Amy's Guardian - Josie Jade, Regan Black (Calamitte Jane Pub - Feb 2023)

Series: Never Too Late for Love (Book 4)
 
Beau Brennan's new job as the sheriff of Heartbreak Key is a far cry from the big cities he's worked in his whole career. But he likes the quiet and solitude of island life—it's a chance to heal from losing his law enforcement partner.
 
Alone is the way Beau operates best.
 
He definitely wasn't expecting someone like Amy Young—here on the the island for treasure hunting of all things. In her mid-40s, downright beautiful, and finally out from under the thumb of her narcissist ex-husband, her big personality and even bigger smiles are drawing him in.
 
And Beau doesn't even think he wants to resist. Especially when he finds out Amy's smiles hide insecurities about herself he's more than willing to prove wrong.
 
And when treasure hunting fun takes a deadly turn, this gruff sheriff will stop at nothing to keep Amy safe. And make her his.
 
She thinks the best years of her life are already gone? Hell no. Because it's never too late for love.
 
Good addition to the series. After twenty years in an emotionally abusive marriage, Amy is finally free to pursue her dreams. She came to Heartbreak Key to continue her aunt's treasure hunt. On her first day out, she runs into a problem with a crocodile and is later arrested for trespassing. Sparks fly between her and Beau, the new sheriff of Heartbreak Key. The encounter is amusing, as Amy doesn't go quietly, and Beau's fascination with her has him stumbling over his words.
 
Beau came to Heartbreak Key after losing his partner and best friend in the line of duty. The quiet, low-key life gives him a chance to heal. He never expected to run into someone like Amy, who has stirred up feelings he's never had before.
 
I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Beau and Amy. The sparks that fly during that first encounter are a mix of antagonism and attraction. Amy feels attracted, but she's not about to get involved with someone who wants to control her actions. Beau is wondering if he can trust the beautiful newcomer who is clearly hiding something. When Amy's backpack, with her aunt's journal inside, is stolen right out of the sheriff's office, Beau feels honor bound to help her. It also gives him a chance to get to know her.
 
Their relationship progresses quickly thanks to their chemistry and time together looking for the treasure. However, it is not without its obstacles, as each tends to step on the other's insecurities. Amy sees Beau's protectiveness as another way to control her. Beau, who still carries some guilt over his partner's death, lets his worries over her fearlessness overcome his sensitivity to her past. Meanwhile, Beau's tendency to stumble over his words around Amy causes misunderstandings. Fortunately, they can talk it through and come out stronger.
 
The suspense of the story was good. Amy is determined to find Aunt Jo's treasure, and nothing will stop her. Her backpack with the journal is stolen early in the book, and it isn't hard to figure out who is behind it. A couple of too-convenient appearances raise suspicions and lead Amy to make a risky attempt to retrieve the journal. A confrontation with the thieves could have ended badly but for Amy's quick thinking and Beau's fast action. The search for the treasure ended quite differently than I expected, but I liked it. The epilogue was great.

Robyn's Guardian - Josie Jade, Regan Black (Calamitte Jane Pub - Feb 2023)

Series: Never Too Late for Love (Book 3)
 
A paradise island doesn’t erase a lifetime of living through hell...
 
Robyn Hartmann escaped to Heartbreak Key to disappear after sending her abusive ex to prison. She stayed in that marriage far too long, and now, at 51, is a shell of the woman she once was.
 
But she’s made a life for herself here—friends, a home, working at an animal shelter...
 
And Jake Laww.
 
Her high school sweetheart has changed, and not just in years and some gray hair. He’s had his own tragedies that have left him hardened.
 
But with Robyn he’s gentle. Patient. He’s still the man who taught her what love could be all those years ago.
 
And when danger shows up on the island, Jake is first in line to protect Robyn. He lost her as a girl, but he won’t lose her as a woman.
 
Because it’s never too late for love...
 
Fantastic second chance and starting over story. The characters are older (51) with some challenging life experiences. Robyn moved to Heartbreak Key to disappear and start over. Her abusive ex-husband is in prison but has threatened to get even when he gets out. She chose Heartbreak Key because of how her high school boyfriend, Jake, described his uncle's home. Now she has a home and friends and is content with her life as long as she avoids Jake.
 
Jake moved to Heartbreak Key after inheriting his uncle's boarding house and home. The island's peace makes it an excellent place to heal from the tragic loss in his past. Using his military and police experience, he works as a PI.
 
