Category Archives: Maisey Yates

May 4, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: Confessions from the Quilting Circle by Maisey Yates

Title: Confessions from the Quilting Circle by Maisey Yates
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 368 pages
Book Rating: C+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

The Ashwood women don’t have much in common…except their ability to keep secrets.

When Lark Ashwood’s beloved grandmother dies, she and her sisters discover an unfinished quilt. Finishing it could be the reason Lark’s been looking for to stop running from the past, but is she ever going to be brave enough to share her biggest secret with the people she ought to be closest to?

Hannah can’t believe she’s back in Bear Creek, the tiny town she sacrificed everything to escape from. The plan? Help her sisters renovate her grandmother’s house and leave as fast as humanly possible. Until she comes face-to-face with a man from her past. But getting close to him again might mean confessing what really drove her away…

Stay-at-home mom Avery has built a perfect life, but at a cost. She’ll need all her family around her, and all her strength, to decide if the price of perfection is one she can afford to keep paying.

This summer, the Ashwood women must lean on each other like never before, if they are to stitch their family back together, one truth at a time…

Review:

Confessions from the Quilting Circle by Maisey Yates is a family-centric novel that deals with some heavy subject matter.

Lark Ashwood moved from her hometown after graduating from high school. After college, she takes a job as an illustrator for children’s books. She also works on her own projects and she enjoys traveling and exploring new places. But after her beloved grandmother dies, Lark decides it is time to move back home and begin a new stage in her life. But the reasons why she left all those years ago are still unresolved. And Lark soon discovers her feelings for an old friend still remain. Will she finally make peace with the issues that have continued to haunt her?

Lark’s middle sister Hannah has a successful career as a violinist with the Boston Symphony. With the summer off from the symphony, she plans to renovate her grandmother’s family home and turn it into an Airbnb rental property. Lark is not at all thrilled to be thrust in close proximity with her high school boyfriend. And when they begin spending time together, old memories begin to rise to the surface. Will finally coming to terms with what happened to her allow her to make changes in her life?

Oldest sister Avery returned home after college and she is married to a surgeon with a demanding career. She takes care of their two children and she is very involved with other school moms. From the outside, Avery has the perfect life but is she hiding secrets from her sisters and parents?

While all three girls love their mother, Mary, none of them are close to her. The grandmother they were so close to abandoned her family when Mary was three years old. She was raised by her dad who did not like to deal with messy emotions. Mary’s pragmatic approach to life makes it difficult for her to relate to her three daughters. Now they are back in town, Mary is hoping to repair her strained relationships with her daughters.

Confessions from the Quilting Circle is a character-driven novel of recovering from old and new pain. The characters are well-developed with genuine strengths and weaknesses. The storyline is interesting but the overall pacing is somewhat slow to since the women are prone to a lot of introspection.  Maisey Yates brings this engaging story to a satisfying conclusion.

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Filed under Confessions from the Quilting Circle, Contemporary, HQN Books, Maisey Yates, Rated C+, Review

September 12, 2016 · 11:57 pm

Review: Last Chance Rebel by Maisey Yates

Title: Last Chance Rebel by Maisey Yates
Copper Ridge Series Book Six
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: C

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

The prodigal son of Copper Ridge, Oregon, has finally come home

The man who ruined Rebecca Bear’s life just strolled back into it with one heck of an offer. Years ago, Gage West’s recklessness left Rebecca scarred inside and out. Now he wants to make amends by gifting her the building that houses her souvenir store. Rebecca won’t take Gage’s charity, but she’s willing to make a deal with the sexy, reclusive cowboy. Yet keeping her enemy close is growing dangerously appealing…

He’s the wild West brother, the bad seed of Copper Ridge. That’s why Gage needs the absolution Rebecca offers. He just didn’t expect to need her. After years of regretting his past, he knows where his future lies—with this strong, irresistible woman who could make a black sheep come home to stay…

Review:

The sixth installment in Maisey Yates’ Copper Ridge series, Last Chance Rebel is an enemy to lovers romance that is full of unresolved issues.  Like the other books in the series, it can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend the previous novels as well.

Rebecca Bear has overcome a lot of adversity in her life but she is still incredibly angry about the accident that irrevocably changed her life seventeen years ago.  In the years following the accident, she endured multiple surgeries and painful rehabilitation and Rebecca continues to carry both the emotional and physical scars of those difficult years.  Needless to say, she harbors a ton of animosity toward the person responsible so when Gage West comes strolling into her store, she does not welcome him with open arms.  Rebecca lets him know in no uncertain terms that she will never forgive him for destroying her life and her family.

