Unlucky in Love (Whisper Creek: Book 4) by Maggie McGinnis

Unlucky in Love: A Whisper Creek Novel by [McGinnis, Maggie]

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept, Loveswept

Date of publication: October 11th, 2016

Series: Whisper Creek

Accidental Cowgirl – Book 1

A Cowboy’s Christmas Promise – Book 2

Once Upon A Cowboy – Book 3

Unlucky in Love – Book 4

Meant to Be – Book 5 (Expected publication date: January 10th, 2017)

Where you can find this book: Amazon

Goodreads synopsis:

From the author of Once Upon a Cowboy (“Sexy, charming, and perfectly heartwarming.”—Lauren Layne) comes another sweet novel of the Whisper Creek Ranch, where sizzling Montana men melt the most stubborn hearts.

After Alexis Maguire’s wedding day comes and goes without a groom, she decides that it’s time for a change. Tired of being the dependable, steady—and apparently boring—one, Alexis hopes that a cross-country road trip will help her loosen up and find her inner sparkle. Her first stop is the Whisper Creek Ranch, where the hot wranglers are sure to bring out her inner party girl. The trouble is, she can’t stand pretending to be someone she’s not—especially around the cowboy who tempts her to stay put.

Gunnar Peterson has spent six months working at Whisper Creek, and he’s never been happier. Having grown up an army brat, he’s ready to put down roots, and the only thing missing is a woman to share his life with. When Alexis blows into town, Gunnar thinks he may have met his match, despite the wild-child facade he sees right through. But Alexis swears she won’t settle down anytime soon—so it’s up to Gunnar to convince her that what she’s looking for . . . is right here.

Maggie McGinnis’s sweetly sensual Whisper Creek novels can be read together or separately:
ACCIDENTAL COWGIRL | A COWBOY’S CHRISTMAS PROMISE | ONCE UPON A COWBOY | UNLUCKY IN LOVE | MEANT TO BE | TAKING A CHANCE

My review:

I know I begin a lot of my book reviews this way, but I loved this book. For me to say this about a book that is the 4th book in a series, AND I haven’t read the other three before it, it’s enormous. Like super huge because I am very picky about books in series. I am that person that has to read a series from the beginning, so I know about the other people in the book first. Usually, if I read the books out of whack, then I get out of whack. So I was happy that I could read this as a standalone.

The romance between Alexis and Gunnar was so sweet. It started as a friendship of sorts. The romance grew from there.

Alexis was a sweetheart in my eyes. She was a dependable person who was somewhat afraid to step out of her comfort zone. Her summer job at the Whisper Creek Ranch is supposed to let her explore her adventurous side. With her sister’s help, she makes up a list of what to do. That goes out the window when she meets Gunnar.

Gunnar was a cowboy with a past. Not an awful past. Up until he was 16, he traveled the country with his mother, who was following his father and his wife. Yeah, that’s screwed up. So he craves stability, which is no shocker. He is also Mr. July in the Whisper Creek Ranch calendar and website. He is also working with rescued horses and is very, very talented with that. Finding his love was the last thing on his mind, but when he saw Alexis, it was over.

For some reason, I related to Alexis. I could see us being great friends. Heck, she even had a dysfunctional family (waves hand over here, I do too).

The ending and the epilogue got me right in the feels. Let’s just say that Gunnar is incredible and is perfect for Alexis.

How many stars will I give Unlucky in Love? 5

Why? A great clean (aka no sex) romance that makes you laugh and cry at various points in the book. Put it this way, I want a Gunnar in my life!!!

Will I reread? Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends? Yes

Age Range: Teen

Why: The cleanest romance that isn’t a Christian romance that I have read in a while. No sex, a couple of kissing scenes and that’s it. Some language, a drunken night at karaoke bar complete with bad singing and some poor lobsters getting cooked….lol.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

My Seductive Highlander (Highland Hearts: Book 4) by Maeve Greyson

My Seductive Highlander: A Highland Hearts Novel by [Greyson, Maeve]

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept, Loveswept

Date of publication: October 11th, 2016

Series: Highland Hearts

My Highland Lover – Book 1

My Highland Bride – Book 2

My Tempting Highlander – Book 3

My Seductive Highlander – Book 4

Genre: Romance

Where you can find this book: Amazon

Goodreads synopsis:

In this scintillating novel from the author of My Tempting Highlander (“Another exciting and heartwarming time-travel romance.”—Vonnie Davis), the ladies’ man of Loch Ness meets a hot-tempered lass who sets his heart aflame.
 
Though part of a legacy of time-traveling sisters, Lilia Sinclair is planted firmly in twenty-first-century Edinburgh. Her granny’s matchmaking with thirteenth-century Highlanders isn’t about to lure her into the past, especially as ancient Scotland enters troubled times. After all, Lilia is blessed—or cursed—with dire prophetic visions. To protect herself, she’s put up an icy emotional wall no man could cross—until a pair of gorgeous, rippling arms breaks right through.
 
Graham MacTavish is pure trouble. Once the dragon bound to Loch Ness, he’s transformed into a philanderer of the first order. In fact, because of his dalliances with other men’s wives, a rival clan wants his head on a pike. Before he provokes an all-out war, Graham is banished to the twenty-first century, where he must win Lilia’s hand—or return to die. But after meeting a lass as fierce as any Highland warrior, Graham knows one thing: life with Lilia, in any century, is a fate to embrace.
 
