Category Archives: Book Review

Book Review – Worth the Fall

06 Sunday Jul 2014

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I’m really late getting today’s review up but this book is definitely worth it!

*****

cover48018-mediumThey meet on a beach. . . . Abby Davis isn’t wearing a skimpy bikini or sipping umbrella drinks, not when she’s busy chasing around four little ones. And Matt McKinney isn’t looking for fun—he’s a Navy SEAL, a grown man with a long list of missions . . . and fallen brothers.

They only have a week. . . . Abby has brought her children to this beach to start over, to give them the enjoyable memories they deserve. Matt’s been sidelined by a combat injury, and haunted by the best friend he lost and the promise he made: to remain a SEAL—focused and dedicated. This leaves no time for what he’s always wanted: a family.

But a week is all it takes. . . . Matt opens her heart while Abby soothes his soul. And though they plan to say good-bye when the week is over, something magical happens on that beach, something neither can forget. Something utterly, completely worth falling for.

Worth the Fall is the kickoff to Connor’s “The McKinney Brothers” series and it is a captivating start.

Matt is dealing with quite a bit of guilt over his best friend’s death, even years later, and he’s starting to question where his life is going.  Like all military heroes, he’s strong, dedicated and hard-working.  He’s also charming and funny and very, very sexy.  He’s great with kids, smart as a whip, and is wonderful for Abby’s self-esteem.  In other words, the perfect Navy SEAL romantic lead.

Abby is widowed with four kids and another on the way.  Her childhood was spent revolving thru foster homes and her marriage did very little to give her the feeling of being loved.  A week with too-good-to-be-true Matt finds her more attracted than she wants.  And when things continue after their week is over, Abby struggles very hard to not continue to run from what could be a great thing.

I’m not sure that Abby ever really lets go of her fears that she’s not good enough and will be left.  But I found the ending to be extremely touching and my heart squeezed a little at how they get to their HEA.  Her kids are adorable and Matt connects with them just as much as with Abby.  He’s got a whole herd of siblings and it’s going to be interesting to see more of them in future stories.

A touching story about two people dealing with regret and fear, Worth the Fall is a moving tale of learning to let go and embrace the good things that the future can hold.

Book Review – Hot Package

05 Saturday Jul 2014

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cover44944-mediumWhen public relations expert Olivia Reese stumbles onto evidence of a dangerous conspiracy right before Christmas, there’s only one man she can call for help. Billy “The Kid” Blake is a member of an elite military unit—the Hostile Operations Team—and he’s Olivia’s former lover.

Billy never forgot the sexy woman who rocked his world—and his bed—before she walked out on him. Now that she needs his help, he’ll do anything he can to keep her safe. But as time runs out and the snow piles up, can Billy and Olivia work together to thwart a lethal plot against the Pentagon without getting involved again?

Note: This novellas has been previously published in the Hot, Sexy & Bad box set.

With a little more action than Hot Mess but a little less than Hot Pursuit, Hot Package is the perfect choice for those looking for a mix of suspense and romance in a tiny little package.  I love these HOT guys – they are strong and smart and big hearted.  They fight hard, play hard and love hard.  Here, I appreciate how well Harris can give her readers a complete story, packed full of emotion and thrills, in under 100 pages.

Olivia had an uncertain childhood, bounced from place to place as her mom went from relationship to relationship. She doesn’t have a lot of confidence in men sticking around and those fears helped destroy her relationship with Billy.  He also had a bad experience, with his mom leaving him with his aunt, and having another woman not stick around just proves that those who should love you don’t stay.  Thrown together to look into possible trouble at her work, they have to decide if they can let go off their issues or if they are going to let it destroy their chance of being together.

I liked these two a lot.  They have good chemistry and they work well together on figuring out what is going on at Olivia’s work.  We get a little glimpse of the rest of the HOT team and a few hints at possible future stories.  The mystery is well done and I really enjoyed how it ended.  There was great tension, hot sex, and touching emotions. Harris is a master at giving readers kick-ass intrigue mixed with heart-warming moments and she’s become my can’t-be-missed military romance author.

