Category Archives: Book Review

Book Review – The Homecoming

15 Friday Aug 2014

Posted by in Book Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

cover47637-mediumIn a small town, reputation is everything. In her latest novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr explores the burden placed on a young man returning home to face his mistakes—the first step in claiming the life he was meant to live

At the age of nineteen, Seth Sileski had everything. A superb athlete and scholar, handsome and popular, he was the pride of Thunder Point. Destined for greatness, he lost it all in a terrible accident that put an end to his professional football career when it had barely begun. The people in his hometown have never forgotten what might have been.

Seth has come to terms with the turns his life has taken. But now he’s been presented with an opportunity to return home and show his father—and the people of Thunder Point—he’s become a better, humbler version of his former self.

Winning over his father isn’t the only challenge. Seth must also find a way to convince his childhood neighbor and best friend, Iris McKinley, to forgive him for breaking her heart. With his homecoming, will Seth be able to convince the town, his family and especially Iris that he’s finally ready to be the man who will make them all proud?

I keep saying the same thing about Carr’s books – they are realistic, heart-warming, and addictive.  Every time I pick one up, it is like catching up with old friends and I’m ready for the next one as soon as I finish one.

In The Homecoming, we get to meet Mac’s replacement, Seth, and school counselor, Iris. Seth was mentioned during The Promise, but he doesn’t actually appear until this book and if Iris was in any of the others I don’t remember her.  But that’s OK, I love meeting new friends too.  And that also means that if this is your first Thunder Point book then you’ve chosen a good place to start.

I’ve mentioned it with other books, but the friends-to-lovers plotline is one of my favorites and Carr delivers it beautifully here.  There was a misunderstanding between Seth and Iris in high school that ruined their friendship.  Over the years, Seth realizes that the thing that has been missing from his life is Iris and now that he’s back in town he plans on getting her back.  Iris had feelings for Seth for years and even though she’s tried to move on with other guys, she’s never gotten over those feelings.But she doesn’t believe that he could feel anything romantic for her … after all, he didn’t in high school, so why should he now.

I love these two together.  They had a fantastic friendship and a connection that the years apart couldn’t destroy.  Now they have the chance to make it into more and it is super sweet and fun and sassy and cute.  We also have Seth’s attempt to reconnect with his father and some drama over a high school student who might be abused.  With Iris and Seth’s jobs, it fits in well with their developing relationship.

And that is where the true drama lies because Iris and Seth flow seamlessly into their new relationship and it works so well.  There isn’t too much angst and trouble, just a little bit where she doesn’t really trust his feelings (and a little bit about what caused their rift all those years ago), then a little bit about another guy who has feelings for Iris.  (And I love Troy, I’m pretty sure his will be the next story and I’m looking forward to finding out everything I can about him.)  Otherwise, it is a trademark Carr relationship – so real and so believable, these people could just as easily be your neighbors or friends.

And that, at its basic level, is why I love the Thunder Point books.  It all goes back to how I feel like I’m coming home again – making friends and catching up on the goings on in my favorite little coastal town.  As I mentioned earlier, this is a good place for new readers to start … but you better be ready to go back and read all of the others as well.  Addictive page turners, with characters who have depth and charm, are Carr books at their best.

Book Review – Crazy for You

13 Wednesday Aug 2014

Posted by in Book Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

cover38709-mediumIn the tradition of Janet Evanovich and Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Juliet Rosetti ups the ante in her laugh-out-loud funny Escape Diaries series, as Mazie Maguire must use any means necessary to keep her main squeeze out of the slammer.

Once you escape from prison and ride off into the sunset with the gorgeous guy who helped you nail a killer, you live happily ever after, right? Well, not exactly—not if you’re Mazie Maguire, and the flow chart of your life looks like a pinball machine. Mazie has broken up with her guy, Ben Labeck, she can’t pay her rent, her car is infested with mice, and she’s working at a coffee shop where the dress code is teddies, thongs, and toe-cleavage heels. Now Ben is the chief suspect in a murder investigation, and Mazie’s tapping into her fugitive wiles to keep him out of jail. Strictly as friends, she vows. No kissing, no touching, no romance. But how is Mazie supposed to keep her thoughts platonic when her “buddy” is giving her erotic back rubs, and a make-believe-we’re-newlyweds charade puts her in the mood for a wedding night?