I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Jake and Robyn. Their high school romance ended when he left her behind to join the army. Not long after, Robyn married and entered a years-long nightmare before finally escaping. Jake wants to reconnect with Robyn, but she no longer trusts any man. But when she believes Ken has found her, she goes to Jake for help. I loved Jake's protectiveness and his determination to keep her safe. While their attraction is as strong as ever, Robyn is wary. Jake's patience and understanding help Robyn learn to trust again. There is a small bump in their road to happily ever after, but communication and love overcome it without too much trouble.
 
The suspense of wondering about whether Ken has found Robyn was well done. The tension increases steadily as she learns of his presence at her old home and hears about suspicious hang-up calls at her old number. While she hasn't seen him, she has had the feeling of being watched. Just when she thinks she's safe, an unexpected twist brings the danger right to her door. The final confrontation was a nail-biter and had me glued to the pages until it was all over. The epilogue was great, and Jake's nerves were adorable when it came to his big moment.
 
There was one other surprise in store for Robyn. When she and Jake went looking for an intruder they thought was Ken, they found a seventeen-year-old runaway named Alexis. She has significant trust issues and is wary of Robyn and Jake's intentions as they attempt to befriend her. I liked how she and Robyn connected. The growing love between them was terrific, and I loved seeing the changes it brought to both. I loved Alexis's part in Jake's big moment.
 
The story is a stand-alone but with recurring characters and locations.

Jasmine's Guardian - Josie Jade, Regan Black (Calamitte Jane Pub - Jan 2023)

Series: Never Too Late for Love (Book 2)
 
Jasmine Campbell may live on a paradise island, but she keeps her suitcase packed—ready to run at a moment’s notice.
 
She doesn’t correct her fellow islander’s assumptions that she’s some middle-aged woman recovering from relationship problems. No one knows the truth: she’s running for her life from people who want her dead for witnessing a murder.
 
Retired SEAL Cameron Burton knows there’s more to Heartbreak Key’s quiet new waitress than some sort of breakup. The haunted look she tries to conceal has all his protective instincts kicking into overdrive.
 
She’s hiding something—something terrifying her—and there’s no way Cameron’s going to sit back and do nothing. Especially when the danger shows up on his island.
 
He'll prove to Jasmine it’s not too late for her to stop running. And it’s never too late for love...
 
Good book that is a quick read at 139 pages, but not short on romance or suspense. This is the second book in the Never Too Late for Love series, and each book is a stand-alone though there are cross-over characters. In this book, we get to see a little more of Hoss and Vanessa from Vanessa's Guardian and some other island residents.
 
Jasmine came to the island three months earlier and took a job as a waitress at the Salty Beast. She keeps to herself and tries to blend in with everyone else. Nobody can know that she is on the run after witnessing a murder - a murder that still haunts her dreams and causes panic attacks.
 
Cameron is intrigued by what little he has seen of Jasmine. When he witnesses one of her panic attacks during a storm, he suspects there's more than a bad break-up in her past.
 
I loved seeing the relationship develop between Jasmine and Cameron. His protective instincts are aroused when he sees the terror in her eyes during her panic attack. His calm demeanor helps her pull herself together and enables her to ask him to stay with her during the storm. But though she is attracted to him, she refuses to get involved in a relationship when she could be forced to run at any time. Cameron isn't easily discouraged and is determined to stick close, even if that means staying in the friend zone. But with the help of some motherless kittens, Cameron can get past Jasmine's walls. I loved seeing the attraction build between these two lonely people and cheered when they gave in to the sparks they felt. I especially enjoyed seeing Cameron overcome Jasmine's age-driven insecurities by showing that he thinks she's a sexy woman.
 
The suspense of the story was terrific. We immediately know why Jasmine is afraid and the precautions she takes to be safe. When trouble finds her on a trip to another island, it's good that Cameron is there to save her. It's then that she finds out that there is more to what she saw the night of the murder. Her confusion is understandable, and with Cameron's help, they find what the bad guys are looking for. But before they can do anything about it, they find that trouble has followed them home. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, and I loved seeing Jasmine take some of the action into her own hands. I also enjoyed how some of the townspeople also helped.
 
I liked the ending and seeing Jasmine and Cameron look to a future together. It is lovely to have a series that stars older men and women who can work through issues without a bunch of drama.