fiction – The Spine View

Blue Collar Billionaire by Amy Andrews

Blue Collar Billionaire, by Amy Andrews, has one of my favorite troupes, opposites attract. It also has just the right amount of steam along with great characters, and explosive attraction. It was a blast to read and perfect for readers who enjoy a steamy cup of goodness.

I absolutely fell for the main characters. I loved Holly, she is an eclectic mix of intelligence, quirkyness and old-school notions. As an ER doctor she is driven and hyper focused on her goals. Then she meets Danny and gets to know him. Danny makes her melt and their attraction is off the charts. As for Danny, he most certainly knew how to get under her skin. He always makes her a melting mess of hormones. In contrast to Holly, Danny is you typical laid back, fly by the seat of your pants, musician. He is good looking and he knows it. He reeks of masculinity and cocky attitude. The total opposite of Holly. Yet they work so well together.

Holly doesn’t have time for a relationship and Danny feels like he is a plebian compared to her. Therefore, despite the attraction both of them feel they tell themselves they are just scratching an itch. Then the most unexpected thing happens. Danny’s Uncle, who raised him, dies suddenly and leaves him a straggling amount of money. Money can be a good thing or a bad thing. The ten dollar question is, will Danny be mature enough to handle the windfall responsibly.

In summary, this book is an enjoyable, quick and fun read. I was fully invested in Holly and Danny’s story, which felt real, and I was routing for them throughout the book. If you like a romance story with a decent plot and a good dose of steam, then this is the book for you. Enjoy!

I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Hot Shot by Kristen Callihan

Rating: 5 Stars
Pub. Date: April, 18, 2017

This story really grabbed me and I am so gone for Finn the MMC. He is perfectly imperfect and totally swoon worthy. Combine him with Chess, who is an awesome, strong female main character that I enjoyed reading about, and I couldn’t get enough of them.

The two main characters, Chess and Finn, meet during a photo shoot. Chess is the photographer hired to take tasteful nudes of some members of the local pro football team for a charity calendar. Finn is the young, cocky QB for the team.

While it was not instant love there was some chemistry between them. Chess won a lot of points with me on how she handled Finn when he was extremely uncomfortable with the photo shoot. I believe she saw a venerability in Finn that he usually did not show people and it intrigued her. Then her small act of kindness had me routing for them.

From the beginning, I could see these two together. That feeling got stronger the more I got to know them. It helped that the story developed organically and it felt like I was reading about a real life couple. Another aspect of the story that I liked was the characters start out as just friends despite their chemistry. It made for a tension filled slow burn delight.

This book is number four in the Game On series; however, it can be read as a standalone. I had previously read book three, but not one and two. I have enjoyed both books I have read so far in this series; therefore, I plan to read book one and two also. I highly recommend this book and the series. I also feel this book would be a great choice for a book club. There are a lot of subjects that were touched on in the story that would make for a lively discussion.

I received a free copy from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

Blackthorn by J. T. Geissinger

Mavon returns to her ancestral home, with her young daughter, in order to attend the funeral of her grandmother. It was supposed to be a quick trip and she would return to her life in the city. Of course, even the best laid plans go awry when witch craft is involved and her grandmother’s body goes missing.

To add insult to injury, it was inevitable that she would run into her arch enemy Ronan Croft. Ronan is the billionaire heir and current CEO of Croft Pharmaceuticals. However, they were not always enemies. They had been lovers and even if Mavon wants to forget, her body has not. With each encounter more of their past is revealed and some secrets are not going to remain in the dark.

I love books that are character driven. It is the main thing that drives my quest for great stories. However, this book was all about the multi-layered plot and witty, cutting, banter. Yes, the characters were great; however, I got so wrapped up in the plot I didn’t pay as much attention as I normally do to character develop. In fact, I got so invested in this story that it had me reading until 2:00AM to finish.

The chemistry between the MMC and FMC was off the charts and I liked how the author built up the tension. Both characters had a lot of past baggage they each had to unpack and there were a couple of questions I had that were not answered until the very end. The book definitely had my complete attention the entire time I was reading.

