The Officer Breaks the Rules

08 Friday Feb 2013

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Book Review, Jeanette Murray, The Officer Breaks the Rules

For some reason when I first tried to read Jeanette Murray’s The Officer Breaks the Rules I didn’t make it past the first couple of pages before I decided I wasn’t in the mood. But the second time I picked it up I absolutely couldn’t put it down. It’s a fantastic story about a woman who isn’t afraid to go after what she wants and a man who has decide if it is more important to be true to himself or to others. Captain Jeremy Phillips is attracted to his best friend’s sister but there are understood “guy” rules about getting involved with sisters. Unfortunately, Madison O’Shay has other ideas and she’s going to do everything in her power to show him that he should give them a chance.

The Officer Breaks the Rules is actually the second book in the series, but that didn’t cause any issues except to make me want to run out and get the first book (The Officer Says I Do). I’m assuming that, based on how this book is written, Madison and Jeremy’s relationship is introduced in the first (her brother Tim’s story). In this one we get more about Tim and his wife Skye, as well as get a preview to the characters from the next story – Dwayne and Veronica will appear in The Officer and the Secret coming out in July. These friends are a captivating group and will easily draw readers into their lives.

Madison is tough, growing up in a military family and then joining the military herself. She’s blunt, sassy, and vivacious. She’s the perfect foil to Jeremy’s more reserved manner. They’ve been dancing around their attraction, mostly because Jeremy is afraid that anything more than friendship could ruin things if it goes wrong. Madison has loved Jeremy for years and is convinced she just needs the chance to convince him that they are made for each other.

Jeremy has the added stress of trying to decide the future of his military career – he’s at the point of signing the papers necessary for three more years in the Marines but he isn’t sure that’s what he wants. Unfortunately his former Marine father isn’t so undecided and is very vocal about his thoughts. The struggle in the story is all on Jeremy’s side but Murray does a fantastic job giving readers a conflicted hero with a lot on his plate.

The Officer Break the Rules is a compelling tale full of power & passion, just like the men and women of the armed forces it brings to life.

The Better to See You

06 Wednesday Feb 2013

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Book Review, Kate SeRine, The Better to See You, Transplanted Tales series

The Better To See You is the second book in Kate SeRine’s A Transplanted Tales series. If you haven’t read the first book Red, go now and read it. Go on, I’ll wait here for you. Done? Fantastic, wasn’t it? Although The Better To See You is about Lavender Seelie and Seth Wolf, instead of Red and Nate, I believe it is important that you have read Red before moving on. There are plot points that flow from one story to the next. But since both books are amazing, it isn’t a hardship.

SeRine’s A Transplanted Tales series give readers a world where, due to a spell gone very wrong, Make Believe characters now inhabit our world. InRed, Red and Nate investigate the grisly murders of Tales in Chicago. The Better To See You picks up about a year later. Red suggests Lavender go to the Refuge (a place for Tales that have had issues adjusting) after she has a knock-down, drag-out with the Charmings. Given just an address of someone who will help her, Lavender ends up at a cabin belonging to Seth Wolf. Lavender is a little concerned since Seth, aka The Big Bad Wolf from many a fairy tale (including Red’s), was a prime suspect in the Chicago murders. But as they spend more time together, Lavender realizes there is more to Seth than what she’s heard. When people start turning up dead, things quickly go from bad to worse.

The mystery portion of the series is intriguing. Set in a fantasy world, there are fewer rules to it but SeRine handles it well. She doesn’t throw a lot of curve balls at her readers so when something is revealed it makes sense to the world as it is given to you. I think that is my biggest complaint about stories that involve an otherworld element – you go along with one set of rules and suddenly the author gives you something completely new just so the plot will go a certain way. I’m looking at you, Charlaine Harris. I like surprises and there are lots of opportunities when dealing with magic, but it needs to have some kind of basis in the rest of the story. SeRine does a fantastic job of giving everything a reason for happening.

And the romance between Seth and Lavender is delicious. It’s takes a little bit of a backseat to the mystery, but SeRine steadily develops things as the plot progresses. Lavender has done a lot of growing since the Tales came over and it is very touching to see her get her confidence back. Seth’s story is enough to break your heart, so I was delighted to see him find some happiness again.