Seventeen years ago, Gage took the easy way out and let his father pay off Rebecca’s family to keep his involvement in the accident quiet.  He immediately left town  and he has lived an itinerant life ever since.  Returning to Copper Ridge to take care of his father’s business while he is recuperating from a stroke, Gage knows it is time to make amends for the mistakes of his past. He is not looking for forgiveness or atonement and he tries to remain free of emotional entanglements as he works to repair his relationships with his siblings.  A lot of his actions feel a little hollow since Gage tries to distance himself from everyone and he does not take anyone’s feelings into account as he moves forward with his plans.

The relationship between Gage and Rebecca is angst-ridden and their interactions are volatile and incredibly negative.  Rebecca has a GIANT chip on her shoulder and she makes no effort to hide her dislike and disdain for Gage.  Her feelings are understandable but she places a lot of blame on Gage’s shoulders for things that are really not his fault.  Gage is determined to make amends while Rebecca is unbelievably prickly which leads to rather dramatic outbursts.  With so much anger simmering between them, Rebecca’s sudden decision to sleep with Gage is very hard to believe.  Their sex scenes are quite passionate and their encounters are incendiary.  Their romance has a definite insta-love quality to it since they literally fall in love with each other in a span of a few days.  Both characters undergo tremendous growth as they work through their individual issues, but with everything happening in such a short amount of time, the resolution is just a little hard to believe.

Although Last Chance Rebel is not my favorite novel in the series, it is an enjoyable addition to Maisey Yates’ Copper Ridge series.  Longtime fans will enjoy catching up with characters from previous books and readers will be impatiently awaiting the release of the next novel in the series.

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Filed under Contemporary, Copper Ridge Series, Harlequin, HQN Books, Last Chance Rebel, Maisey Yates, Rated C, Review, Romance

June 26, 2016 · 11:58 pm

Review: Tough Luck Hero by Maisey Yates

Title: Tough Luck Hero by Maisey Yates
Copper Ridge Series Book Six
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Can the golden boy of Copper Ridge, Oregon, get a second chance at happy-ever-after?

Ranching heir Colton West knew his wedding would be the talk of the town. But he didn’t expect to get left at the altar—or to escape on the next flight to Vegas with Lydia Carpenter, the woman who gets under his skin like no one else. The only thing crazier than honeymooning with Lydia is waking up married to her. So why does he find himself entertaining his new wife’s desire to stay married—and fantasizing about a real wedding night?

As Copper Ridge’s prospective mayor, Lydia can’t risk a divorce scandal so close to election time. But pretending to be blissfully in love with her new husband is more confusing than she’d thought. For a man who’s always rubbed her the wrong way, Colton suddenly seems to know exactly what to do with his hands. And his lips. Now Lydia’s wildest mistake could turn out to be her luckiest move, if they’re both willing to take the ultimate gamble…

Review:

The latest addition to Maisey Yates’ heartwarming Copper Ridge series, Tough Luck Hero is a sexy, humorous enemies to lovers romance.

The best way to describe Colton West and Lydia Carpenter’s relationship is distant and mildly antagonistic.  Which is why both of them are stunned to wake up married to each other after a drunken trip to Las Vegas when Colton’s fiancée stands him up at the altar. Immediately deciding a quickie marriage followed by an even quicker divorce would adversely affect Lydia’s mayoral campaign and send Colton’s fragile mother over the edge, they agree to remain married until after the election.  However, neither Colton nor Lydia expect passion to derail their platonic living arrangements and after a somewhat ill thought out decision to explore their mutual desire, their unanticipated intimacy puts them on edge.

Lydia has carved out a comfortable niche for herself in Copper Ridge and she really does not want to mess up her chance at becoming mayor.  She also does not want to spend any more time in her new husband’s company than necessary so she very reluctantly moves into his house.  So it comes as a complete surprise when she makes the decision to get to know Colton after he goes out of his way to avoid her.  Giving up control and letting someone get close to her scares her more than just about anything but Lydia’s attraction to her husband is too powerful to resist.  In an effort to keep him at arms’ length , Lydia always pulls away from him after their passionate encounters but she cannot help but try to help him achieve the dreams he is giving up in order to help his family.