I love the Mazie Maguire books – if you haven’t read The Escape Diaries put it on your TBR pile immediately. Mazie is quirky and funny and keeps getting herself in the most entertaining situations.  She reminds me a lot of Evanovich’s early Stephanie Plum – full of charm and spunk and a whole lot of luck, both good and bad.

The mystery is intriguing and quite solid, as is the more romantic element.  Sometimes you have to short-change one to get the other, but Rosetti does a good job of balancing both.  Just like The Escape Diaries though everything isn’t quite wrapped up with a pretty bow, but that just gives us more material for the next one.

The supporting cast is a hoot – full of drag queen performers, “lingerie model” baristas, smart-mouthed kids, and a hunk or two to keep things steamy.  I wish my life was made up with half the colorful characters that Mazie surrounds herself with.

A fast paced read, with a lot of humor and suspense, Crazy for You is perfect for those looking for a more lighthearted mystery mixed with a good amount of romance.  With an addictive writing style and even more addictive characters, Rosetti is quickly becoming a can’t-miss author for me.

Book Review – You Again

12 Tuesday Aug 2014

Posted by in Book Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

It is a light week for blog tours so I”m going to be doing book reviews for the rest of the week.  Hope you find something you like!

*****

YouAgain500Old acquaintances, New Lovers, and Murder…

A hopeless crush…

Back in high school, Allie McBride thought the sun set around Sam Fratto’s smiles, even if they were only friends. Now she’s older, wiser, hotter, and teaching at the same school they grew up in. When Sam joins the faculty, she has a chance to make good on the crush that got away. But when a dead body turns up on school grounds, they realize there might be a murderer in their midst. The heat keeps getting hotter between Allie and Sam, but more might be in danger than their hearts…

The cute kid from high school is all grown up…

A family crisis brings true-crime writer Sam Fratto back to town after more than a decade’s absence. Teaching at his alma mater seems like a good way to pass the time—especially when he sees that Allie, the geeky, sweet-mannered girl from high school, has blossomed into the saucy teacher in the classroom next door. Too bad finding a dead body transforms his return into one of his true-crime books come to life. And when it seems the killer might be after Allie next, it’s up to him to keep her safe…

A killer determined to keep the past buried at any price…

As if dealing with the return of one ghost from her past wasn’t enough, it looks like the killer might be the person they least suspected. Someone from the past. Someone with something to hide. Someone who thinks Allie and Sam are getting a little too close to the truth. If Allie and Sam are going to get out of this alive, these two friends to lovers will have to work together…or die together…

A few months ago we took a look at You Again and I’m just now getting around to reading it … I’m not sure what took me so long!  It’s got an interesting, fast-paced mystery and fabulous, high school-crush romance.

The suspense part of the story is great. It flows well and I didn’t feel like there were too many red herring moments. Everything tied together nicely, with logical flow and a reasonable resolution. Every step of the way, each clue that was unearthed, worked together nicely and nothing felt forced or like it didn’t make sense.

And I liked Sam and Allie together.  They work together well to figure out what happened and along the way get to know each other better, falling in love.  Of course, it helps that Sam is a true crime writer but that causes a little trouble too.

With entertaining intrigue and a lovely little romance, You Again is perfect for those who like their mysteries with a love story twist.

Book Review – A December Bride

10 Sunday Aug 2014

Posted by in Book Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

cover36471-mediumWhat started as a whim turned into an accidental – and very public – engagement. Can Layla and Seth keep up the facade in Chapel Springs this holiday season – for the sake of her career . . . and his heart?

