A Better Man (Sunshine Creek Vineyard #1) by Candis Terry

Blurb…

Meet the Kincade brothers: they’ll do what it takes to protect their legacy—but what happens when love gets in the way?

Hockey star Jordan Kincade wasted no time ditching Sunshine Valley and everyone who mattered for a career in the NHL—a truth Jordan confronts when his parents’ deaths bring him home. Now he’s back to make amends, which begins with keeping his younger sister from flunking out of school. It’s just his luck that the one person who can help is the girl whose heart he broke years ago.

Lucy Diamond has racked up a number of monumental mistakes in her life, the first involving a certain blue-eyed charmer. She has no intention of falling for Jordan Kincade again, but when he shows up asking her to help one of her students, Lucy just can’t say no. Worse, the longer he’s back, the more she sees how much he’s changed. And so when a blistering kiss turns to more, she can’t help but wonder if her heart will be crushed again . . . or if she’ll discover true love with a better man..

A Better Man is the first book in Ms. Terry’s new Sunshine Creek Vineyard series. It touched me on many levels, but most deeply in regards to Nicole, Jordan’s 17 year old sister, who like many teens her age has an attitude problem, which seems to be going from bad to worse. Jordan is taking the brunt of her wrath and as he takes a closer look at his role in her life – or non-role, in this case – he can’t help but want to do whatever he can to help her work her way through the tragic loss of their parents. Everyone assumes it’s that loss that has Nicole turned inside out, but it turns out to be much more than that.

Lucy Diamond is a wonderful woman. She’s smart, compassionate, attractive…but trust doesn’t come easy to her, and this is another aspect to the story that touched me. Her past hasn’t defined her but it has made her very cautious. Too cautious, even to the point of not living her life to it's fullest. Part of that has to do with Jordan, but mostly it's due to an awful marriage to a man she met in college, but barely knew. Now with Jordan back in Sunshine Valley she’s emotionally thrown off kilter and has to decide if he’s worth risking her heart to, again.

Candis Terry is easily one of the best contemporary romance authors out there. Her characters are relatable, their lives are believable and, without fail, the stories she gives us are funny, romantic, and poignant. She is, no doubt about it, an amazing writer and I’m excited to spend more time with the Kincade brothers in Sunshine Valley.

An ARC was provided by Avon Books. In appreciation I’m giving them an honest review.

Sweet Surprise (Sweet, Texas #4) by Candis Terry

Playing naughty or nice...

Fiona Wilder knows all about falling in lust. Love? That's another story. Determined not to repeat past mistakes, the single mom and cupcake shop owner is focused on walking the straight and narrow. But trouble has a way of finding her. And this time it comes in the form of a smoking hot firefighter who knows all the delicious ways to ignite her bad-girl fuse.

Can lead to heartbreak...

Firefighter Mike Halsey learned long ago that playing with fire just gets you burned. He's put his demons behind him, and if there's one line he won't cross, it's getting involved with his best friend's ex. But when fate throws him in the path of the beautiful, strong, and off-limits Fiona, will he be able to fight their attraction? Or will he willingly go down in flames?

Or a sweet surprise!

Welcome to Sweet, Texas, where neighbors are friends, friends are family, and family is everything!

Sweet Surprise is the fourth installment in Candis Terry's Sweet, Texas series, a series I absolutely adore. Each book is fun, romantic, and sexy, and gives me exactly what I look for in escapism reading.

In this book we finally get Fiona's story, and what a story it is! I have to honest, I'm not sure I really bought her being 100% happy with her ex husband, Jackson, finding his happily ever after with another woman, but after reading Sweet Surprise... well, there's no doubt in my mind that she is definitely that kind of awesome. She and Jackson, both. They care for each other, so much, in fact, that when it became clear to them both that they married for the wrong reasons, they divorced but remained close friends. That's a tough storyline to pull off, but Candis Terry does it with flying colors!

As I said, I adore this series. Ms. Terry never fails to deliver characters we can't help but fall in love with, whether they're the leads or the supporting cast. Mike and Fiona are great people with pasts they're trying to leave behind. And even though both have their demons, they're not needy. They are strong, intelligent, hard working people who want the same things we all want; health and happiness and love. And it's their normalcy that makes them people I believe in and relate to and cheer for and, truth be told, wanted to smack when they were being too dense to realize and admit the depth of their feelings for one another.

The bottom line...

If you're like me and enjoy the close knit feel of small town romances that come with fun, quirky small town folks and just the right amount of passion and steam, then you absolutely need to read this book! I do recommend reading in order so you get get the whole back-story, but trust me, once you read Sweet Surprise, you'll want to go back and read them all, anyway. So save yourself the trouble and start from beginning. You won't regret it!