Colton is hard working, loyal and very protective of his mother and sisters. When his older brother left town, he had no choice but to put his family’s needs ahead of his own. He is a bit of a control freak and he is completely committed to doing what is expected of him.  Willing to trade passion and love for a sensible marriage, he is not exactly heartbroken that his ex-fiancée stood him up at the altar. After spending time with Lydia, Colton realizes his animosity towards his new wife is attraction and he sees no reason why they should not give in to their desire.

Colton and Lydia’s relationship is unexpectedly passionate and they are both rather shocked by their sizzling hot lovemaking.  Lydia is stunned by her reaction to Colton’s take charge attitude but she cannot resist following his explicit instructions. Colton is also surprised by his reaction to Lydia and he is sometimes a little uncomfortable with the things he says and does during their scorching hot encounters. While Colton easily accepts the direction their relationship is going, Lydia fights her feelings every step of the way.

Brimming with humor and simmering with passion, Tough Luck Hero is a tantalizing romance that old and new fans of the Copper Ridge series are sure to love. Colton and Lydia are well-rounded protagonists whose transition from adversaries to lovers is realistic and quite believable. Maisey Yates puts a fresh spin on the marriage of convenience plot device and the resulting story is quite captivating. All in all, an endearing love story that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next book in this delightful series.

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Filed under Contemporary, Copper Ridge Series, Harlequin, HQN Books, Maisey Yates, Rated B, Review, Romance, Tough Luck Hero

April 20, 2016 · 11:58 pm

Review: One Night Charmer by Maisey Yates

Title: One Night Charmer by Maisey Yates
Copper Ridge Series Book Four
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Copper Ridge, Oregon’s favorite bachelor is about to meet his match

If the devil wore flannel, he’d look like Ace Thompson. He’s gruff. Opinionated. Infernally hot. The last person that Sierra West wants to ask for a bartending job—not that she has a choice. Ever since discovering that her “perfect” family is built on a lie, Sierra has been determined to make it on her own. Resisting her new boss should be easy when they’re always bickering. Until one night, the squabbling stops…and something far more dangerous takes over.

Ace has a personal policy against messing around with staff—or with spoiled rich girls. But there’s a steel backbone beneath Sierra’s silver-spoon upbringing. She’s tougher than he thought, and so much more tempting. Enough to make him want to break all his rules, even if it means risking his heart…

Review:

The newest installment in Maisey Yates’ marvelous Copper Ridge series, One Night Charmer is a scorching hot romance between affable bar owner Ace Thompson and his new waitress Sierra West.

After discovering her family is nowhere near as perfect as she believes, Sierra quits her job on the family ranch and moves out with the intention of standing on her own two feet.  Which is easier said than done since she quickly exhausts all of her job options until her best friend’s boyfriend convinces Ace to hire her as a waitress.  Their relationship is somewhat contentious but Sierra is determined to prove to Ace that she is more than a snobby rich girl.  Despite their squabbling and sarcastic exchanges, they share a simmering attraction that both Sierra and Ace are determined to ignore.  However, late one night, the fighting stops, chemistry takes over and their lives are irrevocably changed afterward.

Ace is friendly, well-liked and always willing to lend a listening ear.  Having left town years earlier to compete on the rodeo circuit, he returned home a changed man.  Although he has plenty of acquaintances, Ace does not talk about himself and in spite of his well deserved reputation with the ladies, he has zero interest in a relationship.  Ace is laidback and easygoing, so his antagonistic attitude and biting comments when he is around Sierra comes as a shock to both of them.

As the daughter of a wealthy rancher, everything has come easily to Sierra.  She has always done what is expected of her and she sees nothing wrong with the choices she has made.  But after learning some very unexpected news about her father, she begins re-evaluating everything she has done up to this point.  Deciding it is time to take charge of her life, Sierra stands behind her decision despite the difficulties she encounters as she leaves behind her sheltered and pampered life.

For someone who has been content to coast through life, Sierra quickly discovers her backbone when faced with Ace’s antipathy towards her.  She refuses to let his opinion affect her as she continues with her plans.  Unbeknownst to Sierra, she reminds Ace of a devastating time in his life that he has never fully recovered from.  Between his unresolved issues and his sizzling hot attraction to Sierra, Ace uses every weapon in his arsenal to keep her at arms’ length even when as they begin planning for a future together.