Under normal circumstances, Seth Murphy, the best friend of Layla O’Reilly’s ex-fiance would be the last person she’d marry. But the news of their upcoming (and phony) nuptials convinces a big client that Layla may be high-society enough to work for his agency, a coup that would put her fledgling home-staging business on the map. Seth has secretly loved Layla for years, even when she was dating his best friend. Maybe she’ll never forgive him for the way he hurt her back then, but he has to try. And Layla is willing to keep up their engagement farce until she’s landed her client. For Layla, it’s the chance to save her career. But for Seth, it’s his last chance to win her heart. A year’s worth of novellas from twelve inspirational romance authors. Happily ever after guaranteed.

A December Bride is a sugary sweet story, perfect to remind readers about the miracles of the holiday season.  It’s actually book 1.5 in Hunter’s Chapel Springs series – I haven’t read the first book (although the second full length story is in my TBR pile) and I didn’t really find that it made that much of a difference … although there were some hints about what happened in the first one.  It was more of an “ooh, what happened” moment than anything that would interfere in reading this one.

And I loved Seth and Layla together.  They were friends, they were on the borderline of maybe going somewhere romantic, then she started dating his best friend.  That relationship ended badly and Layla blamed Seth for some of what happened, which destroyed their friendship.  Now thrown together by a fake engagement (it does make sense in context), they have the chance to find out whether their pretend relationship could turn into something real.

Seth has to deal with the fact that he had feelings for his friends girl and that he has some responsibility (very slight) for the hurt she felt when that relationship ended.  He’s caring and hardworking and wants very much to have a second chance with Layla.

Layla still has a lot of bitterness and anger toward her ex and with Seth.  Now thrown together with him for the good of her business, she remembers all the reasons why they were friends … and with the possibility for more.  But she has to decide if she is willing to let go of those past hurts and look to the future.

Novella in length, Hunter still manages to pack a fantastic story into just a few pages.  She manages to give readers a detailed history of their relationship, setting up their happy ending nicely, but still telling a complete and in-depth romance in the present.  A December Bride is compelling and sweet, full of so much sappy, happy love.

Book Review – An A to Z of Love

09 Saturday Aug 2014

Posted by in Book Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

cover48752-mediumEveryone’s talking about Mia Page. Again.

Mia Page has been the subject of gossip in Aberarian for half her life, ever since her father ran off with his secretary–and the contents of the local museum safe–when she was fourteen.

Still, Mia loves her hometown, loves working at the A to Z shop, eating seafood with her best friend Charlie at his restaurant, catching the classic midnight movie at the crumbling Coliseum cinema. And if she ever wonders if things might be even better if Charlie were more than just a friend, well, it’s only an idle thought in a lonely moment. After all, friendship always trumps romance, doesn’t it? And she’s never been one to rock the boat.

But everything she loves is suddenly under threat from Charlie’s ex-girlfriend, Becky, and her plans to turn Mia’s beloved Coliseum into a casino, transforming the sleepy seaside town forever. As Mia tries to pull the people of Aberarian together to save the town they adore, her father reappears, and people start asking what he wants to take from them this time…

WARNING: Some sexual scenes. Also contains seafood.

Full of UK humor and odd characters, An A to Z of Love is a fun and entertainingly fast read.

Mia and Charlie spend more time second guessing how the other ones feels, and a little honest communication would have solved a lot of their problems, but where’s the enjoyment in that?  Instead we get romantic avoidance at it’s most powerful, but it leads to a sweet happy ending.

In addition to their romance woes, they both have to deal some personal baggage.  Mia is dogged by her father’s past and the potential changes to her beloved town brought by Charlie’s ex (and Mia’s childhood friend turned nemesis).  Charlie has to face said ex but also decide what he wants to do with his future, deal with a failing restaurant, and help Mia save their town.  All o this while facing their relationship dilemma.

While not quite as quirky-cute as Bridget, Mia and Charlie still have that wonderfully British feel and a sappy, happy love.  Cute and quick, An A to Z of Love has that perfect bit of humor to go with its angst.