Book Review – Return to Glory

04 Friday Jul 2014

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To celebrate the long Independence Day weekend, we’re going to do book reviews starring men who served our country with honor … starting with the heartwarming (and heartbreaking) Return to Glory.

*****

cover48928-mediumIn Glory, Kansas, the best bakery in three counties not only brings together ingredients for sweet treats, but is the place where—through the powerful mix of friendship, community and a well-stocked kitchen—a wounded hero can forge a forever kind of love.

Back in the hometown he left behind five years ago, Jack McConnell has returned battle-scarred and feeling like half a man. But Betsy Lewis only sees the hero who once saved her life and set her heart on fire. Now she’s burning to save him in return. She’ll use every trick she’s got up her sleeve, from her generous natural assets to her talent for baking, to coax Jack out from the bottom of his whiskey bottle.

At first, Jack responds to Betsy like any red-blooded man would. He’s always denied his attraction to the innocent girl he used to know, but he’s returned to find Betsy’s grown into a full-on woman with strength enough for both of them. Until Jack realizes the only way to conquer his demons and be worthy of the hero’s mantle she’s pinned to his shoulders is to save Betsy one last time—from himself.

Ya’ll, Jack and Betsy just about broke my heart … and I loved every page.  There are moments of great beauty and moments of extreme heartache, but there are so many wonderful, ordinary moments in between.

Betsy’s sassy and sweet at the same time, and I love her style.  She may be a little over her head with handling Jack’s troubles but that isn’t going to stop her from trying.  She’s caring and I love the relationship between her and Jack, as well as with her friends and family (especially her brother Caleb and his best friend India).

Jack has had so much bad happen to him that it is hard to imagine how he made it home and it is not surprising that he’s broken because of it.  He’s strong for making it as far as he has but he’s also got to realize that sometimes even great men need help.  The lead up to the moment he decides to fight is wrenching, although I do wish we’d seen a bit more of his recovery.  There is so much to be made of getting him to that point that I would have liked to have seen just a bit more of how he handles it from there.

I adored the Jack and Betsy together.  They each do so much for the other and even when Jack’s broken he’s still got so much heart (he just doesn’t realize it).  I just ate up the way their relationship changed over time and it added so much more oomph to their love story to have them be such a large part of each other’s lives for so long.  They are sweet and touching, and troubled, and the ending just brought a huge smile to my face.  It’s the perfect way to wrap up their relationship.

I can’t wait for the next book – hopefully we’ll get to see Caleb and India finally figure things out.

Book Review – Break Me

29 Sunday Jun 2014

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Today’s second review, since I missed yesterday.

*****

cover45149-mediumAbigail Stevens, an efficient and no-nonsense editor for one of the biggest names in the romance novel industry, has a big problem. She’s been desperately in love with Anthony Tate, Mr. Romance-Writer himself, for the last four years. She’s settled for friendship and professional success for the last four years, but now the sexy writer needs something more from her and she can’t find a reason to refuse.

Tony Tate has built a career centered on his identity as America’s most romantic writer. That identity does not include a debauched temper tantrum in the aftermath of his very public break-up with his on-again, off-again girlfriend. Tony has known that Abby has had the hots for him since the moment they met, but when his Plain Jane best friend and controlling editor ends up being his only option to exorcise his demons and pent-up sexual frustration, he can’t wait to break her prim and proper shell.

As Tony and Abby push each other farther than they’ve ever gone before, the question becomes, who will break whom?

There are a lot of people who aren’t going to like Break Me.  Tony’s treatment of Abby is horrible and she goes along with it for a long time … then she finally reaches her breaking point.

This is the first book by Autumn Stark and it’s a good start.  The sex is extremely hot, although some may not appreciate Tony’s dominance and there are times when it is almost violent.  Abby’s heart is too involved, so I understand why she lets things go as long as she does.  Tony, though, is typically clueless to his real feelings and motivations until it is almost too late.  He’s a complete jerk and his treatment of Abby definitely is beyond outrageous.  The tone changes toward the end but I’m not sure if everyone is going to appreciate his aha moment.

