by Jasmyn | Dec 2, 2019 | Book Reviews, Readers
I did not like Nicole Hawkins. She made a brief and very unappealing appearance in a previous Gold Coast Retrievers story, and she left a bad taste behind. Becky Muth does a great job of trying to redeem her, even bringing in the prior couple to forgive and sort of awkwardly befriend her, but it didn’t work for me.
Her co-star in the romance, Arnold, seemed very flat. He was loads of fun in the previous book, and I was excited to see a story for him. I hate to say his pet stole the show (and it wasn’t even the dog co-star). In fact, the dog co-star is seen very little and there were times I wondered if this really fits in the series.
What I did like a lot was the positive message the book tried to convey regarding scarring and injuries. Nicole faces a lot of adversity after she almost dies in a fire and is horribly burned. The scenes of her dealing with the aftermath – while a bit quick – were heartwarming and allowed me to start disliking her a little bit less.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
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Title: Healing Hawk (Gold Coast Retrievers #8)
Author: Becky Muth
Genre: Clean Romance, Romantic Suspense
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She almost died in a fire and it wasn’t accidental… Can her trusty canine sidekick and new love interest help to reveal the arsonist before he can strike another match?
Her entire life, everyone has just assumed that Nicole “Hawk” Hawkins was a pretty face without much substance. Now to prove them all wrong, she’s taken on the toughest job she could find—as a Redwood Cove firefighter. She’s not on the job long before a deadly fire nearly takes her life, scarring and disfiguring her once gorgeous features in the process.
The worst part of it all? What happened wasn’t an accident.
Arnold “Snowball” Winters, a detective with Redwood Cove’s police force, has loved Nicole since the day she first joined the station, and this new change in her appearance doesn’t change what’s in his heart. He’ll do whatever it takes to help her recover both her personal and work lives, recruiting Chance, a young Golden Retriever, to help in this mission.
No sooner is Nicole released from her lengthy hospital stay than another freak fire threatens her again—this time in her own home. Can Arnold and Chance find the culprit in time to save Nicole’s life… and maybe even win her heart while they’re at it?
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by Jasmyn | Nov 26, 2019 | Book Reviews, Readers, Romance
Willow is not your typical celebrity, but she does seem to have some of their same troubles. Her morning talk show is losing ratings, which means she may be losing her job. Her last chance to keep it means becoming the host of the new dating show. A show she needs to figure out fast before it doesn’t take off at all.
Willow really impressed me with her taste in dogs. Her pick of the “litter” of golden retrievers was quite refreshing. And the bond she formed with Buddy from the moment they met was everything I wanted it to be.
Caleb, the bodyguard hired to protect Willow after she receives threatening letters, was another story. Ya, I loved that he loved Buddy, but his predisposition to assume all celebrities were snobs and brats really put me off. Especially when he continued to hold that position after meeting Willow and Buddy. Yes, eventually he realizes that not all celebrities are like that, but then he decides that Willow can even be his friend because he can’t focus on protecting her if she’s more than just a job.
The story really seemed to get caught up in Caleb’s head for a long time. It took too much of the focus off finding the bad guy, and too much into Caleb’s insecurities. The bad guy was super obvious to me right from the very first letter he sent. And his big appearance at the end of the story was a tad unbelievable.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
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Title: Watching Willow
Author:: Ann Omasta
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Sweet Romance
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On the verge of losing her job, local television star Willow Winks desperately seeks the one thing she believes can save her fledgling career––a golden retriever sidekick.
Willow thought being told she was getting too old for television was the most frightening thing a celebrity diva could hear––until she and her furry best friend, Buddy, receive a threatening letter.
Concerned for their safety, the television studio hires Caleb McCreery, a brave, strong, and young bodyguard to protect the famous duo. Caleb is ready to do whatever it takes to keep his charges safe, even if that means risking his own life.
As the threats begin to escalate, Willow and Caleb struggle to keep their budding attraction at bay. Will the distraction of their growing feelings make the bodyguard vulnerable and put all three at risk?
This sweet tale is a romantic adventure you don’t want to miss… Grab your copy and start reading today!
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by Jasmyn | Nov 25, 2019 | Book Reviews, Readers, Romance
A bit of a damsel in distress, Hanna, needs to be rescued story, but the rescuer is her grandfather’s golden retriever, Bella, who starts the book out with a bang by rescuing her from a getting hit by a car. This sets off a bit of an adventure as Hanna tries to avoid her crazy stalker ex-boyfriend with the help of Blake, the son of a friend of the family and a private investigator on vacation.
This had the potential to be a really amazing story, but Hanna wasn’t what I needed her to be. She was too headstrong and unwilling to take the advice of the experts who trying to protect her. Putting herself in danger and staying by herself even though she knew her ex was looking for her and had found her several times already.
Blake is also trying to avoid an ex, but for very different reasons. She cheated on him but his family is determined to help her win him back. Now I really don’t like his family at all, and Hanna’s family was sort of in the same area with their feelings towards Hanna’s ex. Everyone was just not very good. Blake’s ex quicky notices his developing feelings for Hanna and uses his family to make it look like they are happily together still, but Hanna never really questions it or looks beyond the surface.
While in the end Hanna stood up for herself and started becoming the intelligent and self-sufficient woman I feel like she should have been the whole time, it was too little too late.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
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Title: Helping Hanna (Gold Coast Retrievers #6)
Author: Emmie Lyn
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Sweet Romance
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She’s terrified of falling in love. He’s terrified of losing her…
For Hanna Moss, love has always come with danger. From the incessant stalking by an ex to nearly losing her life in a hit and run accident, she vows to remain alone–and safe. So when her golden retriever, Bella, welcomes a handsome private investigator into their lives Hanna is surprised to find herself willing to open up despite the tremendous risks that have always come with letting others in.
Blake Bowman returns to Redwood Cove with a shattered heart. All he wants is to enjoy a much-needed quiet vacation far from his ex-girlfriend. At least, that was the plan until he meets Hanna—beautiful and with an injury that is more than skin deep. He’ll need to stay focused, though, because it looks like what happened to her was no accident.
Blake desperately wants to help Hanna in every way possible, even if that means putting love on hold. Hanna is terrified of the feelings she’s rapidly developing for Blake and refuses to repeat her past mistakes… Is Hanna safer on her own, or will trusting Blake finally allow her to heal?
Helping Hanna is book six in the Gold Coast Retrievers series. Each book stands completely on its own, but you’ll have more fun if you read them all together!
Find out if Bella can help these two humans understand that trust is a two-way street, that the heart can be repaired, and that love can bloom again.
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