Spotlight – What a Lady Craves

08 Friday Aug 2014

Posted by in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest, Sneak Peek

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

Now it’s time for Ashlyn Macnamara’s newest historical romance, What a Lady Craves.

*****

What a Lady CravesWhat a Lady Craves

Written by Ashlyn Macnamara

Published by Loveswept

August 19, 2014

ISBN: 978-0-553-39253-1

WHAT A LADY CRAVES on Goodreads

Blurb:

Ashlyn Macnamara weaves a delicious tale of two souls torn apart by circumstance and reunited by fate—perfect for fans of Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, and Sabrina Jeffries.

Henrietta Upperton is about to marry Alexander Sanford when he rushes off to India to salvage his family’s fortune. Then comes the devastating news that he has wed another. Eight agonizing years later, a storm washes Alexander ashore—injured, widowed, and hunted—and one glimpse of his ruggedly handsome face reawakens the desire Henrietta thought she had buried deep inside. Her body still yearns for his touch, but she’s determined not let him wound her again . . . not this time.

For Alexander, honor always comes first. But only now does he realize that when given the choice between two virtuous deeds, he picked the wrong one. On the run with his life in tatters and a pair of daughters in tow, Alexander burns for Henrietta. He knows he does not deserve forgiveness. And yet he longs to wrap his arms around her warm body once again. What’s more, he is sure the lady craves the same.

Get your copy of WHAT A LADY CRAVES

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  iBooks  |  Google Play  |  Kobo  |  Other retailers

*****

Excerpt:

(from Chapter Two)

“Damn him. Damn him to hell.” A sharp gust off the sea ripped the invective from Henrietta’s lips.

The gray waters of the English Channel hissed over pebbles in an even rhythm that ought to have soothed after a sleepless night. They did nothing for her, nor did a lungful of salt-laden air. Bracing—that’s what they called this sort of predawn cold. It was meant to straighten one’s spine, stiffen one’s upper lip, and urge one forward. But her temper stood firm in the face of the steady headwind off the waves.

Damn him. Why did he have to come back still possessing the power to devastate her just as when she’d first laid eyes on him? Then, he’d done so with nothing more than his handsome features. Something about his somber expression had reached out and wrapped itself about her heart the night of her coming-out ball. She’d never believed he’d approach her among all the other hopefuls, and yet he had. He’d passed over a beauty like Sophia St. Claire and claimed Henrietta Upperton for a dance.

She closed her eyes against a memory of him—of Alexander—broad shoulders filling out a stark black topcoat, sand-colored hair falling in careless spiky locks, gray eyes sparking with interest. Unlike his friends, he’d never been a man given to easy smiles, but his square jaw, sharp cheekbones, and sculpted lips had drawn her gaze.

Then he’d led her to the dance floor and drawn her into a reel. His hand, large and steady every time they clasped, seemed to burn an imprint into her palm. Each separation left her breathless with anticipation for the moment when the dance brought them together again. Was she imagining his fingers lingering a moment too long? The slightest contact seemed magnified. All too soon, the music came to an end, and she had to recover from the sensation of soaring amid the other couples. He bowed low over her hand and promised to call, before leaving her with her mother, and she stood for the next few dances, the ghost of his lips tingling on the back of her hand, and a low pulse thrumming deep in her belly.

He kept his promise the following day. Before too many weeks had passed, he’d captured her heart.

No. She would not dwell on the pain that came afterward. But calling a more recent image to mind was hardly better. The intervening years had graven lines at the corners of his eyes and deepened the creases along his forehead. One might read such lines like a book of sorrows if one was so inclined.

Not that she was. Oh, no. She would not fall prey to that man once again. She would not allow the desire he’d awakened within her to overcome her reason a second time.

*****

Ashlyn MacnamaraAuthor Info:

Ashlyn Macnamara is the author of A Most Scandalous Proposal. She lives in the wilds of suburbia outside of Montreal with her husband and two teenage daughters. When not writing, she looks for other excuses to neglect the housework, among them knitting, reading, and wasting time on the Internet in the guise of doing research.

