Release Day Review: "It Had to Be Fate" by Tamra Baumann

Synopsis:

Falling for a bad-boy rock star is the last thing single mother Casey Anderson-Bovier should do. Embroiled in a custody battle with her ex, Casey is fighting to raise her boys in their quaint Colorado hometown—a secret haven for celebrities. But when it comes to her hotel’s newest guest, Casey can’t connect the dots. Is Zane Steele the out-of-control rocker plastered all over the media, or the captivating man with a killer smile who’s charming her and her two boys?

Zane has a good reason for letting the world believe the worst of him—and that’s a secret he’s sure he can never share…until he meets Casey. After years of having fans fall at his feet, he’s found the one woman who brings him to his knees. Casey is beautiful and intriguing—and thoroughly justified in not trusting him one bit, especially with her family at stake. But the only way to be together is to convince her to take a chance on him, on fate, and on their crazy, unexpected love.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

My Review:

Another great Anderson Butte story. The characters are always well-developed and humorous - you just never know what to expect from Grandma, and she doesn't disappoint. I love Casey - she's a fierce mama bear and I love her relationship with her kids. And Tomas is a guy that you love to hate! He was so well written, I wanted to reach into my Kindle and wring his neck. Then there's Zane - your classic hero and he doesn't disappoint. A classic rocker with a heart of gold, taking care of everyone in his life - something that has been drilled into him his entire life and reinforced by his mother on her deathbed. I love Zane and his honor and integrity.

The storyline was realistic and well-paced - I found myself turning the pages faster and faster to keep up with my racing mind. And the tie-ins back to previous books, and hints into future books keep me coming back to this series over and over.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Links:

Goodreads • Amazon

About the Author:

Tamra Baumann is an award-winning author who writes lighthearted contemporary romance. Always a voracious reader, she picked up her first romance novel and was forever hooked. (Thank you, Nora Roberts!)

She lives in the Southwest where the sun shines most every day and the sunsets steal her breath away. She has two kids, both bilingual in English and sarcasm, and a dog who is addicted to Claritin because he’s allergic to grass. Her husband, who gamely tolerates her many book-boyfriends, has been her real-life boyfriend for thirty years. Her debut novel, IT HAD TO BE HIM was published by Montlake Publishing April 1st, 2015, and her second IT HAD TO BE LOVE came out September 8th 2015. Stay tuned for more in 2016.

Tamra is a Golden Heart and Golden Pen Winner.  She is also a member of Land of Enchantment Romance Authors and RWA. Tamra enjoys hearing from you.  

Website: http://www.tamrabaumann.com/

Review: "It Had To Be Love" by Tamra Baumann

Synopsis:

Tara Carter isn’t looking for romance. She’s content seeing patients at her new practice by day, then going home and cuddling with her puppy at night. Her new life in the tiny town of Anderson Butte, Colorado—known by celebrities as the place to lie low—is the perfect respite for a woman with a whopper of a secret. There’s just one problem: the town’s sexy sheriff knows she’s hiding something.

Sheriff Ryan Anderson, weary of small-town drama, has sworn off dating locals and thinks a fresh start in a bigger city is in order. However, the more he gets to know Tara, the more his heart tells him that she could be the woman of his dreams. But he wants to get to the bottom of whatever she’s trying so hard to keep under wraps. Can he uncover her secret before it drives them apart forever?

Genre: Contemporary Romance

My Review:

It Had To Be Love is the story of Tara and Ryan set in the wonderful, fictional town of Anderson Butte, where all of the businesses are part of one big corporation, and where everyone gets a 401(k) and health benefits, as long as they follow the rules. It's a fun, interesting concept. There is also an underlying story a la "the Hatfields and the McCoys" between the Andersons and the Grants which is exacerbated in this story by the mystery of a hidden moonshine recipe and barrels of aged whiskey! All of this, though, just serves as the setting for their wonderful, suspenseful love story.

You would expect the two least likely to get together would be a straight-laced sheriff and a woman with a secret she's keeping - but it works. Ryan has a strict "no dating in town" policy and has taken it to the point that he's decided to move in order to find a wife and start a family. But he's intrigued by the new resident of Anderson Butte who he KNOWS is keeping secrets. He can't help himself but trying to solve that mystery. I love how this relationship develops, with Tara letting little bits of her secret be revealed as she and Ryan get closer. Ryan and Tara have a wonderful repartee and the author does a great job of writing Tara's dialogue to deflect Ryan's question, and Ryan's dialogue as a character who clearly doesn't like or need to talk much. I thought his "mid-week" phone call to Tara was fantastic, because she told him that's what a good boyfriend does. It was like he was "checking the box" and it was hilarious!

