The Christmas He Loved Her By Juliana Stone (Bk#2)

All he wants this Christmas is her.

In the small town of Crystal Lake, Christmas is a time for sledding, hot chocolate, and cozying up to the fire with those you love. For Jake Edwards, it’s also time to come home and face his past. He thought there would never be anything harder than losing his brother. Turns out there is: falling in love with his brother’s widow, Raine.

Ever since they were little, Jesse was the Edwards brother who was always there for her, and Jake was the one who knew just how to push her buttons. Raine can’t imagine a life without them, which is why it was doubly decimating when Jake left town after his brother’s sudden death. Now he’s back and she doesn’t know whether to be mad or thrilled. Maybe both. Maybe it will be the perfect chance for both of them to finally find happiness again.

Holly's Review:

4.5 Stars!!

The Bad Boys of Crystal Lake series has been a wonderfully pleasant surprise for me! I received the first book in this series last year from Netgalley and I loved it! First, they take place in northern Michigan, and since Michigan is my home I love authors that write stories based in my beautiful home state! I don't know why they have a special place in my heart, they just do!

This is the second book in that series and it was just as wonderful as the first. In this book we dive into the explosively tense relationship between Jake and Raine. Jake is the definition of a tortured hero, so of course I LOVE him!! The death of Jake's twin brother Jesse is what brought all of the Bad Boys back home in the first book. He was killed in Afghanistan and Jake was with him and of course he shoulders the unwarranted guilt for not bringing his brother home.

Oh, did I mention that Jesse was Raine's husband?? Yeah, and Jake is in love with her and has been since they were kids! See....issues!

Anyway, Raine grew up tight with the Bad Boys and even if she didn't know it she has always had massive chemistry with Jake. Of the brothers Jesse was the calm even tempered brother and Rained loved him for as long as she could remember. They married and had a great, if albeit, short life together. As for Jake and Raine, they argue and spark off of one another like nobody's business!!! See....Passion! 

With Jesse gone both Jake and Raine go off the rails, Jake runs away and has been staying away for over a year, mainly because he doesn't trust himself with Raine, the only woman he has ever loved. But now that he has returned and he can see that Raine is wasting away and withdrawing from everyone he has to do something! I promise even with all of the emotion in this book there is a HEA!

Watching Raine and Jake bury their demons and find love was a beautiful journey and I was really happy to be along for the ride!!

There is one more Bad Boy and I can't wait for Mac's story - it is bound to be just as wonderfully tortured and emotional!! Keep them coming!

**This book was provided to me by Netgalley***

The Summer He Came Home By Juliana Stone

Sometimes the best place to find love is right back where you started…

Falling asleep in a different bed every night has made it easy for Cain Black to forget his past. It’s been ten years since he packed his guitar and left Crystal Lake to chase his dreams. Now tragedy has forced him home again. And though Cain relishes the freedom of the road, one stolen moment with Maggie O’Rourke makes him wonder if he’s missing out on something bigger than fame.

For Maggie—single mother and newly settled in Crystal Lake—love is a luxury she just can’t afford. Sure, she appreciates the tall, dark and handsome looks of prodigal son Cain Black. But how long can she expect the notorious hellion to stay?

The last thing either of them wants is something complicated. But sometimes love has its own plans.

Holly's review:

I adored this book, and it left me hungry for more of the Bad Boys of Crystal Lake. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a sucker for a story set in Michigan, which is and has always been my home. This story takes place in Crystal Lake, which is in Northwestern Michigan and absolutely beautiful!

Cain Black is a yummy tattooed rock star, I know, I could stop there and you would read this book, but I will give you a little more just in case :) - Anyway, Cain Black is an international rock star and has come home for his friends funeral - this friend was one of the four so called Bad Boys of Crystal Lake - he comes home after apparently a long time away and he immediately meets Maggie, well, her son Michael first and then Maggie, but he is immediately intrigued. Not only because she is a beautiful fiery red head but because she is a new face in a town where everyone knows everyone.

Cain begins to question whether he even wants to leave Michigan to return to his home in LA, especially the more he gets to know Maggie. He knows she has run from something in her past but she holds her cards very close and doesn't share much. But, once Michael lets a little something slip Cain knows that Maggie could very well be in danger and he will do anything to keep her safe.

This books was a little predictable, but wonderful nonetheless! As wonderful as Cain, Maggie and Michael were the author was able to tease you with just enough about the other characters, who I can only assume will have their own books soon, to leave me begging for more about them! This story has a little bit of everything- love, sex, suspense and humor - honestly I laughed right out loud during the scene where Cain is attempting to buy condoms and runs into the pastors wife and she starts asking him about jock itch and what to buy for it because her husband has it something awful!! hahaha - I am smiling just thinking about it :)