Connect with Ashlyn

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

Connect with Loveswept

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

*****

Giveaway:

$25 egiftcard + Loveswept mug and tote

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/235babe788/

*****

Review:

I have to be honest, I thought Alexander was a bit delusional.  He gets himself engaged to Henrietta but then has to leave to try to make money so he can support his family, ends up married to someone else for 8 years without proper explanation, then comes home with kids in tow (but no wife), and thinks that Henrietta is just going to let it go and marry him … really?  He’s surprised that she’s not going to forgive him that easily?  They are hardly together more than 5 minutes before he’s suggesting they get married … and he keeps doing it, without so much as an attempt to explain his behavior.

The rest of them are good – Henrietta seems to have a solid head on her shoulders (although she does waffle a bit on her feelings for Alexander), the girls are adorable, and Alexander’s great-aunt is a hoot and a half.  And I thought that the mystery of what was going on around him – the fact that those close to him keep dying and that someone has followed him home from India – was captivating and very well done.  But after about the third proposal I had to shake my head at his idiocy.  If you can overlook it, though, What a Lady Craves has a lot of other redeeming things about it and I found plenty to keep me reading to the last page.

*****

Click on the banner to check out the rest of the tour

WHAT A LADY CRAVES_Blog Tour Art

Book Review – Between the Sheets

07 Thursday Aug 2014

Posted by in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , ,

We’re already looked at Wild Child and Never Been Kissed, and now we get to check out the last in the series, Between the Sheets.  I’ve read it and it definitely carries a big emotional punch.

*****

BETWEEN THE SHEETSBetween the Sheets

by Molly O’Keefe

Boys of Bishop, book #3

Blurb:

Perfect for readers of Susan Mallery and Rachel Gibson, Between the Sheets is Molly O’Keefe’s final book in the Boys of Bishop trilogy, featuring a sizzling romance between a sexy motorcycle bad boy and the girl next door who can’t resist him.

After years of running, Wyatt Svenson has now parked himself in Bishop, Arkansas, trying to do the right thing and parent a son he didn’t even know he had until recently. Over six feet tall and packed with muscles and power, Ty likes to get his hands dirty, fixing his motorcycle at night and keeping his mind away from the mistakes he’s made. Then his pretty neighbor shows up on his driveway, doesn’t bother to introduce herself, and complains about the noise. First impression? She should loosen up. Funny that she turns out to be his son’s elementary school art teacher—and the only one willing to help his troubled boy. Ty needs her. In more ways than one.

Though Shelby Monroe is safe in her structured life, she is drawn to Ty’s bad-boy edge and rugged sexuality. What if she just lets it all go: her worries about her mother, her fear of heartbreak, and her tight self control? What if she grabs Ty and takes a ride on the wild side? “What if” becomes reality—intense, exhilarating . . . and addictive. But Ty wants more than a secret affair. He wants it all with Shelby. But will she take a chance and open her heart? Ty is determined to convince Shelby to take the biggest risk of her life: on him.

BETWEEN THE SHEETS PURCHASE LINKS:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1qz4fCG

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1jizY2a

WILD CHILD PURCHASE LINKS (book #1):

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1pdqiLp

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1jDyO1i

NEVER BEEN KISSED PURCHASE LINKS (book #2):

Amazon:  http://amzn.to/1qpWwn6

Barnes & Noble:  http://bit.ly/SXQ3U1

*****

Review:

I don’t find Molly O’Keefe to be as lighthearted as Susan Mallery or even Rachel Gibson (she’s more hard-hitting and doesn’t pull many punches) but she definitely has their flair for creating great characters.

Ty is trying to start over in a new town with his new found son, Casey.  They are trying very hard to build a relationship that will work for both of them but it is hard.  The lifestyle that Casey’s mom exposed him to has left scars and it is going to take a long time for him to trust anyone again.  But Ty is trying.  Very hard.  He is a kind and caring man that had a rough go of it himself and he’s willing to do anything to make sure that his son has a good life.

