In today's post, I am scheduled for a blog tour for In the Key of Family. However, it is the second book in the Home to Osk Hollow series, so this post also inclludes the review for A Sheriff's Star.
Author: Makenna Lee
Series: Home to Oak Hollow #1
Publisher: Harlequin Special Edition
Publisher: Harlequin Special Edition
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle
No. of Pages: 288
Date of Publication: November 1, 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
It was only supposed to be a temporary home…
He interrupts her plans…
When police chief Anson Curry returns a lost little girl to her frantic mother, his only goal is to ease the single mom’s anxiety. But it doesn’t take long for Tess Harper’s amazing child to have Anson wrapped around her little finger—and for Tess to have him thinking about a possible relationship. As for Tess, she’s tempted—even though she had planned to be in Oak Hollow, Texas, only temporarily. But after losing her father and brother in the line of duty, Tess thinks Anson’s job poses too much of a risk to her heart. And Anson has no plans to get involved with someone who’s planning on leaving.
From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.
Home to Oak Hollow
Book 1: A Sheriff’s Star
Book 2: In the Key of Family
MY THOUGHTS:
Tess Harper only plans on being in Oak Hollow for a short period of time. Tess is a single mother with a darling little girl with Down Syndrome who needs a major heart surgery. Hannah Lynn is everything to Tess and she intends on continuing to keep Hannah Lynn as her sole focus. However, she is soon distracted by her landlord and neighbor Anson Curry.
Ansson finds himself drawn to Tess from the moment she lays eyes on him. The problem is that she doesn't seem to even give him a passing thought. Tess does sense a strong attraction to Anson, but she knows that she won't be in town very long. A relationship between them could never work, and there is even a deeper reason for Tess's reticence, and that is Anson's job as police chief. Having suffered great loss in her life already, and with a young daughter with a serious ailment, Tess cannot take any more fears, and she views his job as a dangerous one.
I so loved this story, Hannah Lynn stole mu heart. Her capacity for love is unrivaled and I loved how she called Anson "my chief". Every time I read that phrase, my heart was squeezed ever so tightly. The trio of Anson, Tess and Hannah Lynn belonged together and I loved their journey in this wonderful story by Makenna Lee.
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Author: Makenna Lee
Series: Home to Hope Hollow
Publisher: Harlequin Special Edition
Publisher: Harlequin Special Edition
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 288
Date of Publication: May 25, 2021
My Rating: 4 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
Big-city free spirit meets small-town cop. And a symphony begins…
A homestay in Oak Hollow is Alexandra Roth’s final excursion before settling in to her big-city career. Officer Luke Walker, her not-so-welcoming host, isn’t sure about the "crunchy" music therapist. Yet his recently orphaned nephew with autism instantly grooves to the beat of Alex’s drum. Together, this trio really strikes a chord. But is love enough to keep Alex from returning to her solo act?
Buy In the Key of Family by Makenna Lee!
MY THOUGHTS:
Alexandra Roth is at a crossroads in her life. She has an opportunity for a dream job in New York City, but before that can happen, Alex is searching for connections to her past. This search brings Alex into officer Luke Walker's life. Alex abd Luke have a poweerful attraction but they both have challenges facing them.
With regard to Alex, she is looking for missing pieces of her life. For Luke, he now has custody of his autistic nephew after his sister's death. Cody is Luke's nephew and stole just about every scene he was in. Luke and Cody's pain was palpable and I love how easily Alex fit into their lives and hearts. Luke's dedication to Cody was remarkable, and the changes he made in his life were commendable.
Alex fell in love with Cody from the start. Their shared connection to music proved to be quite a powerful bond, and that grows exponentially the more she spends time with Luke. Will the trio become a family, overcoming past hurts and the fear that comes along with them?
I have loved this book, and the first one in this series, A Sheriff's Star. I love how the children in both stories had special conditions and how uunconditional love flowed through the pages of each book. The third book in the series, A Child's Christmas Wish, is due in October and I cannot wait to read it.
