Category Archives: Book Review

Guest Post – Unleashed Under the Mistletoe

03 Tuesday Dec 2013

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This morning we get to visit with Isabel Winsor, author of the OH-SO-HOT Unleashed Under the Mistletoe.  And make sure you enter her contest to win your own copy of this sexy read.

*****

Romance Novels As Random Acts of Kindness

By Isabel Winsor

“Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no end.”  -Scott Adams, creator of Dilbert

You have to be a little crazy to write romance novels. We live in a world that at minimum ridicules “those silly women’s romance books,” but at the worst, assassinates an artist like John Lennon for singing, “all you need is Love.”

But when I read about teenage boys playing the “knock out” game on innocent people walking down the street, or studies that report couples are having less sex under the pressures of jobs and finances, I think, “Damn it, we need more love in this world!” What better way to deliver it straight into the hands of perfect, wonderful strangers than a romance novel?

I began reading romance novels in my second year in college, when I was suffering under the weight of a pre-med degree and a busted up relationship. My friend lent me Captivated by Nora Roberts and it was like finding a one-hundred dollar bill in the street … but better! Maybe it was the fearlessness of its heroine, Morgana Donovan, or Nora’s lyrical but earthy voice, but soon after I began a steady reading diet of her books, on February 10, 1994 I realized my destiny wasn’t medical school. My destiny was to write books like Nora’s that made people feel good. I’ve withstood many eye rolls from those who think romance are beneath them. But the delight of a romance reader is worth tenfold!

Remember last December when Starbucks’ customers were buying coffees for the person behind them in line? All it took was one person who was brave enough to withstand disbelief and surprise to make that first offer. The “paying it backward” phenomena started somewhere in Maryland and personally, all the way in Yorba Linda, California I happened to pull into a Starbucks drive-thru window to be told, “The guy in front of you bought your coffee. What would you like?”

After I got over the surprise, it reminded me of how I felt when I read that first Nora Roberts’ novel. So when I think of readers who find my book on Amazon and take a chance on a new erotic romance author by downloading it, I hope they feel, at the very least, that the characters and story take them to a beautiful place where bravery and love prevail. Maybe when they get to the end, they will speak a bit kinder or look with more love on the people who cross their path. Ultimately that’s we romance writers do: we remind each other that all we need is love and love is all we need.

Oh and yes, I bought a latte for the mini van driver behind me.

 *****

coversmallUnleashed Under the Mistletoe

by Isabel Winsor

Blurb:

The pretty girls never say yes to a guy like him.

But when Leo overhears the ladies in the office laughing at him behind his back, he does the unthinkable: he accepts a mysterious invitation to a secret group known as The Grove.

Thinking he’s at an exclusive holiday business party, Leo is shocked when leather clad beauties order the guests to strip!

The moment Evie lays eyes on Leo, she’s drawn by his dark, exotic good looks. Once she gets his clothes off and sees him for the shy but sexy guy he is, she’s tempted to shed her Domina persona.

Can an office geek wake up and see that this free-spirited woman might want more than to tie him up and make him beg

Savor your first taste of the Pleasure Grove.

Buy Links

Amazon Buy Link: http://amzn.to/1ahXdni  (Available exclusively as a Kindle Select)

*****

Excerpt:

“We will begin in fifteen minutes, Leo,” Boyd said, sliding open the double pocket doors to a large, two-level room. A wall of narrow, wood-framed windows overlooked the tops of cypress trees and the restless silvery ocean.

“It is a pleasure to have you here,” he said and then walked off.

Leo couldn’t help but gawk at the authentic Arts & Crafts architecture and wood work. His attention snagged on one woman who licked her crimson lips as if she could taste him from where she stood. Leo self consciously ran his hand down the front of his pin-striped vest. She whispered to the man standing beside her. He glanced at Leo. A seductive grin lit his face.

He, the bartender and the couple were the only people in the room.

Leo nodded to the couple and went to the bar for liquid courage. He wished he had a date to bring to this thing. It would be another holiday season during which he made the rounds of parties solo; another New Years without someone to kiss.

“Will this be acceptable, sir?”said the bartender as he presented the bottle of 2002 Hourglass Cabernet. Leo tried to keep his mouth from dropping open. The last he checked, it was more than $100 a bottle.

“Yes, thank you.”

“Of course.”

He poured just enough for Leo to taste. This Cab would have knocked Bacchus on his ass. When Leo nodded, the bartender expertly poured and then wished him a good evening.

Leo should socialize, make some valuable connections; or at the very least, find out what this whole Grove thing was about. But the purring ocean lured him to the open windows. He hoped for the chance to explore the house. He’d seen it peeking through the trees when he jogged up and down Scenic Drive.

Chimes sounded in the room, cutting off the murmur of conversation. The bartenders and servers stopped what they were doing and filed out through a side door. Leo turned back to the crowd for some clue as to what would happen next. The doors opened and in marched two men, both dressed in black leather.