Purchase Sweet Surprise at Amazon

Truly Sweet (Sweet, Texas #5) by Candis Terry

5 Sweet, Sweet, Texas Stars!

I've loved every book in this series and didn't want it to ever end, but Candis Terry did the Wilder family proud with this final story. I laughed, I sighed, I fanned myself, and I cried, and I will miss the people and the town of Sweet, Texas!

Blurb...

When the one you've always wanted

At sixteen, Annabelle Morgan hoped her crush on Jake Wilder was just a passing phase. Now she s twenty-nine and nothing has changed except Jake. The once-carefree marine has come home with a giant chip on his shoulder. He insists a single mom like Annie deserves more than he can offer. Yet no matter how gruff his gorgeous exterior may be, Jake s toe-curling kisses convince her that this attraction is definitely mutual.

Becomes the one who wants you back

Butting heads with feisty Annie was always a thrill. Add other body parts to the mix, and Jake is in serious trouble. He can t be a forever-and-family guy and Annie s not a friends-with-benefits kind of woman. But love has a way of changing the best-laid plans, and surrender has never been so tempting.

The outcome is truly sweet...

An ARC of Truly Sweet was provided by Avon Books, and in appreciation I'm giving them an honest review!

Sweet Surprise (Sweet, Texas #4) by Candis Terry

Welcome to Sweet, Texas, where neighbors are friends, friends are family, and family is everything!

Description...

Playing naughty or nice...

Fiona Wilder knows all about falling in lust. Love? That's another story. Determined not to repeat past mistakes, the single mom and cupcake shop owner is focused on walking the straight and narrow. But trouble has a way of finding her. And this time it comes in the form of a smoking hot firefighter who knows all the delicious ways to ignite her bad-girl fuse.

Can lead to heartbreak...

Firefighter Mike Halsey learned long ago that playing with fire just gets you burned. He's put his demons behind him, and if there's one line he won't cross, it's getting involved with his best friend's ex. But when fate throws him in the path of the beautiful, strong, and off-limits Fiona, will he be able to fight their attraction? Or will he willingly go down in flames?

Or a sweet surprise!

***********

Sweet Surprise is the fourth installment in Candis Terry's Sweet, Texas series, a series I absolutely adore. Each book is fun, romantic, and sexy, and gives me exactly what I look for in escapism reading.

In this book we finally get Fiona's story, and what a story it is! I have to honest, I'm not sure I really bought her being 100% happy with her ex husband, Jackson, finding his happily ever after with another woman, but after reading Sweet Surprise... well, there's no doubt in my mind that she is definitely that kind of awesome. She and Jackson, both. They care for each other, so much, in fact, that when it became clear to them both that they married for the wrong reasons, they divorced but remained close friends. That's a tough storyline to pull off, but Candis Terry does it with flying colors!

As I said, I adore this series. Ms. Terry never fails to deliver characters we can't help but fall in love with, whether they're the leads or the supporting cast. Mike and Fiona are great people with pasts they're trying to leave behind. And even though both have their demons, they're not needy. They are strong, intelligent, hard working people who want the same things we all want; health and happiness and love. And it's their normalcy that makes them people I believe in and relate to and cheer for and, truth be told, wanted to smack when they were being too dense to realize and admit the depth of their feelings for one another.

If you're like me and enjoy the close knit feel of small town romances that come with fun, quirky small town folks and just the right amount of passion and steam, then you absolutely need to read this book! I do recommend reading in order so you get get the whole back-story, but trust me, once you read Sweet Surprise, you'll want to go back and read them all, anyway. So save yourself the trouble and start from beginning. You won't regret it!

An eARC was generously provided by Avon Books. In appreciation, I'm giving them an honest review.

Sweet Cowboy Christmas (Sweet, Texas #3.5) by Candis Terry

SWEET COWBOY CHRISTMAS is a wonderful holiday novella from Candis Terry’s Sweet, Texas series, a series I adore. This story is filled with lots of smiles and sigh-worthy moments that can be found in the love of friends, family, and that ‘special someone’.

Blurb…

Mistletoe, holly, and cowboys, oh my! Christmas in Texas has never been sweeter.

Years ago, Chase Morgan traded in his dusty cowboy boots for the shimmering lights of New York City and a fast track up the corporate ladder. But when his shiny life is turned on end just in time for Christmas, Chase knows he needs to re-evaluate even if that means going home to Texas to endure his least favourite holiday.

