Category Archives: Book Review

Book Review – Single by Saturday

09 Thursday Jan 2014

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cover39610-mediumShe enjoyed her fake marriage…until she fell in love with her brother-in-law.

Catherine Bybee serves up excitement and dizzying romance in Single by Saturday, the sequel to Fiancé by Friday and the latest entry in her bestselling “Weekday Brides” series.

Karen Jones: The petite blonde married a Hollywood star, yet she’s the one who spends every day playing a part: the part of a happy wife. A year ago, she agreed to wed a famous actor to diffuse rumors about his personal life. Now, her divorce sits just around the corner, along with a five million dollar payout. However, as she prepares to exit her fake marriage gracefully, her drop-dead-gorgeous brother-in-law walks through the door…and into her heart.

Zach Gardner: Dark-haired, blue-eyed hunk Zach crashes Michael and Karen’s fancy one-year anniversary party, determined to meet the wife his brother hid from their family. But sparks fly the moment he and Karen see each other. When the famous couple decides to visit the whole Gardner clan, Karen must keep Michael’s secret under wraps in front of his questioning relatives…including Zach, the man who could be the real love of her life.

I think I could gobble up Bybee’s “Weekday Brides” books like candy.  I absolutely could not put this one down and finished it in a day. Unlike Fiance by Friday, this one is definitely more romance than suspense, although there is a little drama at the end that kept me (just a little) on the edge of my seat. 

We met Karen and Michael in Fiance by Friday and I was really looking forward to their story – and Bybee definitely didn’t disappoint.  Michael has got to be one of my favorite characters.  He has a big secret to keep and Karen is helping him do it.  I adore the loving, non-sexual relationship between the two and Michael definitely made me want my own gay husband.  He’s caring and funny, charming and saucy, and he’s definitely a fantastic guy to have as a best friend.  I’m really hoping that we’ll get more of his story as the “Weekday Brides” series continues, especially since it looks like his sister might show up in a future story.

Karen has her own issues.  We got to know her a little in Fiance by Friday but didn’t get a lot of the details – she had a hard childhood and now spends her time helping other kids.  She’s caring and giving and funny.  She’s built a great relationship with Michael and is just waiting for the right time to stage their breakup … and then in walks Michael’s brother, Zach.  While trying to fight her attraction for a man who doesn’t know the truth about her marriage, she realizes there is more to Michael’s family life than he lets on and decides to push him into resolving some of his issues.  This, of course, puts her well into Zach’s path but she wants the best for Michael and thinks that she can make it thru a two week family vacation unscathed.  Yeah, you know where that’s going. 

Zach is gorgeous, fun and troubled by being drawn to his sister-in-law.  He’s got his own family issues to resolve and, although they aren’t as impactful as Karen or Michael’s, the Gardner family dynamic makes for compelling reading.  Since we know the truth about Karen and Michael, it is a little easier to handle the attraction between her and Zach, but you know it has got to be a very difficult situation for him to be in.  It’s tough enough on Karen when she knows the truth, but Zach just knows that he is irresistibly drawn to his brother’s wife.  Bybee handles it very well and the interactions between the three are very realistic and emotional.  It made me love Michael all the more and I really want to see him happy and soon. 

If you’ve not read one of Bybee’s books, that’s OK – I think it would be fine to start here.  Characters from previous books do make appearances, since they are all very close friends, but from what I can tell (since this is just my second book) the plots don’t bleed over too much.  Yes, you would have met Michael and Karen before but Bybee does a good job of filling in all the details that you need. 

With bold characters, captivating stories, and a snappy writing style, I think Bybee is going to be one of my go-to authors for a long time to come. 

Book Review – The Fireside Inn

08 Wednesday Jan 2014

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cover37827-mediumThey’re single, they’re rich, and now these billionaire bachelors are heading to Sanctuary Island in a new e-original novella series from Lily Everett! Fall in love with the island’s latest catch.