The long-haired Latin lover type strode up to the woman and tipped up her chin with a riding crop. Leo thought he was going to hit her but instead he did something even crazier and ripped her dress down to reveal her tea cup breasts.

He should put a stop to this. But the muscular Asian man boldly kissed the other man.

Leo turned, his instincts screaming to bolt for the door and fast. But then he saw her and all thoughts of escape vanished.

She stood in the center of the room, her brown hair curling down her back. Her innocent white dress was embroidered in the Mexican style with pink and red roses. Her arms and legs were lean and tan; feet bare and toes unpainted.

Raw need poured through Leo, filling in the hollow corners that had been carved open by too many failures with women. He couldn’t pull his eyes away from the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen in real life. Experience taught him woman like her would never notice a guy like him. She watched the kinky goings-on with the calm gaze of a lioness.

“Good evening,” she called out, her low, honey-toned voice sent shivers up his spine. “I see you have things in hand.”

Leo’s heart thundered and sweat beaded down his back. What the hell was this? He felt someone staring at him and pulled his gaze from her to find the Asian man’s dark eyes flick from Leo to the woman in white and then back; sizing him up as if he questioned Leo’s right to be here.

Leo couldn’t make himself move. This wasn’t real. He must have crashed his bike somewhere on the winding, bumpy streets of Carmel. In reality, he was probably splattered on the sidewalk as his mother and sisters had warned. All of this was happening in his coma-ridden head.

“You must be our third initiate,” she said.

Her brown eyes, slightly tilted at the corners stared into his, probably seeing his thoughts scrambling around in panic. His mouth hung open. But hell, it wasn’t every day a woman more beautiful than a Victoria’s Secret model stood before him.

But she was and she was talking to him.

“I-” He choked on his suddenly dry throat. “I what?”

“Do you have a red or black envelope?”

“Black.”

He breathed in the honey and vanilla smell of her. She wore no make-up. That voice coming from those full pink lips, made his nerves scream.

“Then you need to undress.” Her eyes travelled down to the uncomfortable bulge behind his zipper.

“But-”

“Or not. It’s entirely up to you.”

His mouth opened but no sound came out.

“You were invited for a reason. It’s your choice to stay or to leave,” she said, her gaze flicking back up to lock onto his. “But you need to make it now.”

*****

Author Information:

Website: www.IsabelWinsor.com

Blog: http://isabelwinsor.wordpress.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/IsabelWinsor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/isabelwinsorauthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7360521.Isabel_Winsor

*****

I have to say that this is quite a steamy, hard-to-put-down book.  The writing was smooth and flowed nicely, and I really liked both Evie and Leo.  I found them to be engaging, with their own insecurities and strengths, and I really liked the way they interacted together.  My only complaint is that we didn’t get to be a part of how they come to terms with her history and the way they met.  It’s a big deal for him and could easily be the breaking point for their relationship, but it happens off-page.  I’d have liked to have heard more of her past and how they plan on moving forward.

If you are looking for a story that will heat you up on a cold winter night, Unleashed Under the Mistletoe is definitely it.  With interesting characters and burn-up-the-sheets sexiness, it’ll keep the pages turning.

*****

Giveaway:

Isabel is giving away five copies of Unleashed Under the Mistletoe, enter here –

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/84db5127/

Book Review – His for Christmas

01 Sunday Dec 2013

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New review is now up.

*****

cover34976-medium

Lady Amelia Witherspoon simply must get home to her beloved family on Christmas Eve. So when a terrible storm threatens to leave her snowbound, she refuses to admit defeat-even if that means sharing a carriage with Evan Cameron, the last man she ever hoped to see . . .

Evan can’t fathom why his oldest friend is as icy to him as the winter wind. All he does know is that Amelia is still the loveliest, most tempting woman he’s ever laid eyes on. Their only option is to take refuge together at a nearby inn, sharing the one remaining room. Evan promises to be a gentleman . . . but it’s a promise neither of them wants him to keep.

I found His For Christmas to be super sweet and a wonderful choice for getting into the holiday spirit.  It’s got a lot of my favorite romance elements:  Christmas (perfect for a love story), childhood friends, and a misunderstanding.  I’ll add that last one with a caveat – I think that writers have to be very careful with stories containing misunderstandings as a major plot point.  There is a chance they can err on either end, being too heavy handed or too simplistic, so that it isn’t believable.  But with this one, Haymore does a wonderful job of creating believable troubles between them – readers can easily understand how it might happen and cause such havoc – and she handles the resolution with the same amount of care and heart.

The characters are well-developed (especially for a novella) and the writing is crisp, which makes for a fast and easy read.  And even if you aren’t very big on historical romances, you’ll still find something to love about these two.  There isn’t a lot of Lord-this and Lady-that, mostly it is just about two people having to come to terms with a past confusion, that caused a lot of hurt, and figure out if they can move forward together.

