Review: Needing Him Now by C.A. Harms

Author: C.A. Harms
Publication Date: June 2026

I spent a good part of my life blaming every man for one event.
Granted, it was a life-altering event, one that redirected my course and destroyed the girl I was once.

From that point on, I ran from anything good. I hid behind my sarcasm and attitude, deciding to never allow myself to feel vulnerable to any man again.

I was never wrong; they were.
I knew best, I set my pace, I routed my path.
I had control.

Then one night, I let my guard down, and the path I had set in stone was no longer clear.
Everything that I thought made sense no longer did.

Aaron O’Shay was strong, confident, and very easy on the eyes. I’d noticed many times.

So when I decided to dabble, it didn’t work out as planned. He managed to take everything I thought I knew and scramble it all up.

I hated the uncertainty.
I hated the fact that I couldn’t walk away.
I hated that he invaded my thoughts, created memories I couldn’t forget, and left me longing for more.

I hated that this man was making me love him, no matter how hard I fought against it.

And more than anything else, I hated that he wanted me just the way I was. He took away the only solid reason that he and I could never work.

He wanted me, flaws and all!

I have been in a serious reading slump this year.  Needing Him Now was just the book I needed to hopefully get me out of that slump.  I have really been enjoying the Hudson Boys series and 5 books in, still love it.  Kendall and Aaron's story sucked me right in.  Kendall has been fighting a demon from high school and it has made her someone who walks away rather than sticking.  Her heart has a cage around it.  Until she has one night with Aaron.  

I really loved this story.  I loved watching Aaron break down Kendall's walls and help her realize she could be happy without changing who she was.  I thought Rory and Adley were explosive, but these two could give them a run for their money.  I also just loved Kendall and her sassy mouth. The way she could handle herself in any situation was admirable. I won't spoil it any more, I'll just urge you to read the book.  

  

2 in 1: Keeping Him Close and Wanting Him Always by C.A. Harms

We shouldn’t let our past define us. Especially when the events are out of our control. 
We should learn from those mistakes and choose to do things differently.
We should strive for better.
Build a foundation that makes us proud.

Those are all things that are easier said than done.

I’m a fine example of one that allows the hardships and struggles of my past direct me in my future.

Hating Rory has always been easy. Well, easy to fake, because what I truly feel for him, it terrifies me.
He is a man I could fall for.
He is a man that could give me everything I didn’t even know I wanted.
He is the man that each and every time I am near, I feel my walls slowly start to crumble.

But giving in to those feelings could destroy everything I’ve struggled to control.
Loving him means that I have to go against every single rule I have ever set for myself.

But hating him, that is the hardest challenge of all.

This one was a great addition to the series.  It's an enemies to lovers story.  Well more like frenemies since Rory and Adley are in the same friend group.  I loved that Rory finally called Adley out on her behavior toward him and forced her to look at her true feelings.  The interactions between Adley and  Rory's son Jayden were very adorable.  I loved this couple together and highly recommend this one.

Being the girl who always manages to choose the wrong guy is exhausting.

If there is a loser in the crowd, I find him.
I fall, and I keep falling head over heels all the way down the mountain I just leaped off of.

It’s a vicious, ugly cycle.
And I’m done.
I’m done with relationships and two-timing men.
No matter how cute their smile is, no matter how sweet they pretend to be.
I. AM. DONE!

So when Finn decides he’s going to be a good friend and show me how a man should treat a woman, I know from the start it’s a bad idea…a really bad idea!

I can’t do this! I won’t!
This can’t end well.

Fake dating! I mean, what is that anyway?

But true to his word, he shows me the meaning of an honest gentleman. He introduces me to the playful, fun side of being with a man, and the more time I spend with him, the worse I begin to feel. Because, at the end of each day, I have to remind myself that this is all a game.

It’s fake… and fake dating a great guy is awful!

Wanting Him Always is the 4th book in this series and I think it's my favorite couple so far.  Finn wants Sophie to finally realize that she needs to be treated like a queen from anyone she is dating.  A fake dating scheme quickly turns into real feelings.  I just loved seeing Sophie finally feel valued in a relationship.  I also really loved Sophie and her relationship with Finn's mother.  It was adorable. This entire series is so fun and filled with wonderful characters.  I won't spoil the story, but I do highly recommend it.  

2 in 1Reviews: Loving Him More and Falling for Him by C.A. Harms

Publication Date: November 2021

First impressions can either be a kiss of death, or seal your fate.
You either click or clash, soar or fall.

Or in my case they could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Or so I thought.

We sometimes tend to forget that others may not always feel the same. Lines get crossed, messages get misconstrued.
That can, and did lead to a lot of heartache and confusion.