When friends Leo, Zane and Cooper travel to Sanctuary Island for the wedding of fellow billionaire Miles Harrington, they’re certain their friend is making the biggest mistake of his life. Having vowed to remain perpetual bachelors, they’re certain they can bring Miles to his senses before he throws away his freedom forever. But Miles makes them a bet: if they come to Sanctuary Island to spend some time and help out with the wedding, they’ll change their tune about love before he says “I do.” Because Miles knows, better than anyone, that all it takes is a little Sanctuary Island magic to turn the biggest romantic cynic into a true believer. Now three billionaire bachelors are about to discover that sometimes you have to let go of the life you planned in order to embrace the life of your dreams…

In Fireside Inn, the Honorable Lord Leo Strathairn inherited his family’s money, his title, and his position in London society. When he meets Sanctuary Island’s funky young librarian, Serena Lightfoot, he’s determined to get a lot closer. Despite the simmering attraction between them, Serena isn’t at all interested in putting up with a pampered playboy. But as Leo ramps up his seduction attempts, Serena sees that he’s nothing like the empty-headed aristocrat she’d assumed.

This is an off-shoot of Everett’s series set on Sanctuary Island (involving Miles and his brothers) but I’ve not read any of the others and I really don’t think it is necessary.  I’m intrigued though because her writing style is very smooth and her characters are quite addictive.  But I will say that the blurb really doesn’t do the book justice.  Miles does assign each of his friends a wedding related task and there is a bet but Leo’s tale is a little more involved than it is made out to be.  He’s been assigned to pick a reading and he enlists the help of local librarian, Serena.  For years he’s hidden the fact that he can’t read and she’s his best hope to find something perfect.  Serena has been long pursued for her brain and not her body so when Leo does nothing to mask his desire for her Serena decides to go for it.  But of course, Leo can’t keep his secret forever and things get sticky very quickly.

I loved these two.  They each have their own hangups, but Everett does an amazing job of making her characters full-bodied in just a handful of pages.  Leo is deliciously handsome and charming, but also fabulously troubled due to his reading disorder.  He works hard to hide all of his insecurities behind his sexy mask but spending time with Serena and her deep love of literature definitely puts him on edge.  He does his best but you know that it’s going to slip.  Serena is also an amazingly fun character.  Her passion for her library and everything it represents jumps off the page and makes you remember why you love reading so much.  But she’s had a long history of heartache from men and as tempting as Leo is she doesn’t quite trust his desire for her (and her doubts are completely understandable once you get a feel for her past).  I loved that these two have something that can help the other but they each have to get past their own issues to see it.  The ending perfectly brought it all together.

My only complaint is that I would have loved to have seen more interactions between the two but there just weren’t enough pages.  We are given a wonderfully sweet introduction and an equally sweet resolution so they get the happy ending they deserve but there are a couple of weeks that are just glossed over.  We know that they spend that time together but I’d have liked to have been there for more of it to see them get to know each other better.

The Fireside Inn is so beautifully compelling that I am very much looking forward to seeing the other two bachelors.  We don’t get a lot of their stories here, which is fine because I wanted to see as much of Leo and Serena as I could.  I’m super excited to continue this wonderful series – coming soon look for a review of the next book Bonfire Beach, releasing next week.

Book Review – Entwined

07 Tuesday Jan 2014

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cover35014-mediumEamon Evernight has always lived in his older brother’s shadow. While his brother is fair of hair and lithe in body, Eamon sparks fear with his fiery locks and massive frame-and rumors of a mysterious power. But when his brother has the good fortune to be betrothed to a beautiful stranger, it’s Eamon’s help-and quick wit and romantic heart–that he needs. Eamon agrees to write the noble lady…a generous offer that will forever leave him a changed man.

Lady Luella Jane Moran has no interest in an arranged marriage and tries valiantly to dissuade her betrothed from afar. Though her own letters plainly state her case, the words her husband-to-be writes her leave her aching for his touch. Will Lu give in to the desire the missives have kindled within her? Or will desire turn cold when she discovers their true author?