Shelby seems to have her life in order but she’s definitely the one with much more serious issues.  She’s had very little experience with relationships and her last one was very publicly devastating.  Her home life, both now and during her childhood, is not a happy one and the stress of everything is getting to her.  When Ty comes into her life, as much as she may want him, he definitely isn’t what she expects.

All three characters are troubled, facing amazing difficulties, but trying to come out better on the other side. They have to learn to let other people in and to lean on them during tough times.  It’s a difficult journey for all of them but that’s what makes their HEA all that more powerful.

(This is the last in the Boys of Bishop trilogy, which I did not know when I picked it up, but I don’t think that it will really impact anything if you’ve not read the rest.  I’m not sure how much Ty and Casey appeared in either of the first two – he works for one of the previous heroes – but I know that Shelby’s disastrous relationship will have figured in at least the first one.  It might have helped provide additional motivation but I think that O’Keefe does a good job of giving you what you need to be able to enjoy this one even without having that background.)

*****

Molly 014Author Info:

Molly O’Keefe is the RITA Award winning author of over 25 books and novellas. She lives in Toronto, Canada with her husband, two kids and the largest heap of dirty laundry in North America.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Site – http://www.molly-okeefe.com/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/MollyOKwrites

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MollyOKeefeBooks

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/223845.Molly_O_Keefe

*****

Giveaway:

3 winners will win an ebook of Wild Child and Never Been Kissed

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/726d2572189/

*****

BTS_BlogTour

Book Review – Baker’s Law

05 Tuesday Aug 2014

Posted by in Book Review

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, ,

I’ve got nothing on my schedule today, so how about a review.

*****

20669229Blue Collar Baker

In high school, Marissa Llewellyn had the hots for golden boy Jackson “Jax” Carlisles. So when he arrives at her bakery, yummier than ever, to investigate a series of break-ins, she can’t help being reminded of the awkward girl she was. But that’s not the reason she evades his questions…

Silver Spoon Sheriff

Jax grew up as part of the Fort Worth country club set, but as the new chief of police, that’s all behind him, much to the chagrin of his family. Though he may not remember Marissa, he can’t stop thinking about the woman she’s become—and the secret she’s obviously keeping from him.

A Recipe for Romance…or Disaster?

Marissa is determined to help the homeless teen she caught breaking into her shop, even if that means lying to Jax. And when the sparks between her and the sexy sheriff ignite into a passionate affair, Marissa will have to choose between following the rules he upholds, and her own sense of justice.

Baker’s Law is as super sweet as its cover and I devoured every page of it.  It comes across as a light read but it has a surprising amount of depth and is the perfect break for those hot summer days.

I loved Jax and Marissa together. They are spicy and sassy and oh-so-sexy. The teenage crush all grown up storyline is always fun and McDonald does a great job with it.  And while Jax might not have really seen Marissa all those years ago, he definitely sees her now and they can certainly heat up the pages.

Marissa still has a few hang-ups left over from being considered chubby in high school. She’s more confident now but those definitely come out, especially around her old crush.  Jax is all man now and knows who he is in the world … even if it doesn’t sit well with his affluent mother.  But he’s assured enough to know he wants to live his life on his terms.  And now that includes Marissa as well.

There’s some trouble over break-ins around town and a secret that Marissa is keeping.  I can see why she’s hesitant to bring it to Jax and why he’s concerned.  It isn’t really a mystery but it does add a little extra drama to their romance.

Sweet and spicy, with fun characters and a fast-paced plot, Baker’s Law is a delicious addition to anyone’s beach bag.

Book Review – One Night of Sin

03 Sunday Aug 2014

Posted by in Book Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

22709899When it comes to sex, good girl Skyler Thompson always plays it safe, choosing stable and sedate over wild and thrilling. She doesn’t do one-night-stands, but one look at sinfully sexy Gage Holt and she’s willing to reconsider. He makes her want to be bad for once in her life, and she’s prepared to take what she wants.

