into other forms of romantic suspense. When she’s not writing, she’s spending time with her husband, three kids, and fur babies. 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4eH1XdW
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/e-c-land
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/E.C.LandAuthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/eclandauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/landauthor
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@e.c.land 

Website: https://eclandauthorbooks.com 

My Review - 5 of 5 stars - 

I loved Tyler and his love for his son as well as his hardwork for and loyalty to the ranch. His past hurt him and came back to haunt him. Delaney had a lot of heartache, loss, and violence in her young life that had her hesitant to care for anyone. She was quite quick to fall under the spell of a little boy which pushed her to care for his father without her being aware of her true feelings. When the danger came knocking, Tyler and Delaney realized that they were stronger in their love for each other. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and series.

Release: Tate (Sinners MC #1) by J.A. Collard

Tate

Series: Sinners MC Book 1

by J.A. Collard

Release: July 16, 2026

Goodreads: https://t.ly/tbr_tate_jac

Genre/Tropes:

MC Romance

Contemporary Romance

Romantic Suspense.

Slow Burn

Forbidden Romance

Grief Romance

Forced Proximity

Brothers Girl

Alpha Hero

Protector Romance

Blurb:

I'm the President of the Sinners Motorcycle Club — one of the youngest in the country. I didn't get here by accident. I got here because I'm the man people turn to when things need doing. The man who keeps his word.

My best friend and brother died protecting me. His last words were a promise he asked me to keep — look after his woman, Sophia.

Simple enough. Except Sophia is a thorn in my side.

She was supposed to go home, grieve, and get on with her life. Instead she keeps turning up at the Blood Brothers clubhouse like she can hold onto him if she just stays close enough to where he used to be. I get it. I do. But that's not a life — and I owe my brother more than letting her disappear into one.

So I bring her home. Keep her close. Keep my promise.

What I didn't plan for was her.

The way she fits into my house, my mornings, my life — like she was always supposed to be there. The way I find myself watching the door when she's out too late. The way something shifts inside me that has no business shifting at all.

I want her. God help me, I want her.

And that changes everything.

TATE — Sinners MC Book One. A slow burn MC romance about loyalty, grief, and a love that was never supposed to happen.

Buy Links (Kindle Unlimited):

Universal: https://books2read.com/u/3RRLwv

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0H4Z44GS2

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0H4Z44GS2

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0H4Z44GS2

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B0H4Z44GS2

Paperback: https://t.ly/Tate_paperback

Also Available (Must Read - Kindle Unlimited):

Sophia: Property of Tracker

Universal: https://mybook.to/Sophia_JAC

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09W4QMH8L

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B09W4QMH8L

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09W4QMH8L

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B09W4QMH8L

Paperback: https://t.ly/Sophia_Paperback

In the Series (PreOrder)

Tate: Book 2 (The Sinners MC) - releasing October 15, 2026

Universal: https://mybook.to/Tate2_Sinners_JAC

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6PRHBX5

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0H6PRHBX5

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0H6PRHBX5

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0H6PRHBX5

Author Bio:

J.A. Collard is a Melbourne-based author setting hearts (and eReaders) on fire with her steamy, addictive MC romance series, Blood Brothers MC.

 

A proud Aussie mum by day and a passionate storyteller by night, she’s the queen of badass bikers, fiery heroines, and stories that keep readers up way past bedtime.

J.A. married her high school sweetheart, and together they’re raising two amazing kids—proof that soulmates and happily-ever-after's exist, both on and off the page.

​​

Her debut novel Tame Me burst onto the scene in 2016, quickly followed by Tamed and Taming Hawke, which all climbed to the top of the charts and built a fiercely loyal fanbase of romance lovers who can’t get enough of her raw emotion, sizzling tension, and that signature Collard heat.

What started as a dream scribbled in quiet nighttime hours has grown into a full-blown writing career. With each book, she brings her readers deeper into a gritty, passionate world where danger, love, and loyalty ride side by side.

 

While she’s got big plans to tell every biker’s story, she’s also working on fresh projects guaranteed to set pulses racing.

​

When she’s not writing or wrangling her real-life crew, you’ll find her dancing like no one’s watching, binge-reading spicy romance, or laughing loud with friends and family.

Social Media Links:

Reader Group (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/groups/323766214671488

Newsletter: https://www.jacollardstore.com

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-a-collard

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16000573.J_A_Collard

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/J.A.-Collard/author/B01MPW7L5B

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collardauthor

Email: j.a.collardauthor@outlook.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/j.a.collard.2024

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jacollard

 

Ebook Review: A Lady Never Concedes (Sisterhood of Scandal #0.5) by Bronwen Evans

 

Blurb: 

A SHORT STORY - Prequel to the Sisterhood of Scandal series.