Entwined is book 3.5 in Kristen Callihan’s “Darkest London” series.  I’ve not read any of the other books so I’m not sure how it fits in but as far as I can tell this novella can stand on its own.  There was nothing that I was confused about or felt was missing from the story, except maybe info on what happens to Eamon’s brother.  (Of course Eamon and Lu end up together so there has to be something more for Aiden.)

There is a slight supernatural element to Entwined, although based on the descriptions of the rest of the series this plays a much bigger part in those stories.  For the most part, this is a straightforward story of two people who fall in love based on a deception and the question is whether they can get past it.  I loved the early parts where the two exchange letters and reveal bits and pieces about themselves.  It’s a fun tactic to lead them to the path of romance … and potential disaster.

There were a couple of parts where I wanted to smack them both and tell them to just talk to one another but because of the secrets they carry it makes sense to act the way they do.  We know what’s going on but there is so much being kept quiet that it leads to awkwardness.  Luckily, being a short story (just under 100 pages), this doesn’t last long.

Entwined is perfect for those looking for an entertaining combination of historical, gothic, maybe even paranormal or just that slight touch of steampunk, but who really just want a love story that will give them a happy ever after at the end.

Book Review – Never Desire a Duke

03 Friday Jan 2014

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Time for another review.

*****

cover34970-mediumA Marriage Beyond Hope

Lady Sophia has long been estranged from her husband, Vane Barwick, the Duke of Claxton, whose rumored list of amorous conquests includes almost every beautiful woman of the ton. Yet a shocking encounter with him in a crowded ballroom-and a single touch-are all it takes to reawaken her furious passion for him. But how can she trust the man who crushed her dreams and took away the one thing she wanted most?

A Love Beyond Reason

Claxton has never forgiven himself for the youthful mistake that ruined his marriage to Sophia. Now, after nearly a year abroad, the reformed rogue vows to win back the only woman he’s ever truly loved. He’ll do whatever it takes to prove he can be the honorable husband she deserves-and the passionate lover she desires. As the snowdrifts deepen outside their ancestral home, can they rekindle the flame that burned so bright and find a new path to forever?

This is another one of those times when I think the blurb doesn’t quite give a good feeling for what the book is about – yes, Sophia and Vane have been estranged but it’s been less than a year and yes, his amorous history is part of their problem but it wasn’t really what broke them. Here’s my take – Sophia accidentally opens a letter to her husband that made it seem like he was cheating on her, she freaks out and, while rushing out of the house, slips on some ice and falls, causing a miscarriage. Both are heartbroken and instead of drawing closer in their grief, they pull apart and now there is such a distance between them that they may not be able to ever repair their marriage. They do get snowed in and the forced togetherness causes them to have to deal with their past and the possibility of a future together.

I’m not usually a fan of stories where people let their pride, misunderstandings and miscommunications to drag out their reconciliation but I think Dalton does a pretty good job. There are reasons for each of them to feel the way they do but both are too pig-headed (and scared) to work it out quickly and easily. Their journey back together is a good one and I found myself rooting for them to get it all straightened out. It was enjoyable getting to know both Vane and Sophia, and the secrets about why Vane is the way he is were intriguing. Dalton had me glued to the pages as Sophia got to know her husband all over again.

Never Desire a Duke is the first in the “One Scandalous Season” series, following Sophia and her sisters (and hopefully Vane’s brother, his cousin and Sophia’s friend Fox), and I’ll be keeping an eye out for the rest.

Book Review – Snowbound with the CEO

02 Thursday Jan 2014

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Review time!

*****

cover36159-mediumAdrian Blackstone built a million-dollar business with hard work and determination—and by remaining professional at all times. Denying his longtime attraction to his beautiful executive assistant hasn’t been easy but it’s necessary. She’s indispensable, and he can’t stand the thought of losing her if things didn’t work out.