We get a great secondary cast and I can’t wait to see what Stark has in store for us with them.  Abby’s friend, her brothers, and Tony’s buddy have interesting stories, providing plenty of material for more books.

A decent first novel, Break Me won’t be for everyone, but it’s a good beginning for a new series.

Book Review – Parker’s Passion

29 Sunday Jun 2014

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Since I missed yesterday’s book review post due to a very lovely wedding (gotta love real-life romantic moments), I’ll have two up today.  First we’re starting out with another in the “Tryst Island” series, following Book 1: Rebound, Book 2: Dragonfly Kisses, Book 3: Smoking Holt, Book 4: Heart of Ash and Book 5: Devlin’s Dare.  I haven’t read them all but I do have reviews for Rebound and Smoking Holt.

*****

cover47791-mediumScarred by a long-ago crime of passion, Parker Rieth has dedicated himself to a cold, emotionless existence as a divorce lawyer. He is utterly unprepared for the effect Kaitlin Stringer has on his heart, mind and soul. Beautiful, ethereal and irresistible, she touches him in a way no other woman has. Though he has vowed to avoid her, he is drawn toward her.

Psychic healer Kaitlin is just what Parker needs to reconcile his past, to finally set old ghosts to rest, and to claim his destiny. Can he find the courage to step into Kaitlin’s embrace? Does she have what it takes to awaken his sleeping passion?

I’m really loving York’s Tryst Island series.  They are sexy, emotional and full of interesting characters.  As each of them fall in love, it leaves me both satisfied and looking forward to more stories.

Both Parker and Kaitlin have problems letting others in.  They were each scarred by a long ago event, but together they just might be able to learn to trust again.

I really enjoyed both of the characters. I wasn’t sure how I was going to react to Kaitlin’s psychic abilities but it works well in the story.  The way she’s able to provide comfort and hope to Parker is fantastic.  And he’s one of my favorite characters so far – troubled, honorable, and a little bit scared but willing to give in to his attraction to Kaitlin anyway.

There is also an interesting twist to this one – a bit of danger and intrigue, which is a little different than the ones I’ve read so far.  It isn’t all that involved but it does add a little more to an already great read.

Parker’s Passion (like all of the stories in the series) is scorching, sweet and addictive.  York is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors.

(Although, Parker’s Passion can stand on its own, it does have ties to the previous books in the series.  If you haven’t read them, don’t worry, it’s just kinda fun to see those stories from a different perspective.  Plus we see more of the friends who are sure to have a future story and I’m looking forward to each one.)

Book Review – One Sexy Ride

24 Tuesday Jun 2014

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Ya’ll Vivian Arend’s One Sexy Ride just came out and it is a definite TBR!

AND

** For one week only, book 1 in the series, ROCKY RIDE, is on sale for $0.99.**

(Please keep in mind that these are erotic romances so they do get extra HOT)

*****

cover48838-mediumHis goal is to stand firm

As the middle child in a big family, Len Thompson has found it easy to slip under the radar. His relationships outside the family-run garage tend to run a mile wide but only an inch deep as he keeps his heart, body and soul protected. But when the one woman he’s always wanted makes it known she’ll soon be leaving town, he can’t resist letting her into his carefully constructed fortress.

Her gift is rocking his world

Chasing her best friend’s big brother has both entertained and frustrated Janey for years. She’s not sure what triggered his change of heart, but hell, yeah, she’ll accept it. All of it. Every kiss, every touch, every bit of body-shaking pleasure. Working to meet her renovation deadline is suddenly not nearly as interesting as the mind-blowing escapades she’s enjoying with the big sexy mechanic.

When old fears threaten, Len must finally choose—face his past or let their future crumble.