The plot was fast based and there were plenty of twists. A couple of big twists actually. There was one twist at the end I figured out, and you will too if you pay addition to the details. I liked that the author allowed me to figure it out. It was as if she was seeing how clever her readers could be.

This is a dark romance; so, read the warnings carefully. That said, this is on the lighter side of dark romance. If dark romance can have a light side. In addition, this book has a lot of the same vibes as PenPal. Therefore, if you read and enjoyed that book you need to read this one NOW. For those readers who have not read any books by Geissenger, you need to read this book if you are into dark romance. In summary, an enjoyable read and I highly recommend.

I received a free copy from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

The Solider by Susan Stoker

Pub. Date: August 12, 2025
Rating: 4 Stars

When their dad passes away, it is a no brainer for the four Young brothers return home to Lobster Cove in order to help their mom with the three businesses their parents own. Chad, a former sharp shooter in the military, is the one to return first.

While out doing errands Chad meets Britt, a woman in distress. Britt moved to Maine with her deadbeat boyfriend who left her stranded without money after just two weeks. She has had no luck finding a job. So when Chad offers her a job, and she talks to Chad’s mother, she gladly accepts a job helping with the rental cabins at Lobster Cove.

Chad and Britt are both living in the large main house and cross paths often. Therefore, it is not surprising that they catch feelings. Britt especially loves that she gets treated like family, something she never had growing, by the various people who work on the property. Despite the hard work she is falling, for not only Chad, but all things Lobster Cove. Unfortunately, not all is well there. There are some sinister things going on and Britt finds herself right in the middle of it all.

Lovely descriptive prose was the star in this book. It made me want to go visit the Maine coast. In the summer, of course. I enjoyed reading scenes, like the one with the rope swing, that enhanced that small town, tight family vibes this book exuded. Very well executed and the story gave me a lot of feels.

My only complaint (and it is minor) is the plot felt a little rushed. I would have preferred more of a slow burn to the love story. This would allow for more character development too. Of course, this is personal preference and there will be other readers that don’t care for the angst that goes with a slow burn plot. The rest of the plot worked well, I thought. The twist was not a big surprise but it did add to the tension and worked to kind of wrap things up.

In short, The Solider, is a cute story about found family and finding love when you least expect it. It is always a pleasure to read a book that checks a lot of boxes for me. Therefore, I can confidently recommend this one to anyone who likes a feel-good, small-town romance.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via Net Galley, in exchange for my honest review. If you want to read more of my reviews, check out my book blog at www.thespineview.com.

His Christmas Bride by Lara Van Hulzen

His Christmas Bride, by Lara Van Hulzen, is a feel good second chance romance story set in the picturesque town of Marietta, Montana. It has all the necessary ingredients of a magical love story.

Lucas has always loved the town of Marietta and has fond memories of his visits there. He feels it would be the perfect place to get married. He and his fiancée, Vanessa, come back to the town looking for the ideal spot to have a dream wedding. Vanessa finds this ideal setting in the Tanner ranch.

Erin Tanner, and her father, run the ranch. It has not been easy and there are bills piling up and repairs that need to be done. Despite that she has loved Lucas since her teenage years and it is breaking her heart to watch Lucas get married to someone else, Erin puts her feelings aside for the financial benefit of the ranch.

As the wedding plans proceed forward and Lucas has to interact with Erin more and more. He discovers that he has feelings for her. To complicate matters, Vanessa is starting to show another side of herself and Lucas is questioning his choices.

Even though this is the third book in the series, it works well as a stand-alone and I was able to jump right in. The plot was executed nicely and there was enough excitement to keep my interest. I especially liked that the story, while fiction, was totally believable.

Another aspect that made me enjoy this story is the characters. As with the plot, they were believable and well rounded. I was able to quickly identify with the characters, especially Erin, and I became invested in her story and wanted to see everything work out for her.

This is the prefer book for those readers that love a holiday romance with a HEA. It has all the feels and I am hoping to read the other books in this series soon.