Danger follows former MMA fighter Gage Holt like a shadow. Despite his successes as part owner of Sin, an exclusive nightclub in Boston, Gage can’t risk getting involved with a woman, especially one as sweet as Skyler. Still, he can’t resist a taste—and it’s so damn good he has to see her again.

As addicted as he is to her, Gage knows there’s no future for him and Skyler—not with his past lurking in the dark corners of an MMA cage. But Skyler’s tougher than she looks, and she’s ready to fight for her man.

Gage is haunted by his rough past and even though he’s tried to become a better man, circumstances keep him in the seedier world of him childhood.  He believes he’s no good at relationships and that he can’t offer anything to someone as good and decent as Skyler.  Skyler may be a good girl but she’s willing to play at being a bad girl if it means she can give in to her attraction for Gage.  When their one night stand becomes a sex only relationship that begins to feel like more than just sex, things start to get complicated.   

These two together are fabulous.  Gage brings out a more daring side to Skyler, while she reminds him that he can be more than what he was.  While One Night of Sin is novella in length, and a decent part of it is spent on the steamy interactions between the two (not that I’m complaining), Kennedy still does a good job of letting us see their relationship develop.  We don’t get a lot of those more relationship-y interactions first hand, but we are told about them and we get to see their effect in the changes in their attitudes … and with how Gage starts to believe that he can be that better man.  It’s a very fast read, a little over a hundred pages, but it moves well and left me with that happy feeling that I want from a good romance.

I totally got into this book and I kept thinking Elle Kennedy’s name was familiar.  She’s the co-author of All Fired Up, the first book in the DreamMakers series with Vivian Arend, which I really enjoyed.  (And I’m looking forward to reading the second book, Love is a Battlefield – review coming when I’m done.)  I also think there is a good chance I’ve read one or two of her Harlequin stories, but I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for future stories.  Based on her book list, it looks like she specializes in tough, troubled heroes and from what I’ve read so far she’s good at keeping them on their toes.

Book Review – The Promise

02 Saturday Aug 2014

Posted by in Book Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

cover45733-medium#1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr returns to Thunder Point with an uplifting story about overcoming loss and finding unexpected love 

Scott Grant has a bustling family practice in the small Oregon community of Thunder Point. The town and its people have embraced the widowed doctor and father of two, his children are thriving, and Scott knows it’s time to move on from his loss. But as the town’s only doctor, the dating pool is limited. That is, until a stunning physician’s assistant applies for a job at his clinic. 

Peyton Lacoumette considers herself entirely out of the dating scene. She’s already been burned by a man with kids, and she’s come to Thunder Point determined not to repeat past mistakes. When Scott offers her a job, at a much lower salary than she’s used to, Peyton is surprisingly eager to accept…at least for now. She’s willing to stay for a three-month trial period while she explores other options. 

Scott and Peyton know the arrangement is temporary—it isn’t enough time to build a real relationship, never mind anything with lasting commitment. But love can blossom faster than you think when the timing is right, and this short visit just might hold the promise of forever.

This series is so realistic and interesting and very addictive.  Like the rest of the books, The Promise is all about the characters – smart, sexy Dr Grant and sassy, independent Peyton.  They have to decide if they want to take the chance on each other and if they can make their lives fit together.

Like most of the people in Thunder Point, both Scott and Peyton are somewhat new to town.  Scott’s been there a couple of years and Peyton is making a stop on her way to her next thing … whatever that may be.  The majority of their troubles comes from some scars that Peyton carries from her last relationship, along with her choice on what to do with her life.  As with any Thunder Point couple, these problems are normal and every day, something you would expect a friend to experience.

We also get updates on some of our other favorite characters as well as a preview of what we can expect to see in The Homecoming.  I think that’s one of the things I like best about these books – we get new characters and old characters, helping to enhance that small town feeling.  These people quickly become good friends and you want to know everything about them – their ups and downs, their happiness and troubles.  You feel like you are taking their journey with them and it is what brings you coming back for more.

If you haven’t read a Thunder Point book before, that’s ok – you can start here … but you are definitely missing out on something great.