While I haven’t read any of the Thompson & Sons or the Six Pack Ranch series, I have read Arend’s All Fired Up and enjoyed it a lot.  One Sexy Ride proves to be just as intriguing, although it deals more with family dynamic and long held fears.

I think the childhood friend/friend’s sibling is one of my favorite types of romances.  I love the shared history and the understanding that comes from two people knowing each other for years, even if they haven’t been seeing each other all that clearly.  For Janey, Len has always been the one she wanted but couldn’t have.  But now the frustrating man may be finally giving in to their attracting.

Len has reservations about giving his heart to anyone, especially Janey.  She’s the one woman who has the power to rip it to pieces and he’s not willing to give anyone that control.  But with Janey leaving, he thinks he can give in to his desire in the short term, knowing that there is an end date …

Len may be sexy as all get out and smart in most things, but he’s completely clueless when it comes to romance.  How many times have you seen the guy think that he can keep from getting too involved with the woman he wants?  And how many times does that actually work?  Yeah, same for Len.  But it is awesome watching him fall.  The ending is just as heartbreaking as you’d expect, but the HEA makes up for it in spades.

With sexy, silent Len and vivacious Janey creating sparks, life isn’t necessarily calm but it is a lot of fun.  And if the rest of Arend’s stories are anything like the two I’ve read so far, I definitely have found a new go-to author.  Emotionally complex, funny and sweet, but richly sexy, One Sexy Ride is full of color and passion and fun.  As a bonus, Len’s brothers are a complicated group and I can’t wait to see what Arend has in store for them.

(While set in the same world as the bestselling Six Pack Ranch series, the Thompson & Sons series stands alone.)

Book Review – Grimm Consequences

22 Sunday Jun 2014

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cover42520-mediumYou reap what you sow. . .

Saying Nate Grimm has a dark past is an understatement. Fortunately, no one’s bothered to look too closely at the Fairytale Management Authority’s lead detective and part-time Reaper. And that’s the way Nate wants to keep it. For after centuries of torment and loneliness, he’s finally found happiness with the hot and hard-charging love of his life, Tess “Red” Little.

Of course, his love for Tess is the reason there’s a posse of Reaper judges after him, led by a sadistic bastard acquainted with Nate from once upon a time. Now, Tess will pay the price for Nate’s transgressions unless Nate severs his ties to the transplanted Tales–and Tess–forever. His enemy has the advantage in speed, malice and brutality. But the Reapers have underestimated the depth of Nate’s love and devotion. And the fury of his wrath. . .

Grimm Consequences is a “Transplanted Tales” novella (coming in at just under 100 pages) falls in just after Red but before The Better to See You.  From Nate’s perspective and adding some of the details of his past and his relationship with Tess, it came about thanks to all of the people demanding more of Nate. . . and as sexy and complex as he is, it’s easy to see why everyone wants more.  (If you haven’t read at least Red, I’d suggest you do so before picking up Grimm Consequences.  The nice thing is that you don’t have to have read all three, just that first one, although I’m sure that you’ll be just as addicted as I am.)

Nate has some secretes he’s been keeping and unfortunately he can no longer keep them hidden.  Quite the mysterious character, the added insight into his past gives readers the added layers they’ve been looking for.  He’s come a long way from the man he was to the man he is and we find out just how far.  It’s raw and touching and I got to the end with an even bigger crush on him.

I really like the fact that Serine has an idea for her world and sticks to it.  She doesn’t seem to create new rules as she goes along just to make her world fit the plot that she has going.  Or if she does, she does it without making it seem obvious. Everything is logical, as much as it can be when dealing with magical creatures, and I appreciate that.  The surprises she gives her readers fit within the context of her stories and don’t feel like they are coming out of left field.

I’m always thrilled to get my hands on one of Serine’s stories.  They are wonderfully complicated but not convoluted, her paranormal world is fun with all of the make believe characters at her disposal, and those characters have wonderfully intricate and addictive lives.   Full of action, drama, and heartache, Grimm Consequences is the perfect companion to the “Transplanted Tales” series.

