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Romantic Reads and Such

Monthly Archives: January 2013

Fatal Intent

15 Tuesday Jan 2013

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Book Review, Fatal Intent, Ryshia Kennie

fatal-intent

In Fatal Intent, Garrett Cole leads a scientific team deep into the Borneo rain forest looking for new insect life. But when her local guide turns up dead and headless, will she be able to get them all out alive? Aidan was raised by a local tribe, making the blonde haired white man an enigma. He lives in the city working as a PI, but periodically he comes home to the jungle to find serenity in the life he used to know. When he comes across Garrett and her team, lost in the jungle and obviously in trouble, he can’t turn away. But investigating the murder may give him answers he doesn’t want to know, answers that lead too close to his home and family. And his attraction to the team’s leader may prove as dangerous as the jungle around them.

Ryshia Kennie’s book shows itself to be an enjoyable, suspenseful read. The answer of who killed the guide is given to readers pretty quickly, but the intricacies of everyone involved and the why runs through the rest of the story. It is well-developed, straight-forward, and doesn’t leave any unanswered threads.

The characters involved are diverse and interesting, however my only real complaint is that they supporting cast wasn’t as fleshed out as I would have liked. Personally, I like detailed descriptions and though we are given that for Aiden & Garrett, plus vague physical descriptions of some of the people, I had a hard time picturing everyone. Some may prefer to come up with their own ideas on what the people are like, but I want to have a little more provided by the author. And while we are given a look at the personality of some of Garrett’s team, I didn’t feel like I knew enough about the rest to get too attached to them. Since the group is in danger for a decent part of the book, without that connection, I didn’t feel any fear for them. That said, what was given was well-written and the jungle came alive in my mind.

Fatal Intent is a good choice for those whole like a light suspense with a little romance thrown in.

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New Contest

14 Monday Jan 2013

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#ROFLOL Contest

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#ROFLOL Hop begins now and ends 1/21:

  • 1 Grand Prize Winner of $25 Gift Card to a retailer of your choice
  • 4 winners receive a copy of An Affair to Dismember, by Elise Sax + a copy of Crazy Thing Called Love by Molly O’Keefe
  • 3 Winners win a copy of, An Affair to Dismember, by Elise Sax
  • 1 Winner receives a mashup of books, we choose, you receive

***All winners must be US & 18 or older.***

Click below to enter or click on link to the right.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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The Other Side of Us

13 Sunday Jan 2013

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Book Review, Sarah Mayberry, The Other Side of Us

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In Sarah Mayberry’s latest Harlequin romance, The Other Side of Us, Oliver Barrett discovers that his wife has been cheating on him, so he retreats to the beach-side cottage his aunt left him. Thinking of being neighborly, he introduces himself to the woman living next door and is shocked at her rudeness. He decides that it is best that he stays to himself anyway, to evaluate his situation and what he wants to do now that his marriage has been shattered. Mackenzie Williams has also decided to spend some time alone, to recuperate from the devastating car accident that has left her scarred and broken. After finishing a grueling rehab session, she’s a little surprised by the knock on the door. Trying very hard to not give in to the nausea caused by overtaxing herself, she can’t help but be rude to the man at the door. Consumed with improving her health and getting back to her job, she too decides to keep to herself. Unfortunately their dogs have other plans, developing a canine friendship that forces Oliver and Mackenzie together again.

I’d forgotten how much I like Mayberry’s romances. She gives readers complex characters with depth and interest, and stories that touch the heart. Both Oliver and Mackenzie are troubled and have much to work out, but they become friends and have an attraction that leads them to something more. I enjoyed how they helped each other and Mayberry did a good job of giving them realistic reactions to their issues. Some may have a problem with how quickly Oliver moves into something with Mackenzie but it’s handled well. The epilogue is tender and I liked how they have a happy ending, but it isn’t all roses and candy. They are given real issues with real consequences.

The Other Side of Us is a sweet romance with depth and realism.

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Trouble in Texas

11 Friday Jan 2013

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Book Review, Deep in the Heart of Texas, Katie Lane, Trouble in Texas

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Elizabeth Murphy is happy to be Bramble’s spinster librarian. She’s content with her good girl life … then she inherits one of the most infamous whorehouses in Texas. It gets even worse when she discovers a handsome, and very naked, man handcuffed to the bed in the house’s master suite. Brant Cates is trying to solve his great-grandfather’s murder but being held captive in Miss Hattie’s Henhouse wasn’t part of his plan. Elizabeth may be the key to helping Brant solve the mystery but can they trust the attraction between them?