For more than a year, Rachel Carter has been quietly dreaming of all the ways she’ll never seduce her sexy, buttoned-up boss. She’s worked too hard to get where she is to cross that line, no matter how badly she’d like to act on her fantasies. But then a wicked snowstorm leaves them stranded in a romantic winter wonderland…

What begins as a single kiss and a few bad Santa jokes turns into a weekend full of breathless passion and hopes for something more. But with Monday comes a return to their complicated reality—and Adrian must prove that promises made are promises kept, especially at Christmastime.

Snowbound with the CEO is a delightful look at what happens when you mix business and pleasure. Even though it is a novella it manages to fit in a heartwarming story in a small holiday package. Adrian and Rachel are fantastic together – they have great chemistry and make a witty, charming couple. I loved seeing them finally give in to their desires and act on their attraction, and Stacey does a fantastic job of making it believable and realistic.

Then the weekend is over. Misunderstandings and miscommunications abound (of course), but Stacey brings it all back together beautifully. Part of me thinks that with their working relationship being so important to each of them, plus how organized and intelligent they both are, there would have been some kind of conversation about what happens next. But then I realize that when the heart’s involved the brain often goes on vacation. They both are more involved than they imagined they would be at the beginning of the weekend and neither wants to take the chance on ruining everything.

For a sweet look at two people who have to decide if they are willing to risk it all for a weekend of passion (with a twist on the sexy secretary fantasy thrown in to make it fun), Snowbound with the CEO is a must read for a snowy winter night. You’ll be wishing you were snowbound with Adrian too.

Book Review – Ashes

01 Wednesday Jan 2014

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As promised, here’s my review of Ashes. 

*****

07ab7-ashes-cover-500Accidents happen for a reason…

Journalist Ambrosia Pellerin accepts an assignment involving the legendary phoenix, expecting, if nothing else, a little entertainment. Instead, she winds up pregnant—by a surprisingly human-looking firebird, Reece Bennu.

As the Phoenix prince, Reece is next in line to the throne and expected to marry a purebred royal. A common human such as Ambrosia is not in the cards. He swears, though, he’ll never be an absentee father.

As Ambrosia’s due date grows closer, so do the soon-to-be parents. But will their tentative love survive the prejudice of Reece’s grandmother, who will stop at nothing to tear the two apart?

I really enjoyed getting to know Reece and the world that he inhabits, plus meeting Ambrosia and following along as she gets to know his world too. Gilman does a great job of giving her readers something that will appeal to a large audience – you’ve got an accidental pregnancy between strangers, a rich and powerful family that doesn’t approve of their relationship, and then the supernatural world of phoenixes. It’s one that you need to be ok with the paranormal part to be able to truly enjoy it but the nice thing is that at its heart there is a more basic story too. It’s not all about the woo-woo world they live in, it also about two people falling in love and facing a choice of whether what they could have is worth fighting for.

Lovers of paranormal romances will find this a definitely treat. Phoenixes, people … that’s a new one for me, but I’m digging it. We’ve seen a lot of vampires and shape shifters but it is also fun to have something different and creatures that live among us undetected, who are hard to kill and have long lives but with definite weaknesses … the possibilities for stories are endless and there are some open ended threads in this one that hint at more (not gaping holes, but there are possibilities for on-going story lines).  I’m excited to see what else Gilman comes up with.

Book Review – Conveniently His Princess

29 Sunday Dec 2013

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Book review time!

*****

cover32437-mediumOnly one thing stands between Aram Nazaryan and the high-powered position he craves: the proper wife. Although this billionaire would do anything to return to Zohayd, the desert kingdom he considers home, marrying Princess Kanza Aal Ajmaan is too high a price to pay. Or so he thinks—until he meets Kanza…and she turns his world upside down.

After claiming Kanza as his princess, everything falls into place. But then she learns the truth. She may have married for love, but his vows are tainted by ambition. Will doubt, betrayal and mistrust end this too-convenient union?