One Night Charmer is a fun, flirty romance that has a surprising amount of depth.  Ace and Sierra are multi-layered protagonists who undergo an incredible amount of growth throughout the novel.  The storyline is engaging and once again,  Maisey Yates incorporates true to life, realistic issues that the characters must overcome before finding their happily ever after.  It is a sweet yet steamy addition to the Copper Ridge series that old and new fans are sure to love.

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Filed under Contemporary, Copper Ridge Series, Harlequin, HQN Books, Maisey Yates, One Night Charmer, Rated B+, Review, Romance

July 22, 2015 · 11:57 pm

Review: Bad News Cowboy by Maisey Yates

Bad News CowboyTitle: Bad News Cowboy by Maisey Yates
Copper Ridge Series Book Three
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Can the bad boy of Copper Ridge, Oregon, make good—and win the rodeo girl of his dreams?

Kate Garrett keeps life simple—working hard, riding her beloved horses, playing cards with her brothers. Lately, though, she feels a bit restless, especially when family friend Jack Monaghan is around. Sexy and shameless, Jack is the kind of trouble you don’t tangle with unless you want your heart broken. Still, Kate could always use his help in learning how to lasso someone a little less high risk…

Jack can’t pinpoint the moment the Garrett brothers’ little sister suddenly stopped seeming so…little. Now here he is, giving flirting tips to the one woman who needs zero help turning him on. Love’s a game he’s never wanted to play. But he’ll have to hurry up and learn how before the best thing that ever entered his life rides right back out again…

Review:

Bad News Cowboy, the latest installment in Maisey Yates’ fantastic Copper Ridge series, is a deliciously sexy friends to lovers romance.  This outing pairs the Garrett family’s youngest sister Kate with their bad boy friend Jack Monaghan and the resulting story is a sizzling hot story of love and healing.

Kate was only two years old when her mother abandoned her and her older brothers, Eli and Connor. With their alcoholic father unable to take care of himself let alone his children, the boys stepped in and raised her while at the keeping the family ranch from going under. Another constant in her life is Eli and Connor’s best friend, Jack, but lately, their once easygoing, sibling-like friendship has turned into a source of friction for Kate. She does not understand why Jack suddenly rubs her the wrong way but when he offers to teach her how to flirt, Kate rapidly figures out she is attracted to him. After they share a very steamy and unexpected kiss, Jack is rather disconcerted by his sudden desire for his friends’ little sister. There is absolutely NO way Eli and Connor will approve of Kate dating Jack, but one passionate night turns into a romance both are determined to keep hidden from prying eyes.

Growing up with nothing but male role models, Kate is a bit of a tomboy. She is most comfortable in jeans and boots and she practically breaks out in hives at the thought of wearing a dress. Kate has not been interested in dating but now that her brothers have fallen in love, she has come to realize that everyone else is moving forward while she has become stagnant. Getting a little experience in the romance department is just one of several changes she is planning on making and Jack is the safe choice to help her learn how to interact with men as a woman instead of just one of the guys. He is also the logical person to go to when she needs some assistance making sure she is ready to hit the professional rodeo circuit. Kate is feisty, independent and stubborn, but she feels safe revealing her vulnerabilities to Jack since their backgrounds share many similarities.

Everyone views Jack as a laidback and easygoing man who does not take anything too seriously. He has a well-earned reputation as heartbreaker since he prefers one night stands and he has never been involved in a serious relationship. However, underneath his surface charm and carefree exterior, Jack is a bit damaged and carrying a lot of pain from his dysfunctional childhood. He hides his insecurities behind his cocky attitude and he also harbors a great deal of residual anger toward his absentee father. While Jack eagerly accepts the blame when he does something wrong, he is unwilling to take credit for the good things he does. Kate quickly picks up on this pattern but she is reluctant to push the issue with him and eventually Jack will have to do a little soul searching on his own so he can make peace with his past.

The chemistry between Jack and Kate is off the charts smoking hot and their friendship easily withstands the change in their relationship. They find it easy to confide in each other about their fears and they also have some very serious discussions about their respective childhoods. Kate is surprisingly intuitive despite her age and her perspective helps Jack see himself more clearly. While they are in agreement about indulging in a short term fling, both are very concerned about not letting anyone find out about their romance. However once Jack realizes how deep his feelings for Kate run, he does not hesitate to attempt to move their relationship out into the open. Unfortunately, Jack underestimates Kate’s reaction to going public and he stands to lose everything he holds dear when their romance is revealed.

