The Billionaire's Christmas Proposal by Victoria James - Review

Title: The Billionaire’s Christmas Proposal (A Billionaire for Christmas)
Author: Victoria James
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Christmas
Length: Novel
Publisher: Entangled: Indulgence
Release Date: November 16, 2015
Source: NetGalley
Rating: 5
Heat Rating: 3
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

She's everything he wants for Christmas…

Social worker Allison Barrington's home went up in smoke, literally, a month before Christmas. Now the guardian of her teenage sister and a crazy pup, she shows up on the doorstep of the only man in the city she can trust. Resisting Ethan Dane had never been easy, but luckily, Allie isn't into cutthroat playboy businessmen. And Ethan is as driven as they come.

Ethan Dane has wanted Allie since the moment he laid eyes on her at their best friends' wedding. Having her in his home is the perfect chance to prove to her that their chemistry can't be denied, but when he finds out that the biggest business coup of his career means destroying the youth center where Allie works, Ethan is forced to decide what kind of man he wants to be…

This was a very cute Christmas romance with just about everything I wanted in it. Allison is a great person that just doesn't seem to see her worth many times. A social worker that takes care of her mouthy teen-age sister who suddenly finds herself homeless. The shelter she works at make be getting sold to a real estate tycoon and Christmas just seems like it's not going to be a very good one.

Ethan is in love with Allison - but she keeps turning him down. She's afraid to risk their friendship by trying something more. But when she is forced to turn to him for help she discovers new sides to Ethan that make it hard to resist him. I love how Ethan struggled with the wishes of his family versus his conscience and what Allison has asked him to help with. He's willing to put everything aside to try and help her and the shelter she loves so much. I especially liked his little bout of jealousy when they meet Allison's ex-boyfriend.

Ethan will need to get used to having not just a teen-ager around, but a strange little one-eyed dog that doesn't have a lot of manners - but he is incredibly cute. There is plenty of holiday cheer to find in this story and lots of great romantic scenes that are more than just gestures. I loved it!

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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Falling for Her Enemy by Victoria James - Review

Title: Falling for Her Enemy (Still Harbor #2)

Author: Victoria James
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Christmas
Length: novel
Publisher: Entangled: Bliss
Release Date: November 9, 2015
Source: NetGalley
Rating: 4
Heat Rating: 3
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

She's falling for the one man who could destroy everything...

Alex McAllister always dreamed of a life filled with the laughter and love of a family, but being abandoned at a young age left her wary of letting anyone in. Now that she's settled in Still Harbor, Alex struggles between keeping her distance and the magnetic pull of the handsome stranger who claims he's the biological father of her adopted daughter.

Hayden Brooks never wanted to be a father. Long hours spent building his family's real estate empire suits him just fine. But when he discovers an ex put the baby he unknowingly fathered up for adoption, his world crumbles. He tracks the child to Still Harbor with the intention of bringing her home-and comes face to face with his daughter's stunning adoptive mother.

The paternity test is in. And Hayden's about to make the most shocking decision of his life, just in time for Christmas...

Cassy really steals the show in this story - but I think that's a wonderful thing. The adopted daughter of Ales, Cassy lives with her mother and a household of family quite happily. But when Hayden finds out he may be Cassy's father, in he comes from across the country upsetting their lives and causing an incredibly amount of stress - right at Christmas time.

Now, Hayden has the best of intentions at heart. If Cassy is his daughter, he wants to be a part of her life, make sure she has the best of everything, and be the father he thinks she needs. The problem - that may mean taking her away from the only family she's ever known. So when Hayden and Alex begin to realize they actually like each other, things get quite complicated.

Alex was a doll as well (although she did come off as a little too perfect at times). She works in the local bakery and always seemed to be sneaking cupcakes or walking around with sugar/flour on her nose. I loved her from page one. Her devotion to Cassy and the reasons behind her were so touching. I just wanted to hug them both.

The ending wasn't what I had expected though. While I was initially a little disappointed. But the more I think about it, the more I realize it was actually just right.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review.*

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Rescued by the Rancher by Victoria James - Review

Title: Rescued by the Rancher (Tall Pines Ranch #2)

Author: Victoria James
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 141 pages
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Release Date: April 14, 2015 Source: Netgalley
Rating: 3
Heat Rating: 3

Starting over and starting a whole lotta trouble…

Meredith Anderson left her difficult past behind to create a new life for herself in Tall Pines—where she can be the independent, confident woman she always dreamed of being. Now she's a partner in her sister's wedding planning business, helping brides realize their happily-ever-afters…even as she promises herself to never fall in love.

Meredith's sweetness and vulnerability brings out the protective side of rancher Gage McAllister—even though their worlds are miles apart. All it takes is one night for desire to take hold of them both, a sizzling encounter that can only lead to the promise of more. But Meredith isn't looking for more, and even if she was, Gage is set to leave Tall Pines behind him….

Meredith is a tough character for me to explain. I really enjoyed her - most of the time. But there were several times she drifted dangerously close to TSTL. I mean seriously, why are you not telling people your crazy ex is phone stalking you and sending you threatening messages. It'll just go away right? Ummmm.....NO - please don't be dumb.

Despite her not so smart moments, or maybe because of it, she makes a great damsel in distress figure for Gage. Gage is a swoon worthy cowboy. He's dark and a bit broody. His mysterious past has led him to swear off women (don't worry it's not because of a past love interest). His past was somewhat of a surprise and while it sucked - it really explained a lot. I also liked that it kept coming back (the past tends to do that) and actually ends up playing an important part of the story.

The story line really saved this from a worse review. It was so well put together with every element playing an important part - you just might not realize it at first. I love when all the little pieces come together so perfectly.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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Review: The Rancher's Second Chance by Victoria James

Title: The Rancher's Second Chance (Passion Creek #2)

Author: Victoria James
Source: Entangled Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: March 10, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 4
Sexual - 3

Widowed rancher Cole Forrester is all about running his family's ranch and guarding his
heart. The last thing he's looking for is love, but when his little sister can't make it home to handle some of her wedding details, he's forced to entertain the event planner, Melanie Simms. Melanie is everything he's not even remotely interested in: she's high-society, complicated, and high maintenance. But when he's stranded with her at his remote cabin in the Colorado mountains, he realizes he's seriously underestimated her. She's hiding something about her past from him, but despite everything, he finds himself falling for the last woman he ever expected, and the first woman to make him want to give his heart and risk everything...

Reforming the Playboy (Passion Creek #1): Review 
These books can be read as stand alones - the characters do not cross over for more than a couple paragraphs in passing.

This book is about more than just one man's second chance - it's about a second chance for both Cole and Melanie, just in drastically different ways.  Cole is grump and short and doesn't seem to like anything since his wife died several years ago.  Even though he promised her to move on, he never really has.  He is determined to see the ranch succeed and doesn't need some high society girl like Melanie to help him do it.

Melanie is not what she seems to most people.  Coming from a incredibly wealthy family, most look at her and think "trust-fund kid".  But she left that life far behind her for a variety of painful reasons that she chooses not to speak about - ever.  She's now a struggling business owner just like most people in Passion Creek.

Melanie was hired by Cole's sister to plan her wedding - which has placed her in his path more than he really likes.  Especially since there seems to be something special, different, about Melanie that he can't seem to wrap his mind around.  This is the story of them trying to open up and heal each other's hearts - trying to find a way to move forward and past all the painful memories and moments that have been holding them back.

A very sweet story with some sass that Victoria James seems to enjoy spreading around - and I really appreciate her doing so.  Some of the dialog about short people with blotchy faces was great (you'll know what I mean when you get there).

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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