I received a free electronic copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Minister’s Wife by John Anthony Miller

I was first drawn to The Minister’s Wife, by John Anthony Miller, because I was intrigued by the idea of a woman spy during the Revolutionary War. I love books that highlight strong women in unusual circumstances and this book delivered. I need more books like this!

Abigail, the minister’s wife, has just returned to Philadelphia from New York with her new husband. She comes home to find, in her absence, the city has been captured by the English and the redcoats are everywhere she looks.

However, some things have not changed. Ian Blaine, her former lover, still lives in the city and when he is accused of being a traitor to the crown old feelings begin to rise in her. Though he is able to prove he is innocence, the English are watching him closely, especially the English Commander Duncan.

Soon it becomes obvious that Ian still loves Abigail and he just can’t stay away from her. As Abigail is pulled into the web of patriot spies, there are lies and deceit that abound that will threaten both her and Ian.

This story is full of twists and turns you will not see coming. The plot is fast paced and the suspense was almost unbearable at times. I was on the edge of my seat with worry about Ian and Abigail being caught. They took far too many chances, in my opinion, and it made my heart skip a beat every time they took an unnecessary risk. Then the dramatic ending just sealed my love of this story.

Not only did I got caught up in the drama of the story early on, but it was also the character of Abigail that made me really love this book. She was so brave. She knew she was taking big risks; yet, she found the courage to do what she thought was right.

The type of suspense, and the characters, in this book are what I feel makes a good story great. Perfect book for fans of Historical Thrillers. I also think it will appeal to those Romance readers who enjoy a story that is not all fluff and has a bit of bite to it.

I received a free copy in exchange for by honest review.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

This book was a joy to read. The prose was hauntingly eloquent. At its heart, this is a coming-of-age story that will touch you in unexpected ways. Hands down the best book I read so far this year.

For a brief period of time, in their grade school years, Sam and Sadie are best friends. They connect over their love of video games and then have a falling out. Years later, a chance meeting when they are in college reunites them. They, along with Sam’s college roommate, form a software company and a friendship that will be the most rewarding thing and the most hurtful thing in their entire lives.

It has been a long time since a book touched me this deeply. I felt like I was peeling away layer upon layer of text to reach the core of these characters that I fell in love with. This is not one of those books that you can read quickly and then jump right into the next. Definitely no fluff here. The story is subtle and yet also complex. It is life and the characters felt as real as any I have ever encountered.

This is the perfect book for fans of A Gentleman in Moscow and A Man Called Ove. I have already recommended this one to my friends and a highly recommend it to you!

I received a free copy from the published, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

Christmas Collusion by K. L. McLoughlin

After an overload of Christmas themed books during the holidays, I put this book off way too long. When I finally did pick it up, I wished I had read it sooner because it has great characters and a plot I enjoyed.

There are two stories here that merge and become entwined. First, we have Greg and Patty who meet in a coffee shop by accident… literally. The accident occurring when Patty bumps into Greg and spills her coffee on him. They get to talking and Greg asks her if she would go on a fake date because he needs to appease his meddling daughter Mandy.

Second, we have Justin and Mandy (the meddling daughter). Justin is the new person at the office and Mandy feels a strong attraction to him. It turns out that Justin is none other than Patty’s nephew. What are the chances! But there is more going here and as the relationships get more involved and these four people’s lives become more entwined there is more than just hurt feelings at steak. There are some miscommunications and other twists that happen that make this story interesting (sorry no spoilers). And as you can imagine, with the way these four get tangled up together, some humorous moments.

As I stated at the beginning, I think the characters are well done. I liked how the author presented them as sincere but fallible. We all are guilty of jumping to conclusions and the author used this to great advantage in the story, especially with Mandy. I kind of felt sorry for her. I couldn’t help but laugh at her. Not a mean laugh, but one that says I get it, I have been in your shoes before.

The plot was good. Believable, which always is a plus for me with fiction. Then there is just the right amount of suspense to keep you interested in the outcome. As the reader, and therefore being in the know, yet having to wait see how everything worked out when all the cards where on the table was half the fun of this book.