Praise for Maeve Greyson’s Highland Hearts novels
 
“Maeve Greyson surprises and enchants. The imaginative storytelling is hard to resist in this time-traveling tale of love, betrayal, and sacrifice.”—Victoria Roberts, bestselling author of My Highland Spy, on My Highland Lover
 
“What a roller coaster of emotions throughout! I love, love, love the Sinclair sisters and can’t wait to read more about the twins.”—Cassidy Cayman, author of the Lost Highlander series, on My Highland Bride
 
Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from another Loveswept title.

My review:

From the first sentence, I knew I would like this book.  It goes:

“Dammint, man! Did ye no’ think to learn her name afore ye decided to bed her?”

Right from that sentence, I knew this was going to be a fun book and oh boy, was it. I got so involved in reading this book that I finished it in one night.

But on a serious note, I loved that the author chose to address depression. This had to of been the most realistic portrayal of depression that I have read to date. It was refreshing to read this. Most books that I have read that portrayed a person with depression described them as emo or loony. I loved that her support system could see when she was falling into a depressive state and be there for her.

Lilia is an empath, can read auras and has a prophetic vision, which contributed to her depression. And also the fact that she was almost screwed over by her business partner. So it’s not any surprise that Vivienne and Alberti are so protective of her. She is fragile.

It didn’t surprise me that they went into overdrive when Graham and Angus showed up.

Oh Graham, such a bad boy. He got caught having relations with a rival clan chieftain’s wife and mistress in a stable. According to him, he was making up for lost time. He spent 300 years as a dragon protecting Loch Ness due to an evil witch’s curse. He was, well for lack of a better term, screwing everyone that had a skirt because he got none as a dragon. His punishment was to be put into the 21st century, find Lilia, make her fall in love with him and bond. So he isn’t teleported back. He only has a month to do this, or he goes back and gets killed by the rival chieftain. Angus had to go along because, well, he was guilty by association and Granny Sinclair had a vision, and he was in it. Poor Angus.

When Angus and Graham hit the 21st century, it there was culture shock. From the toilets to riding in the cars to going in an elevator, it was hilarious.  I had tears streaming down my face during those scenes.

The relationship between Lilia and Graham was a little fast. But considering that he only had a month to bond with her, it wasn’t. He was under a deadline. And the sex was out of this world. The scene with the toy (not saying which one) was out of this world.

The end was what I expected, but the epilogue broke my heart. It was a great way to end the series, but still sad. I would love to know if there is going to be books with the kids? Because I enjoyed this book this much

How many stars will I give My Seductive Highlander? 4

Why? A fun filled romance that takes you on a wild ride between the 13th century and modern day.

Will I reread? Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends? Yes

Age range: Adult

Why: Sex, mild violence, and language

**I received a free copy of this book and volunteered to review it**

The Regrets of Cyrus Dodd (Wyattsville: Book 4) by Bette Lee Crosby

The Regrets of Cyrus Dodd: Family Saga (A Wyattsville Novel Book 4) by [Crosby, Bette Lee]

Publisher: Bent Pine Publishing

Date of Publication: June 15th, 2016

Genre: Historical, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary

Series: Wyattsville

Spare Change—Book 1

Jubilee’s Journey—Book 2

A Home in Hopeful—Book 2.5

Passing through Perfect—Book 3

The Regrets of Cyrus Dodd—Book 4

Beyond the Carousel—Book 5

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | AbeBooks | Alibris | IndieBound | Indigo | BetterWorldBooks

Goodreads Synopsis:

“Regret is what stands in the way of happiness,” she said then turned and walked away…

From award-winning USA TODAY Bestselling Author BETTE LEE CROSBY, comes an early twentieth century family saga of two Southern men who come up against one another. Both are prideful, iron-willed and stubborn. One will lose his farm, the other will lose his family. In a tale that delves into the heart of a small town West Virginia community two men discover that being right is not the same as being happy.

Believing he has lost everything, Cyrus Dodd has no choice but to start over. He and wife Ruth leave their farm and travel to Wyattsville. As they settle down to a life far different than what he’d planned, Cyrus is forced to deal with one challenge after another, and the regrets trail behind him like a row of ducklings.

He told Ruth they were leaving trouble behind and swore this time it would be better; but now he’s wondering if that’s a promise he can keep.

Readers View says, “An engrossing story of ordinary people…a tale richly told.”

Indie Book Awards, Historical Fiction Finalist


This book is great about what happens after you’re hit with blow after blow in life, and you don’t give up. It had a positive message woven throughout it. It shows what happens when you have everything but lose the most important thing: family.

This was an easy read and would be perfect for the beach or pool. You can put it down and not lose your page or your way with the plot. After a tense couple of first chapters, the book evens out and is smooth sailing.

I didn’t like the chapters that started Cyrus’s musing, Ruth’s, or even Bethany’s. It struck me as odd, and didn’t need to be there. I got enough from the actual story to read that. That took away from the story.

This is book 4 in a series, but it can be read as a standalone book. No reference to previous books at all. If this didn’t have a #4 after it, I wouldn’t have known it was part of the series.

I would recommend The Regrets of Cyrus Dodd to anyone over 21. There is marital rape, spousal abuse, child abuse, and murder.


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