Book Review – Taming the Country Star

21 Saturday Jun 2014

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9781622661664He’ll do anything to win her heart. She’ll do anything to keep him away.

Country star Cole Grayson is in town, and Kylie Andrews is less than thrilled. As if months of changing the radio station and tearing down his posters weren’t bad enough, now she has to deal with a town of fans swarming toward the man who deceived her the year before. But when Kylie’s eyes meet Cole’s again, she can’t deny the electric chemistry that drew her to him the first time around.

Cole Grayson is on a mission. Ever since Kylie left him, he hasn’t been able to forget her sweet country smile. After writing a song just for her, he sets off for her hometown to prove he’s not the player she thinks he is. But as much as Cole can’t forget her, Kylie wonders if she can forgive him…

Kylie’s reaction to Cole’s fame (and her reluctance to get involved with him) are totally understandable.  Her family was torn apart and it could easily be blamed on her dad’s status as a rodeo star.  Or he could have just been one of those people who couldn’t commit.  I do wish we’d gotten a bit more about that history and what happened after he left the family.  You get the idea that there may have been more involved in the dynamic between her parents but it isn’t really explained in depth. Instead we focus on her and Cole, who are fantastic together, but since it does play a big part in her reaction to his fame I think that a little more detail might have helped.

Otherwise the book is great and Cole and Kylie together worked for me.  Cole is very level-headed for someone so much in the public eye.  He cares about the people he’s close to and works hard to woo Kylie back.  He’s smart, sexy and dedicated.  He’s already got his heart set on winning Kylie back and watching them try to date is a lot of fun.  Cole is dedicated to figuring out a way to make a relationship between them work and it says a lot about his feelings.  The ending is sweet and worked well with the rest of the story.  I loved watching these two get over their issues and move to their own happy ending.

Novella length, Taming the Country Star is another one that does a good job of being complete even in just around 100 pages.  I love that because when I get really involved in a story I don’t want to put it down and this lets me read it quickly and still feel satisfied at the end.  And this one definitely sucked me in and kept me turning pages to get to the HEA.

(I’ve seen some complaints online because this is in Entangled’s Bliss line and therefore all the sex scenes should be behind closed doors, but this one isn’t.  Personally I don’t care – as long as the romance is good, you can be as detailed (or not) as you want.  However I know that some people want a “clean” romance and they might be expecting something different from this line.  I know that my copy came with a disclaimer but I want to add an extra warning here just in case.)

Book Review – Debutantes Don’t Date

19 Thursday Jun 2014

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cover45815-mediumAt the stroke of midnight…

One minute Grace Lancaster is an overworked event manager organising 2013’s New Year’s Eve ball… The next she’s kissing a rather gorgeous man at the Regency themed party. Everyone’s entitled to an out-of-character New Year’s kiss, right? Except Jasper Mossman, Earl of Bingham, isn’t at a costume party – he’s a real-life gentleman from 1813…

And, it seems, kissing a man in Regency London has consequences!

What Grace considers normal behaviour scandalises Regency society and so far she’s provided the irrepressible gossips of the ton with a season’s worth of conversation! In a scramble to protect her reputation, as well as his own, Jasper insists that they marry for the sake of her honour. Marrying Mr Darcy might be a 21st century girl’s dream – but the reality is far from romantic. Corsets are uncomfortable, no running water is disastrous! Grace had always planned on falling in love before she got married, but when Jasper takes her in his arms she just might believe she’s finally found her very own Prince Charming.

I really liked the idea of a fish out of water with this time travelling romance … except we really didn’t get a lot of that.  Grace fit in a little too easily – she didn’t really struggle with the rules of society or the lack of modern amenities (two things that I think would really throw me for a loop).  Instead she makes friends, lands a fiance (although with quite a scandal to go along with it) and never even blinks at the way things are.  If she’d been a history buff or something, it might have worked but this seemed like a lost opportunity to me, even if it was just for a little extra humor.