I think these romances with middle eastern heroes aren’t going to be for everyone – the men tend to have very specific ideas and are more dominant than some romances – but they are very popular with some.  Personally, I liked it, so if you are into this kind of thing this is definitely a good choice.  It is part of a series, so there are returning characters, but they play a small enough role that you can read this one as a stand alone novel.

And being a Harlequin Desire book, some of the prose tended to be a little more flowery than maybe some other romance novels – the hero and heroine make statements that some may find cheesy – but the plot was very interesting and I was quite satisfied with the resolution.  Some of the sex scenes were a little florid too, but hot at the same time.  Just prepare yourself for a more colorful writing style and you’ll be ok.  The story is definitely worth reading as long as you are OK with the tone.

Book Review – Fighting Love

26 Thursday Dec 2013

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We’ve seen a sneak peek of this one before here, but check out what I thought of it with my new review.

*****

cover40270-medium

Talk about kicking a fighter while he’s down.

Former Middleweight champion and confirmed bachelor Tommy “Lightning” Sparks has lost it all: his belt, his career, and now his home. After the devastating fire, he moves in with his drama-free best friend, Julie. One encounter changes everything and Julie is no longer the girl he’s spent his life protecting but a desirable woman he wants to take to his bed. Knowing his reputation, he’s determined to protect Julie more than ever—from himself.

Veterinarian Julie Rogers has been in love with Tommy since she was ten, but would love to get over the man. She’s quiet nights at home and a glass of wine. He’s clubbing all night and shots of tequila. As friends they work great. As a couple? No way in hell. She just can’t get her heart to agree. When she starts spending time with another fighter, the man who’s always treated her like a sister is suddenly not being very brotherly and enflames her body like never before.

Can two childhood friends make a relationship work, or will they lose everything because they stopped FIGHTING LOVE.

I loved LOVED loved Niles’s Extreme Love and I was very excited to hear that another “Love to the Extreme” novel was coming out … and Fighting Love didn’t disappoint.  I laughed through a good portion of it and the ending brought tears to my eyes – and being able to elicit that much of a reaction definitely makes it a winner in my book.

If you’ve read Extreme Love, you’ll remember Tommy and his best friend, Julie.  Her feelings for him were pointed out, as well as the fact that he was very clueless.  But life’s thrown him a few curves and it’s going to throw him one more when suddenly the two are facing mutual feelings of a non-sibling variety.  All of the delicious trouble that could come out of this kind of situation is there in Niles’s latest, and she delivers them with a beautifully deft hand.

In Extreme Love Niles gave readers a very Alpha male hero – one that I knew not everyone was going to like – but both Caitlyn and Dante appealed to me and she made them almost leap off the page.  With Fighting Love she once again delivers.  Her characters are absolutely engrossing – they come alive in amazing Technicolor glory, full of life and confusion, complication and hope.  From the first page I felt every up and down as Tommy and Julie felt them.  And, though very much a fighter (both in the cage and in life), Tommy isn’t quite the overt Alpha that Dante was, so I think that this one will appeal to a larger audience.  (And the nice thing is you definitely don’t have to have read Extreme Love to be able to enjoy it.)  But Niles didn’t skimp on the hot-factor, so prepare yourself for another scorcher.

And I’m all over the fact that she’s hinting at two upcoming heroes (Mac and Brody) so I’ll be anxiously waiting for their stories to make an appearance.  Niles has definitely made a lifelong fan of me – her characters are just so compelling, her stories are fast-paced and well-developed, and her writing style is very addictive.  I get giddy just knowing that she’s got something new coming out.

Book Review – Candlelight Christmas

24 Tuesday Dec 2013

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For Christmas Eve, I want to share a wonderful holiday read.  Check out my latest review.

*****

cover33731-medium

A single father who yearns to be a family man, Logan O’Donnell is determined to create the perfect Christmas for his son, Charlie. The entire O’Donnell clan arrives to spend the holidays in Avalon, a postcard-pretty town on the shores of Willow Lake, a place for the family to reconnect and rediscover the special gifts of the season.