This is actually book one of a new series and I am looking forward to reading more from this author. I can easily recommend this to Romance readers and Contemporary Fiction readers. There is more than just a Christmas story here and this book would make the perfect beach read.

I received a free copy from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Impossible Us by Sarah Lotz

If you are tired of the same old drab Rom-Com stories, be sure to check out The Impossible Us by Sarah Lotz. It is quirky, fun and a breath of fresh air in a tried-and-true genre.

Neither Nick nor Bee considers themselves good at relationships. Bee was involved in a disastrous relationship years ago and now prefers only one-night stands. However, recently that also has not been the best experience and she is thinking that it is time to swear off men altogether. Then there is Nick, the self-proclaimed failed writer who appears stuck in a marriage that is unfulfilling and disappointing for both himself and his wife.

Then it all changes when a misdirected email sent by Nick ends up in Bee’s Inbox. They start a lively back and forth banter that they both look forward to because they know they will never have to meet. However, they did not plan for the ease in which they can “talk”. It is like they have known each other all their lives and they just get each other. Maybe they are the perfect match.

Putting their doubts aside, they decide to meet at the train station. Call it a twist of fate but they never meet up because it is “impossible”. IKR!?! How can it be impossible??? I hate spoilers and I refuse to do them. Therefore, you will need to read the book to find out the impossible. BTW, don’t read the book blurb because that has the spoiler I am trying to avoid.

Obviously, I loved the originality of the story. Just when I thought there could be nothing all that new and fresh in this genre, someone comes along and just blows it out of the water. For this reason alone, you should read this book!

Another reason to read this book is the great characters. They were both so very imperfect, yet that endeared them to me. Yeap, I totally fell in love with them and wanted everything to work out. So much so, that I kept imagining ways that their relationship would work.

Throw in a fast-moving plot and a few twists and you have the reasons for my five-star rating. This story took me be surprise, not only in the inventiveness, but in the quality of plot and character development. I need to add this author to my must-read list.

I loved this book and am looking forward to reading more by this author. Great pick for Rom-Com and Contemporary Fiction readers. Be sure to check out this little gem!

I received a free copy from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review. For more of my reviews, and author interviews, see my book blog at www.TheSpineView.com.

Immortal Rising by Lynsay Sands

Being book #35 in the Argeneau series, by Lindsay Sands, you can imagine how popular the author’s books are. This is Stephanie and Thorne’s story. Both of these characters have appeared in earlier books, and it is nice to finally get them together as the stars of their own story.

Stephanie was introduced as a teenager early on in the series. Now she is an adult and living the life of a recluse because she has the unique ability to hear other people’s thoughts. While that is good when hunting rogues, the crush of so many thoughts can be unbearable at times. Thus, her necessary rural and reclusive life that helps keep the noise to a minimum.

Thorne, also introduced in earlier books, is the result of genetic experiments conducted by his father Dr. Dressler. He is a mix of human and various animal DNA. As a result, he has wings and is not entirely mortal. Currently he is in Canada and staying at the compound that also contains Stephanie’s home while he awaits the possible removal of his wings.

When Thorne and Stephanie meet there is an instant attraction. When by chance their skin grazes the others, they both feel the electricity between them. Stephanie knows this can only be one thing, Thorne is her life mate. But will Thorne want her when he finds out her past and what will happen when Dressler comes looking for them both.

This book just further proves that this series is my go-to for vampire goodness. Enjoyed every moment of this story. I like how diverse Sands characters are and her imagination seems to know no bounds. She manages to keep delivering great story after great story and somehow keeps them fresh and exciting even after all this time.

Another thing I like about these books is that there is always some kind of tension and/or drama to keep the reader interested and invested in the outcome. The character development is good, and I was especially drawn to these two characters. I think it is because both of these characters have been through so much already and yet they still retain a positive outlook on life. Therefore, I really wanted them to have their happy ending.

I have read most of the books in this series and this one is in the top 5 for me. If you haven’t read any of these books, I strongly urge you to read this one or any of the others in the series for that matter. Sands always gives you enough background to read each book as a stand-alone.

I received a free copy, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.