There are suspenseful undertones throughout the story as Tara's secret is revealed and the suspense both draws Tara and Ryan together and pushes them apart. Add in the wrench of an old girlfriend all of a sudden available, meddling sisters (who are a wonderful addition to the comedic element of the story), and let's not forget Grandma, who is still toting her shotgun but has added night vision goggles to her arsenal. Ryan's mild-mannered personality is the perfect peace maker for all of the crazy personalities in his family and in town. A great addition to the Anderson Butte series.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Links:

Goodreads • Amazon • Barnes and Noble (PB) 

About the Author:

Tamra Baumann became hooked on writing the day she picked up her first Nora Roberts novel from her favorite bookstore. Since then, she’s dazzled readers of contemporary romance with her own lighthearted love stories. She was the 2012 Golden Heart winner for Contemporary Series Romance, and has also received the Golden Pen Award for Single Title Romance. Born in Monterey, California, she led the nomadic life of a navy brat before finally putting down permanent roots during college. When she’s not attending annual Romance Writers of America meetings, this voracious reader can be found playing tennis, traveling, or scouting reality shows for potential character material. She resides with her real-life characters—a husband of thirty years, two kids, and their allergy-ridden dog—in the sunny Southwest.

Website: http://www.tamrabaumann.com/

Review: "It Had to Be Him" by Tamra Baumann

Synopsis:

Even though Meg Anderson’s hell-raising days are over, coming home to Anderson Butte isn’t easy, especially when her impossible-to-please dad is the mayor and her do-gooder siblings run the place. But with another job lost and the gorgeous father of her daughter trying to make contact after disappearing three years ago, a break is definitely in order. Hopefully the little town filled with big, juicy secrets can help.

After being off the grid for years, Josh Granger, a man with his own secrets, wants Meg and his daughter back. But first he has to get past townspeople as protective as a pack of rottweilers. He’s not the man Meg thinks he is, but he can’t tell her why…not yet.

As Meg slowly warms to Josh, it’s clear the old spark is still there. But when his secret is exposed—along with Meg’s own shocking revelation—will it tear their family apart again, or bind them forever?

Genre: Contemporary Romance, with a touch of suspense

My Review:

You know a book is gonna be great when you are introduced to a gun-totting, orthopedic-shoe-wielding Granny in the first chapter! It Had to Be Him is a great mix of romance, second chances, comedy, and a bit of suspense and intrigue thrown in. I really enjoyed how the author set the stage from the beginning of the book with Meg's return to town. Meg has some major obstacles to overcome with the town's - and her family's - perception of her due to her actions as a teen. The reader is immediately introduced to the dynamic of the town, and Meg's family, and you find yourself rooting for her from the outset! 

The author does a masterful job of setting up the reader with regards to Josh. Meg's "introduction" of Josh made us fear and hate him before we ever met him - boy were we wrong! Josh endears himself to me as soon as I meet him, just as he began to win the town over with his sincerity. As soon as I got to know Josh, I was really cheering for Meg and Josh to solve their problems and find their happily ever after. Ah the innocence of youth - Haley immediately loved her Daddy and I enjoyed seeing Josh grow as a father. I liked Josh even more once I saw where he grew up and he developed his relationship with Eric - we all gained insights into Josh's background through getting to know Eric. I think it's evident that I really like Josh.

All in all, the author does a wonderful job of introducing us to Anderson Butte and the town that protects and defends their own, has an active gossip grapevine, and sports the occasional celebrity hoping to relax in anonymity. I look forward to visiting Anderson Butte again as other members of the town search for their happily ever after! 

Links:

Goodreads - Amazon - Barnes and Noble (PB)

About the Author:

Tamra Baumann became hooked on writing the day she picked up her first Nora Roberts novel from her favorite bookstore. Since then, she’s dazzled readers of contemporary romance with her own lighthearted love stories. She was the 2012 Golden Heart winner for Contemporary Series Romance, and has also received the Golden Pen Award for Single Title Romance. Born in Monterey, California, she led the nomadic life of a navy brat before finally putting down permanent roots during college. When she’s not attending annual Romance Writers of America meetings, this voracious reader can be found playing tennis, traveling, or scouting reality shows for potential character material. She resides with her real-life characters—a husband of thirty years, two kids, and their allergy-ridden dog—in the sunny Southwest.

Website: http://www.tamrabaumann.com/