Maybe I was blinded by the comfortable state we’d fallen in to.
Or maybe I chose to ignore all the signs others could see.

Friendships are tested, bonds are broken and I’m not sure they can be fixed.
All I did know for sure was that I was the girl in love with the new guy...
OR other guy…

A guy I may never truly be able to have.

Loving Him More is the first book in the Hudson Boys series.  This one is Sutton and Brantley's story.  This was a little angsty, but ultimately, I really loved their love story. For both of them it was instant want and need.  The problem was how to deal with Bennet, Brantley's brother who also had feelings for Sutton.  The conflict between the brother's was realistic but not over the top.  The resolution and finding their way back to their bond was satisfying in the end.  I loved the chemistry between Sutton and Brant.  As the first in the series, we also get to start getting to know the other characters in the close knit groups of friends.  Sutton and her girls are definitely friendship/sisterhood goals.  I highly recommend this one.

Publication Date: November 2025

Wanting is a hard-to-control desire. Especially when the one you want is always there.

Every friendly gathering, all the daily functions…he is there.

But acting on those desires almost broke me last time.
I made a promise to myself. This time, I would be strong. This time, I would refrain.
My heart couldn’t take another rejection.

I am my own worst enemy.
I am the first person to criticize myself, the first person to find the bad in the smallest situations.

But he manages to chip away at me, finding the smallest crack.
And in the middle of the darkest of times, even though I do my best to fight it, he pulls me back.

But giving in, letting myself fall again, may be the worst mistake I make.
This time, it just might destroy me.

After the finishing the first book, I was really looking forward to Bennet and Lexi's story in Falling for Him.  There was a great build up of their story in the first book and I just knew it was going to be good. This book did not disappoint.  I just loved how Bennet slowly won Lexi over and got her forgiveness.  I was also so happy that they both finally admitted that they were perfect for each other.  Little Camryn was adorable and I loved the relationship that she and Bennet formed. This was the perfect way to tell this couple's story and I highly recommend it.

Blog Tour: Sweet Southern Memories by C.A. Harms

 

Title: Sweet Southern Memories
Series: Magnolia Grove
Author: C.A. Harms
Genre/Tropes: Second Chance -Small Town Romance - Single Mom - Hot Doctor - Friends to Lovers - Angst
Release Date: February 8, 2024
Cover Design: Sarah Paige
Goodreads 
Bookbub
  

Zoey
Life doesn’t always go according to plan, a lesson I learned the hard way during my divorce. My first love returns home just in time to watch me pick up the pieces, and the moment I lay eyes on him every memory rushes back.
 
Jayson Lincoln, the man who still makes my heart beat fast, after all these years. But he's Doctor Lincoln now and I'm a far cry from the carefree girl he left behind.
 
I’m learning to navigate life as a single mother of twin girls and he’s reluctantly home to take over the family practice. We may be back in the same small town, but we’re still worlds apart.
 
Jayson
It’s always been her. No one could ever measure up to Zoey Harding.
 
And I’ll always regret walking away from her and our hometown, for the big city to chase my dreams.
 
The longer I’m back, the more the echoes of our past whisper what could have been. But it’s not just about us, and her daughters steal my heart and mend what’s been broken for far too long.
 
Zoey’s afraid to trust me, but I’m determined to heal the fractures of her heart and prove that this time I’m not going anywhere.
 
Buy Links: Kindle Unlimited
Universal: https://mybook.to/SweetSouthernMemories
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLZ747QQ
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CLZ747QQ
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CLZ747QQ
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CLZ747QQ
 
My thoughts:

    Sweet Southern Memories is the second book in the Magnolia Grove series.  I haven't read the first one, but after reading this one, I will be going back.  The story involves Jayson who returns back to his home town to take over his late grandfather's medical practice.  His second goal is to win back the love of his life.  Zoey has 3 YO twins from a failed marriage and has a lot of hurt that needs to be healed.  

I have to say that I seem to be having really good luck with romances this year.  This book was absolutely adorable.  There is little angst.  It's just a sweet story about a boy doing what he can to win back his first love and make a home.  I devoured this book.  I loved all of the characters including both grandmothers.  They were fun.  I am not going to ruin the plot for you, just grab a cup of tea and settle in.  I highly recommend this sweet, sweet story.

 
Author Bio:

C.A. Harms is an avid romance and mystery reader. She's always had a love for books, getting lost in writing and storytelling even as a young girl. She enjoys happy endings and HEA love stories.
She lives in Illinois and enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. She holds an addiction for Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha’s and KitKat when she should really be focusing on water and maybe a fruit or two to make herself feel less guilty, but that feeling quickly passes...thankfully.

She is easy going, fun, and although she may seem like one of the quiet ones at first, you just wait until she gets to know you better...that quietness changes, fast.
 
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