Trouble in Texas is Katie Lane’s newest Deep in the Heart of Texas book (following Going Cowboy Crazy, Make Mine a Bad Boy and Catch Me a Cowboy). When I started this book I didn’t realize it was a part of a series but there were no issues following along. Brant’s brother Billy is the romantic lead in Catch Me a Cowboy and the plotline of revenge against the town of Bramble for the Cates ancestor’s mysterious death flows thru all of the books but it doesn’t take long to get you caught up. I have actually read Going Cowboy Crazy and the other two are on my To Be Read list but after reading Trouble in Texas they’ve moved to the top. I really enjoyed the first book, which is why the other two are on my TBR list, and this one is just as good.

The characters are fun and interesting. The old Hens still living at Miss Hattie’s are a hoot and they add that touch of whimsy to this romance. Brant has had a difficult life and he’s starting to believe that he’s living under the family curse. He had a brother that died young, another brother fought cancer at a very young age, and he lost his wife and son in a tornado. He’s extremely dedicated to his family but he does not do relationships beyond that. His recovery at the hands of Elizabeth and the Hens is very sweet. Elizabeth’s mother grew up at Miss Hattie’s and it left scars of its own, which she passed along to Elizabeth. Her discovery of her sensual side at Brant’s hands and change from the prudish librarian to a more comfortable woman is a delight. Brant’s brother Beau also makes an appearance and sets up the next story in the series and I’m pretty anxious to get my hands on his book. He’s in remission for cancer, which has given him a different outlook on life than the rest of his family.

If you are looking for a fun romance full of small-town charm, Trouble in Texas is the book for you. But, if you haven’t visited Bramble before, be prepared to add the three preceding books to your own To Be Read list.

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Wicked Wedding of Miss Ellie Vyne

06 Sunday Jan 2013

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Book Review, Jayne Fresina, Wicked Wedding of Miss Ellie Vyne

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I really enjoyed Fresina’s The Most Improper Miss Sophie Valentine and though I didn’t find Wicked Wedding of Miss Ellie Vyne to be as unique I still liked it a lot. Ellie Vyne has been responsible for taking care of her family for years. Her latest scheme involves dressing up as the Count de Bonneville and playing cards with unsuspecting aristocrats. One night, after getting a diamond necklace from a lady as payment of her card debts, Ellie finds herself face to face with her childhood nemesis, James Hartley. The last time she’d seen James they’d shared an anonymous kiss at a masked ball. James is now looking for the Count to get back his necklace and, finding Ellie instead, he believes her to be the man’s mistress. Up until now, he’s found Ellie to be just an irritant. But now that he’s seen her in nothing but a man’s shirt, he can’t get her out of his mind. Thinking to use her to get his necklace back from the count, James is stunned to discover that Ellie was the mystery woman he kissed the past summer … the one woman he’s looked for all these months has been right in front of him all along.

This was a fun book – the two constantly bicker and snipe, obviously hiding a deeper attraction. This could have gotten old quickly in the hands of a less talented author, but Fresina does a great job of keeping it entertaining, while moving the story along. Neither Ellie nor James is faultless and they both have a lot of growing to do, but they are a great match. I was a little frustrated with the lack of communication between the two, but based on their history and their issues it worked with the story.

If you read Sophie’s story, you’ll likely remember James – he was Sophie’s suitor before she fell for Lazarus. In this story, you’ll get an update on Sophie and her family, as they are close to both James and Ellie, as well as tidbits of others living nearby. This was a nice continuation of the world Fresina has created and I hope that she’s planning to give us more glimpses in the future.

Wicked Wedding of Miss Ellie Vyne is a great fit for readers looking for a mix of romance, humor, and misadventure. Ellie and James may have a rocky road but everything turns out wonderfully well in the end.