This series is an irresistible treat for readers who enjoy supernatural suspense romances. It’s inhabited by all manner of literary creatures – Little Red Riding Hood, The Big Bad Wolf, fairy godmothers, The Grimm Reaper, Dracula, the Darcys, Juliet, Puck – you name it and it is probably in the series or will make an appearance later. By having it encompass a large pool of fictional character, SeRine opens up the possibilities for future stories. And it makes it fun to anticipate who might be on the next page.

Santa Viking

03 Sunday Feb 2013

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Book Review, Sandra Hill, Santa Viking

Santa Viking is a two story anthology from Sandra Hill. The first, a historical called Bolthor’s Bride, finds Bolther spending the holidays with his fellow Viking warriors and powerless against their wives’s matchmaking. Among the mass of women who have descended looking for a husband is Katherine, a widow four-times-over who needs a husband to take care of her and her sons. She’s immediately attracted to Bolthor, despite his missing eye and battle-scarred body. He’s also attracted to Katherine but is adamant that he’s not looking for a wife. Will Saxon or Viking win this war? In A Viking For Christmas, Jessie Jones robs the Piggly Jiggly while dressed as Santa, but all she wants is the money she believes is due as a refund for a broken toy. Bodyguard Erik Thorsson is in the store killing time while he waits for his clothes to finish at the laundromat. Unfortunately, when things go a little squirrelly for Jessie, he finds himself held hostage. Although Erik quickly finds himself falling in love, can he convince Jessie that it’s for real?

Knowing that Hill writes romantic humor stories will help readers who are not familiar with her work. Her writing style is definitely tongue-in-cheek, especially the historical. Both are amusing and fun, with entertaining characters and interesting stories.

Bolthor’s Bride is written with colorful descriptions and word choices, very reminiscent of old school bodice rippers. Both Bolthor and Katherine are intriguing and their interactions are amusing. Watching Bolthor fight the inevitable with keep you smiling. There are also some additional glimpses of characters from some of Hill’s previous Viking stories for returning readers. A Viking For Christmas isn’t quite as intentionally cheesy but it does have quirky characters and funny-bone-tickling moments. The scrapes that Jessie manages to get into are laugh-out-loud and watching Erik woo her is delicious.

If you are looking for a bit of love and laughter, Santa Viking is a humorous diversion with a Norse twist.

All He Ever Dreamed

01 Friday Feb 2013

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All He Ever Dreamed, Book Review, Shannon Stacey

Shannon Stacey’s newest Kowalski novel, All He Ever Dreamed, features the youngest brother, Josh. While his siblings have been out living their lives, Josh has been home taking care of the Northern Star Lodge. Now he wants someone else to take over at the Lodge so he can have his chance to do something he wants. Katie Davis has been best friends with Josh almost their entire lives and she’s gotten very good over the years at hiding that she wants more. When Josh suddenly starts seeing her as a more than one of the guys, do they dare become more than friends? Now that he’s finally getting the chance to pursue life away from the Lodge, will he discover that his dreams might be closer than he thought?

Although this is part of a series, it can definitely be enjoyed as a stand alone. I’ve not read any of the other Kowalski books and I didn’t have any problem keeping up. For those who have read Stacey’s previous stories will enjoy a chance to catch up with favorite characters. And everyone will get the chance to see who might be making appearances in future books.

I love both Katie and Josh. They are fun, charming and have great chemistry. Watching Josh realize that Katie is an attractive woman, and that his feelings for her are changing, is vastly entertaining. Stacey does a great job keeping it realistic by not changing the core part of their relationship, just adding the romantic element. Josh has a lot of conflicting emotions over getting involved with Katie, not only because it could ruin the best friendship that he has, but there is also the fact that he wants to leave town. Katie is also aware of his dreams and she has to take that into consideration when she decides whether it is worth the possible hurt to get her heart further involved with him. They handle this with a lot of humor and heart, quickly drawing readers in on their dilema.

All He Ever Dreamed is a delightful look at the chance best friends take when they develop their relationship further. And what it’s like to get what you’ve been wanting, only to realize it might not be what you want after all. If you haven’t met the Kowalskis, take this opportunity to fall in love with this fantastic family.