Many thanks to Harlequin Special Edition and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy the following excerpt:
In the Key of Family - Excerpt
Makenna Lee
Alexandra Roth stumbled back when the Acorn Café door fired open, and a tall cowboy rushed out with a large bag of ice over one shoulder and a twelve-pack of beer under the other. He sidestepped just in time to avoid sending her sprawling onto the hot sidewalk, and his obsidian eyes sprang wide.
“Pardon me, ma’am. So sorry.”
“It’s…okay.” She barely managed to squeak the words out past her surprise and a flare of attraction.
Were all the Oak Hollow residents this polite? And this smoking hot? She adjusted the guitar case over one shoulder, pulled out her cell phone and snapped a photo of him walking away. The historic town square created the perfect backdrop to frame his powerful form. Tight maroon T-shirt over bulging muscles, worn jeans, hat, boots and enough swagger to get a girl’s motor revving. A genuine cowboy in the flesh. Not something she often saw back home in Manhattan.
He paused, and she thought she’d been caught taking his picture, but after a few beats he continued across the street to a black truck. Attempting to look nonchalant, she leaned her large rolling suitcase against a post and sat on top. Her movie-star sunglasses were the perfect concealment for stealthy observation. The cowboy handled his purchases like they weighed nothing, but his flexing muscles told a different story as he put them on the tailgate and leaned in to drag over a cooler. Ice cascaded and chimed like musical notes over the glass bottles.
Alex didn’t want to take her eyes off him long enough to dig out her sketch pad, so she’d have to use her memory and the one photo to paint his image. A hot breeze fluttered her billowy sleeves, and she wished for some of his ice to cool her heated skin. Beer wasn’t her drink of choice, but putting a cold amber bottle to her lips sounded pretty good about now. Maybe she’d run into him again, and they could share a drink, or a meal, or…
The star of her developing fantasy slammed his tailgate. His eyes were hidden in the shade of his cowboy hat, but the wide grin he shot her way was as clear as Waterford Crystal, and she knew she’d been caught staring. Rather than looking away in embarrassment, she returned his smile. He gripped the brim of his hat in a sort of cowboy salute, then climbed into the cab and started the engine. It wasn’t the first time she’d been caught observing someone whose likeness she wished to capture with paint.
Once he’d driven down Main Street, Alex studied the covert photo on her phone, only feeling a smidge guilty about taking it without permission. But you couldn’t see his face, which was unfortunate because it had been a really nice face—all angles and strong lines, tan skin and a bit of dark, sexy stubble. It would be the first watercolor painting she’d work on once she got settled. If she didn’t melt in this oppressive Texas summer heat. She gathered her long mass of auburn hair, twisted it into a messy bun and secured it with two paintbrushes from the front pocket of her guitar case.
Makenna Lee is an award-winning romance author living in the Texas Hill Country with her real-life hero and their two children. Her oldest son has Down syndrome and taught her to appreciate the little things, and he inspired one of her novels. As a child, she played in the woods, looked for fairies under toadstools, and daydreamed. Her writing journey began when she mentioned all her story ideas, and her husband asked why she wasn’t writing them down. The next day she bought a laptop, started her first book, and knew she’d found her passion. Now, Makenna is often drinking coffee while writing, reading, or plotting a new story. Her wish is to write books that touch your heart, making you feel, think, and dream. She enjoys renaissance festivals, nature photography, studying herbal medicine, and usually listens to Celtic music while writing. She writes for Harlequin and Entangled Publishing and believes everyone deserves a happy ending.
Connect with the Author
Website: https://makennalee.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MakennaLeeBooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makennaleewriter/
These look sweet and heart squeezing
ReplyDeleteA Sheriff's Star and In the Key of Family both sound like sweet reads.
ReplyDeleteOoh, this series sounds deliciously sweet.
ReplyDeleteBoth of these adorable romances look like they'd be a perfect fit for my TBR :) In the Key of Family sounds amazing!
ReplyDelete-Megan @ Bookstacks & Golden Moms