From USA Today Bestselling Author, Bronwen Evans comes her new Sisterhood of Scandal series. A group of ladies whose friendship is based upon ensuring they can take on the world dominated by their men folk. No male relative is going to choose their destinies.

Lord Julian Montague, the second son of the Marquess of Lorne has been Miss Serena Fancot’s best friend since childhood. When Julian starts talking about taking a wife, Serena is very aware they are no longer children.

Why does she suddenly notice just how lovely his dimples are and how tall and handsome he is? His clothes fit him like a tight glove and he has a body to rival Apollo. Suddenly, she can’t help but notice how the women in society’s ballrooms drool over him.

Worse still, he’s not once tried to kiss her, or hold her hand, or whispered words of love in her ear. Does he not see her as the love of his life? Has she left it too late to make Julian realize he is the only man she’d ever wish to marry? Has she left it too late to show him he’s the love of her life? That won’t do. But how do you make your best friend fall in love with you?

Bookbub: A Lady Never Concedes: A Friends To Lovers Regency Romance (Sisterhood of Scandal Book 1) by Bronwen Evans - BookBub

Goodreads: A Lady Never Concedes (Sisterhood of Scandal #0.5) by Bronwen Evans | Goodreads

My Review - 4 of 5 stars - 

This was a fun, quick read, an introduction to the Sisterhood. I enjoyed Serena's intelligence and leaping before thinking. She was very strong-minded and single-minded, and almost missed how in love she was. Julian was her friend, and he was wonderful in supporting her, though her behavior almost cost him greatly. He was very protective and caring. I look forward to reading more in this series.

I received a copy through BookSprout, and this is my unsolicited review.

Ebook Review: Rain or Shine (Fallen Meadows Ranch #2) by E.C. Land

 

Blurb: 

When your world is always stormy, it's easy to hide from the sunshine...
Tyler
After all that I've been through, there's nothing I won't do to protect what matters most. I've devoted my life to this ranch and my son, and I promised I’d never let anyone get close enough to risk losing either one of them again.
But even the most disciplined man makes a mistake from time to time.
I didn't expect to see her again, so when Delaney reenters my life with news that scares us both, the safety I've carefully built for myself shatters. It was just one night of weakness, but now it ties us together forever. I've been down this road before, and I'm terrified of how the journey will end.

She's far too young to shoulder this burden alone, but the ranch is expanding, and there's no room for distractions. Delaney thinks she’s cursed to lose everyone she loves. I’m terrified that if I trust her, I’ll lose the son I’ve spent years shielding from the world. But the day our lives change forever is coming soon, and it's time for me to decide: do I keep guarding my heart like a fortress, or do I step up and be the man everyone needs me to be?

Amazon: Rain or Shine (Fallen Meadows Ranch) - Kindle edition by Land, E.C.. Contemporary Romance Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

B&N: Rain or Shine (Fallen Meadows Ranch, #2) | Barnes & Noble®

Kobo: Rain or Shine eBook by E.C. Land - EPUB | Rakuten Kobo United States

Goodreads: Rain or Shine (Fallen Meadows Ranch) by E.C. Land | Goodreads

My Review - 5 of 5 stars - 

I loved Tyler and his love for his son as well as his hardwork for and loyalty to the ranch. His past hurt him and came back to haunt him. Delaney had a lot of heartache, loss, and violence in her young life that had her hesitant to care for anyone. She was quite quick to fall under the spell of a little boy which pushed her to care for his father without her being aware of her true feelings. When the danger came knocking, Tyler and Delaney realized that they were stronger in their love for each other. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and series.

I received an ARC through 1852 Media, and this is my unsolicited review.

Release Boost: Losing Liam (Serenity Securities, Team Hawk #5) (Special Forces: Operation Alpha) by Cassie Colton

Losing Liam 

by Cassie Colton 

Available now!

https://geni.us/LosingLiam

Read With Kindle Unlimited

Former Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Nursing Corps, Addyson Parker, is in desperate need of a distraction after losing her husband in war. Serenity is the perfect place for her to rebuild her life and move on from the tragedy that has left her in pain.

Newly-hired Liam Miller is Serenity Securities' newest member of Team Hawk. No stranger to trauma, Liam knows the importance of the Winters Foundation hospital firsthand as a patient. When he encounters the grieving widow, Liam realizes he'll do anything to help relinquish her suffering. After all, Addyson deserves love and happiness again.

But when Liam is called into action with Team Hawk, Addyson's fears come barreling back. She's loved and lost and has no strength to endure it again. Can she open her heart, or will the risk of losing Liam destroy her desire for a second chance at love?