If instead of time travelling she’d just been a foreigner to London, the story could have definitely worked.  I liked Grace, Jasper and their assorted friends and family.  The romance is sweet – love (or lust) at first sight that leads to an engagement, two people having to get to know each other, plus a little intrigue involving Jasper’s almost intended all combine to give readers a fun historical romance.

There are a couple of other loose ends that made the ending seem a little rushed to me – there is a character that pops up to play a big part in the story only to then disappear and the key to Grace’s time travelling is found out of the blue.  These were pretty big plot points that I don’t think were given proper attention.

So … if you take it as a historical romance Debutantes Don’t Date is wonderful.  The characters are engaging, the plot around their wedding is interesting, and I liked how their romance led to a happy ending.  It was just the parts around Grace being from the future that I’m not sure were handled as deftly as they could have been.  Overall though I definitely enjoyed it and would be happy to read more by O’Grady.

Book Review – An Accidental Affair

15 Sunday Jun 2014

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cover42908-mediumLondon’s ballrooms and bedrooms thrive on scandal and decadent pleasure and the summer of 1814 will be no exception for the Distinguished Rogues in Heather Boyd’s latest Regency romance.

Widowed beauty, Arabella Lawson, Lady Farnsworth, knows the value of independence after being trapped in a marriage that left her unfulfilled. Although she longs for a lover at last, she’s expected to chaperone her flirtatious niece during her first season. However, given the way the girl keeps disappearing every chance she gets, there is little hope of a good or speedy result. While searching for her charge yet again, she blunders into one of Lord Rothwell’s scandalous assignations. This time it’s Arabella’s turn to be on the receiving end of his hungry kisses, and she’s far from prepared to make the most of the opportunity.

 Gossip may paint Merrick Bishop, the Earl of Rothwell, as a notorious scoundrel when it comes to women, but this season his intentions are honorable. Duty bound to marry, he’s determined to discreetly court an open-minded bride and prove the gossipmongers wrong by being on his very best behavior… until in his frustration, he mistakenly kisses the wrong lady and discovers that everything about the encounter feels so very right. Merrick never once believed he had a chance with shy Arabella, and when the unthinkable happens, she turns to him not for an affair or hopes of marriage but for his friendship and protection from her own family.

Can a rogue with a reputation for breaking hearts convince a widow who only hopes for an affair that their feelings are not only the stirrings of desire but the beginnings of the deepest and truest love?

I found An Accidental Affair to be a historical romance treat – it is sweet and engaging and I could hardly put it down. There’s romantic drama and family drama and even some danger, but it’s all given in Boyd’s very deft hand so the flow makes it very easy to read.

Merrick has to be one of my favorites.  He’s a former rake but he reformed himself, he’s ready to settle down and just needs a wife.  His father’s past, mixed with his own wild oats, makes it a little harder for some to realize that he’s ready to marry. Plus he’s got some interesting skeletons in his household closet that might be a little hard for some ladies to accept.  But most importantly he’s smart and honest and caring.  He may be at odds with some of family but he’s made a life for himself that he’s very comfortable with and that he would do much to protect.  His dedication and big heart make him an appealing husband for the right woman.

Arabella is a great match for Merrick.  She too is protective and cares about people, fitting in well in Merrick’s home. Unfortunately her first marriage was not a happy one so she does not necessarily want to do it again.  Merrick’s patience though pays off.  There are some misunderstandings here and there but the characters react realistically and everything is resolved easily.

There is a bit of villainy in the story and I’m not sure how it plays into any of the other Distinguished Rogue books since this is my first, but it is tied up pretty well.   And even though I haven’t read any of the rest of the series, I don’t think I missed out on much.  There may be some cross-over, but I found An Accidental Affair to be a complete story on its own.

With An Accidental Affair, Boyd gives her readers a lovely story full of fantastic secondary characters and two addictive stars.  It’s a slow build to their HEA but it is a sweet one and I enjoyed every step of the way.