One of the guests is a newcomer to Willow Lake—Darcy Fitzgerald. Sharp-witted, independent and intent on guarding her heart, she’s the last person Logan can see himself falling for. And Darcy is convinced that a relationship is the last thing she needs this Christmas.

Yet between the snowy silence of the winter woods, and toasty moments by a crackling fire, their two lonely hearts collide. The magic of the season brings them each a gift neither ever expected—a love to last a lifetime.

When I first discovered Susan Wiggs, I went through her “The Lakeshore Chronicles” series like it was candy.  I just couldn’t put them down and went straight from one to another until I ran out of released books.  That was shortly before Marrying Daisy Bellamy came out, which is the story of Logan’s ex … and I just couldn’t do it anymore.  I started the book and I think that it just broke my heart.  I felt so badly for Logan, who wanted to make a family so much, and I just couldn’t see it to the end – not that there is anything wrong with the book, both Julius and Daisy are fantastic.  I just loved Logan so much, all of the difficulties he’d faced and how he wanted to make things work out, that it was hard for me to get through … which is a wordy way of telling you why I was BEYOND THRILLED to see this book come out.

Logan started out as such a messed up kid, a lot of pressure from his dad and a substance abuse problem led him to be a wild child … then he knocked up Daisy Bellamy.  Once he decided to turn his life around, he did it whole-heartedly and he has definitely grown into a fantastic man and a wonderful father.  I love seeing him with Charlie.  They have a relaxed and hilarious relationship but Logan still knows how to be the grown-up.  In Logan, Wiggs has given her readers a man who they can identify with – one who is flawed but strives to do the best he can.  He’ll find a way into your heart and make himself at home.

Darcy is new but she’s just as much fun.  Her love of life got a little crumpled after her divorce but she’s starting to get it back … and spending time with Logan and his family helps even more.  I love these two together – they are fun, funny and I fell in love right along with them.

But the best part of any Wiggs book is that it isn’t just a romance.  It is as much about the people around them, their friends and families, as it is about the couple.  They aren’t perfect but they are definitely appealing and I had a great time getting to know new people and catching up with old friends.  If you’ve never read one of “The Lakeshore Chronicles” books, you can definitely start right here (and those that have already picked up the book so they know what I’m saying).  You’ll meet some of the characters from the previous stories (more than just Logan’s family) but you don’t have to know their history.  At most, you’ll be tempted to start at the beginning and work your way through them all.  I know I’m adding those two books I missed to my To Be Read file, because now that Logan finds his happy ending, I think I’ll be able to make it to the end.

Candlelight Christmas is the perfect choice for a holiday read, or any time of year.  It’s an addictive, feel-good, happy-ending, give-you-the-warm-and-fuzzys story that should not be missed.

Book Review – Color Me Bad

23 Monday Dec 2013

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I’m going to share with everyone a short novella that you’ll want to pick up in preparation for Sharon Sala’s upcoming book, Curl Up & Dye.  It promises to be quirky, fun and sweet. But first let’s look at Color Me Bad.

cover34555-mediumAn original short story by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Sharon Sala links to her full-length contemporary women’s fiction novel, The Curl Up and Dye.

The novella centers around the four women who run the Curl Up and Dye hair salon and their relationships with the quirky customers of small-town Blessings, Georgia. Their meddlesome efforts at match-making run awry, but there’s always another makeover just around the corner.

This is a fun introduction to the world Sala has created in Blessings, Georgia – it is entertaining and definitely whets the appetite for Curl Up and Dye, coming out in February. It’s got all of the spunk and spice you’d expect from small-town Southern women, with their smiles and Bless You’s covering heartbreak and troubles.  Their humorous antics made me laugh, while I hurt for them at the same time.

Come join me in getting to know the fabulous citizens of Blessings and don’t be surprised if you find yourself anxious to visit again.