Bad News Cowboy is another captivating addition to Maisey Yates’ Copper Ridge series. Jack and Kate are wonderfully developed protagonists with believable flaws and realistic problems to overcome. Their relationship is greatly enhanced by their longstanding friendship and their transition from friends to lovers feels natural. Both of the characters grow and evolve throughout the novel and this is, in part, a direct result of their romance. Sweet, steamy and heartfelt, it is an absolutely delightful romance that old and new fans to the series are going to love.

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Filed under Bad News Cowboy, Contemporary, Copper Ridge Series, Harlequin, HQN Books, Maisey Yates, Rated B+, Review, Romance

May 18, 2015 · 11:57 pm

Review: Brokedown Cowboy by Maisey Yates

brokedown cowboyTitle: Brokedown Cowboy by Maisey Yates
Copper Ridge Series Book Two
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 368 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

There are lines best friends shouldn’t cross, but in Copper Ridge, Oregon, the temptation might be too much…

If practice makes perfect, Connor Garrett should be world champion of being alone. Since losing his wife he’s concentrated exclusively on his family’s ranch. Until Felicity Foster needs a place to stay and Connor invites her to move in temporarily. That’s what friends do. What friends don’t do? Start fantasizing about each other in their underwear. Or out of it…

Since high school, Liss has kept her raging crush in check. But helping Connor rebuild his life only reinforces how much she longs to be a part of it. One explosive encounter, and she’ll discover that getting what you always wanted can feel better than you ever dreamed…

There are lines best friends shouldn’t cross, but in Copper Ridge, Oregon, the temptation might be too much…

If practice makes perfect, Connor Garrett should be world champion of being alone. Since losing his wife he’s concentrated exclusively on his family’s ranch. Until Felicity Foster needs a place to stay and Connor invites her to move in temporarily. That’s what friends do. What friends don’t do? Start fantasizing about each other in their underwear. Or out of it…

Since high school, Liss has kept her raging crush in check. But helping Connor rebuild his life only reinforces how much she longs to be a part of it. One explosive encounter, and she’ll discover that getting what you always wanted can feel better than you ever dreamed…

Review:

Brokedown Cowboy is the absolutely phenomenal second installment in Maisey Yates’ fabulous Copper Ridge series. This divine friends to lovers romance features tortured and grieving widower Connor Garrett and his sassy, caring best friend, Felicity “Liss” Foster.

Ever since his wife’s death three years earlier, Connor has just been going through the motions. He still puts in a hard day’s work on the family ranch, but he has isolated himself from his friends and family. He drinks too much in an effort to numb his pain and he is angry, bitter and depressed. Connor does not want to move past his sorrow and although he knows his friends and family are worried about him, he remains deeply mired in his grief.

Liss has been friends with Connor since they were teenagers and she has been secretly in love with him just as long. She pushed aside her feelings for him after his marriage and managed a couple lackluster relationships of her own. She has remained a integral part of Connor’s life and she continues to push him to stop drinking and take better care of himself. Their friendship is comfortable and close enough to withstand his moodiness and when Liss needs a place to stay after her landlady sells her rental house, Connor offers to let her move in with him until she can find a place of her own.

Not surprisingly, their new living situation is a little awkward for both Liss and Connor.  Their close proximity brings a few surprises for each of them. Liss has managed to keep her desire for Connor in check, but that is much harder to do once she is living with him. She is also coming to the realization that her feelings for him are not as platonic she would like them to be. This coincides with the sudden resurgence of Connor’s long dormant libido and he is absolutely blindsided by his sudden attraction to Liss. Once they realize their attraction is mutual, they indulge in some seriously hot, non-committed sex. But Connor is very uneasy with the changes he is undergoing and he briefly pulls away only to later agree to continue their unorthodox arrangement with a few stipulations. Their new agreement works well for a while, but Connor continues to try to maintain an emotional distance and Liss begins to realize that she wants (and deserves) more than he may ever be able to give her.

Brokedown Cowboy by Maisey Yates is more than a love story. It is also a beautiful novel of healing for both Connor and Liss. Their longstanding friendship provides a wonderful foundation for their transition to lovers and their relationship is both sweet and scorching hot. Although it takes time for Connor to work through his problems, this makes his transformation much more realistic. While it is not obvious at first, Liss also has a few issues to deal with and it is very gratifying watching finally stand up for herself. It is a marvelous addition to the Copper Ridge series and while the novel can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend the entire series.

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Filed under Brokedown Cowboy, Contemporary, Copper Ridge Series, HQN Books, Maisey Yates, Rated B+, Review, Romance