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To Give a Heart Wings

03 Thursday Jan 2013

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Book Review, Mary Kay McComas, To Give a Heart Wings

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One night Colt McKinnon meets Hannah Alexander at a dance club and the two have an undeniable, instantaneous connection. After a dance and a passionate kiss, Hannah walks away and ignores Colt shouting after her. Unbeknownst to Colt, Hannah is deaf and, after years of seeing men’s interest turn when they find out, she’s decided that she’d prefer to keep the happy memory than risk having him reject her. Can Colt handle the reality of her life? Can Hannah trust him enough to give him a chance?

I absolutely love the rereleases of Mary Kay McComas’s books. I’ve already read By The Book and Ms. Miller and the Midas Man and just finished To Give a Heart Wings. All of them have been short and sweet, but pack quite a punch. Like her other two stories, this one is full of characters that are so believable and realistic that before long you feel like they are old friends. They have everyday problems, with everyday reactions, and you’ll find yourself pulling for them from the beginning.

Granted Hannah’s issues are a little unique, but there are millions of hearing impaired people in the world and almost all of us have likely interacted with at least one in our lives. This book was originally released in the 90s so some of the technological advances that would make her life so much easier weren’t available. But it is very realistic for the time period, and makes readers think about what it would be like. Hannah doesn’t feel sorry for herself; instead she does everything that she can to live as normal a life as possible. She’s hard-working, brave, tough, and caring, with enough smarts and humor to keep Colt on his toes.

Colt has his own issues but with Hannah’s help he is able to overcome them. He’s just as caring and hard-working as she is. He’s amazingly good to Hannah – going out of his way to do everything he can to show her that her deafness does not affect his feeling for her at all. Hannah’s friend Willie and Colt’s brother Trevor nicely round out the cast, adding a little zaniness and fun.

To Give a Heart Wings might come in a little package but it has the heart of a racehorse and McComas does a fantastic job giving readers a lot of depth in a few pages. This little romance is a quick-read but it will easily find a spot in your heart.

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Waltz With a Stranger

01 Tuesday Jan 2013

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Book Review, Pamela Sherwood, Waltz With a Stranger

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Years ago, American heiress Aurelia Newbold was injured in a riding accident, leaving her with a limp and a facial scar. Now she’s in London with her sister, hiding from Society while her twin enjoys the Season. One night, during a ball, she meets a handsome stranger in a deserted conservatory. When he gets her to dance a waltz with him, it’s enough to convince her that she could have more than the life she’s leading. After spending a year abroad improving her leg and her confidence, Aurelia returns with hopes of running into the man again. Only to be stunned to find him engaged to her sister.

I liked this story and the characters but I had a little difficulty getting past the fact that the woman James picked to marry is Aurelia’s sister. Yes, he was attracted to Amy when he first saw her, even before meeting Aurelia, but it just seemed weird. And there was no mention of whether they discussed Aurelia before she returned to find them engaged. It was odd to me that he would have hid the fact that he had met her before. I understand why Aurelia would have wanted to not mention it, but I’m not sure why he would have. It wasn’t like she didn’t attend the same parties as her sister and it would have been normal for a meeting to take place.

Once I got into it, though, the story was enjoyable. The characters were interesting and by giving readers James & Aurelia’s perspective (and to a lesser extent Amy’s), Sherwood was able to provide plenty of details on their feelings and their struggles. I especially liked that Amy was an appealing character, someone that both James and Aurelia care about, so that the conflict was more pronounced. It would have been easy to make her vain or selfish, but by making her a genuinely nice person it means that readers don’t want to see her hurt. It also makes James’s breaking the engagement troublesome because he doesn’t want to cause Amy pain and it would be difficult for Aurelia to step in if her sister was upset by it.

There is also a mystery over the death of James’s cousin. Although it seemed to go a little long, it was interesting and the resolution was satisfying. It gave a little extra punch to the already troubled romance.

Overall, Waltz With a Stranger was a satisfying historical read – full of angst, love and suspense.

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FTC Disclaimer - see bottom of page for complete statement, but please be aware that in many cases I am provided a book to read. However my opinions are my own & no guarantee of positive review is given by any party.

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I have received ARCs of books free from NetGalley (and many moons ago from BookTrib.com) to review but the majority of the stories are either bought by me or provided for free from the publisher, author, or PR company. The opinions I share are my own and in no way are influenced by an author or publisher. There is no promise of a positive review by any party and there is no additional compensation. Unless otherwise noted, I am not affiliated with any contest or other event mentioned on this blog and I do not receive a paid endorsement for any post.

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