When Mr. Tall, Dark, and Smoking Hot walks through her door at the Magic Box Guest Ranch, Faith Walker sees just another handsome, rich exec looking to play cowboy for a week-at her expense. She’s sure the grumpy, but sexy as hell Scrooge will put a crimp in her holly jolly plans. Until a sizzling kiss has her seeing him in a new light.

Chase is haunted by secrets, and even though it goes entirely against her “hands off the guests” rule Faith is tempted to help him leave the past behind. As the magic of the season swirls around them, she is determined to succeed because now she is certain one sweet, cowboy Christmas will never be enough...

My thoughts…

This really is a truly happy, feel good story. Chase’s secrets are haunting, but not daunting. He’s an amazing man who comes to know that, with the love of the right woman, anything is possible – even finding the happily ever after you never dreamed could be yours.

An ARC was provided by Avon Books via Edelweiss.

Sweetest Mistake by Candis Terry

Made me laugh, made me cry, made me fall in love!

I just adore the Sweet, Texas series by Candis Terry! The stories are funny, sweet, romantic, and very sexy, and while they are light, Contemporary Romance reads, they’re not shallow. The stories are filled with life’s trials and triumphs, each poignant in its own unique way. And Sweetest Mistake even had me a bit teary eyed.

Description…

Firefighter and former Marine Jackson Wilder has tough guy down to an art, but he’s learned the hard way that promises were made to be broken. Abigail Morgan was once his best friend, his first kiss, his first love, his first everything. He’d just forgotten to mention all that to her and she blew out of his life. Five years later, she’s back and he’s battling a load of mistrust for her disappearing act. But for some reason he just can’t keep his lips—or his hands—to himself.

When her stint as a trophy wife abruptly ends, Abby returns home to Sweet, Texas, and comes face-to-face with Jackson—her biggest and sexiest mistake. Time and distance did nothing to squash her love for the act-first-think-later stubborn hunk of a man, and when he suggests they renew their old just-friends vow, Abby realizes she wants more. She’d cut and run once. Could she do it again? Or could she tempt him enough to break his promise?

My thoughts…

Candis Terry really knows how to tell a story that draws me in and captures my heart, first page to the last. In Sweetest Mistake I found myself running a wide range of emotions – hurt, frustration, sorrow, anger – but the whole time I was filled with hope that these two amazing people would be able to look past the past, and stop letting the fear of “what if” ruin their future. It’s not that I didn’t understand where they were coming from, because I totally did. But sometimes you have to take a chance… just one more chance… because the payoff, as it was for Jackson and Abby, is worth the risk.

The bottom line…

If you’re a fan of small town romances with awesome heroes and heroines, an amazing supporting cast, lot’s of steam and beautiful happily ever afters, then you need to pay a visit to Sweet, Texas. You may just decide you never want to leave!

My thanks to Avon Books for providing me with a copy of Sweetest Mistake. No mistake about it, I loved every minute I spent reading it!

Anything But Sweet by Candis Terry

HE’S STUBBORN AND THOROUGHLY MALE . . .

If Charlotte Brooks thinks she and her TV makeover show can turn Reno Wilder’s hometown upside down, he’ll be happy to prove her wrong. The x-Marine has seen too much turmoil and he likes Sweet, Texas, just the way it is. Traditional. Familiar. A little dull. Everything Charli isn’t. But instead of backing off from his scowls like everyone else, Charli digs in her skyscraper heels.

SHE’S TENACIOUS AND WICKEDLY TEMPTING . . .

Reno Wilder is a one-man unwelcoming committee, but Charli isn’t budging. It’s clear the gorgeous cowboy needs an overhaul just as much as Sweet. Someone needs to break him out of that gruff shell and show him how fun and rewarding a little change can be.

THEY’RE ABOUT TO FIND THAT LOVE IS ANYTHING BUT PREDICTABLE.

*****

I need to get down to Sweet, Texas, and find me a cowboy to love!

Anything But Sweet has everything I want in a contemporary romance! It's romantic, humorous, passionate, poignant, and oh, so sexy! The characters are awesome and the story is simple but beautiful, and I really can't ask for more than that! Well, except maybe a sequel! There are some other Wilder brothers in need of some serious loving, and I - selfless wench that I am - volunteer to be the woman to give it to them.

I might write more of a review later, but really... I've said all that needs to be said. Just trust me on this and read the book. Every word, every page, every chapter, start to finish... a wonderful story!

4.5 Stars

Many thanks to Avon Books and Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

What a SWEET treat!