Book Review – Single Dad’s Christmas Miracle

28 Thursday Nov 2013

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Time for a new book review.

*****

cover33906-mediumSingle Dad’s Christmas Miracle

by Susan Meier

He needs a helping hand…

Having recently lost his wife, Clark Beaumont is trying to make it through the holidays for the sake of his kids. But with his son failing at school and his little girl talking only in whispers, he needs nothing short of a miracle.…

…when one arrives on his doorstep!

Althea Johnson is only meant to tutor Clark’s son. But with her help the Beaumont family begins to come alive again, and against the odds Althea hopes that when Christmas morning arrives there will be four stockings hanging over the fireplace.…

Both Clark and Althea have troubled pasts and need a little help learning to move on.  Clark is devastated by the death of his wife …. and all of the secrets she left behind.  To cope he’s holding on to his children a little too hard and it’s manifesting itself in their behavior.  He has to figure out how to let it all go or he’ll be stuck forever and maybe even lose out on a close relationship with his kids. 

Althea had a horrible childhood and she’s trying her best to find a way to lead a normal life …. but she doesn’t know what a normal relationship or family looks like and as much as she wants that with Clark and his kids, it is tough.  She has to reconcile what her father did to her with her wants for a future or she’ll never be free.

There are some tough issues addressed in this book and the two have to make difficult choices.  The family starts to change pretty quickly but I think mostly because they’ve never opened up to someone new before.  And once that starts it quickly leads to healing and forgiveness. 

Single Dad’s Christmas Miracle is a sweet story about letting go of the past and looking to the future.  It’s a lovely feel good story that is perfect for the holiday season. 

Book Review – Up To The Challenge

27 Wednesday Nov 2013

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New review and check out the review for the first book in the series here.

*****

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When the Dempsey patriarch suffers a heart attack, Lucas Dempsey steps up to keep the doors of the family restaurant open. The proverbial prodigal son returns home to Anchor Island—putting family first and his quest to make partner at his high-powered law firm on hold. Sporting a bruised ego after losing his fiancée to his older brother, Lucas would rather walk on glass than spend six weeks within spitting distance of the happy couple. But family duty calls. And that duty includes working side-by-side with a tantalizing spitfire intent on driving him mad.

Tough-as-nails boat mechanic Sid Navarro is happy to trade her tools for an apron to help the Dempseys in their time of need. That is, until she realizes she’ll be working alongside Lucas, the man she’s loved from afar since she first laid eyes on him in high school. Lucas could charm the paint off a schooner, but Sid knows she doesn’t fit his girl-next-door type. To show her true feelings would mean certain heartbreak, but the temptation of Lucas in her bed might be more than she can resist.

After a rocky start punctuated by verbal barbs and exasperating arguments, things heat up between them—big-time—but their steamy affair turns more than casual in a matter of weeks. Sid’s life has become the dream she’s always wanted, and Lucas has fallen hard for the last woman he ever expected to love.

But this affair has an end-date, as Lucas must return to his life and career in the big city, a place where Sid would never fit in. When the end comes earlier than expected, walking away turns out to be a challenge neither of them wants to win.

I read the first “Anchor Island” novel, Meant To Be, earlier this year and liked it a lot more than I expected to.  I couldn’t figure out how Osburn was going to make it ok that a woman fell in love with her fiance’s brother, but she did …. And now we get the fiancé’s story.

Both Lucas and Sid appeared, and played a big part, in Meant To Be.  Sid works with Joe (Lucas’s brother) and reluctantly became good friends with Beth (Lucas’s fiancé), a very stressful thing for her since she’s loved Lucas for a decade.  Now thrown into close proximity to Lucas and his very bruised ego, Sid finds it hard to ignore the attraction.  Lucas, though, in typical male fashion is completely clueless to her long-standing feelings but he isn’t so clueless to his own attraction to Sid.  She may not be the type of woman that he usually goes for, but he quickly finds himself drawn to her high energy and can-do spirit.  And even though she may be rough around the edges, her soft curves are hard to miss.

Although a story about both Sid and Lucas, for Sid the book is mostly about her deciding if she can do casual with Lucas since he’s been very vocal about his stay being short-term.  Instead the focus is really on Lucas as he looks at himself, his life and his goals after being dumped by Beth.  All those years ago, he couldn’t wait to get off Anchor Island and has worked very hard to become partner in his law firm.  We’re along for the ride as he tries to decide if what’s he’s always thought he wanted is really what he needs … and as he falls head over heels for a woman who doesn’t fit into that life.

I definitely think that Sid and Lucas are one of my favorite couples of all time.  He hides a fun-loving guy underneath a starched shirt and she’s unknowingly got The Sexy under grease stained denim.  Together they discover a happiness they didn’t imagine they could have, but it quickly gets smothered as they are led by their heads and not their hearts.  You know that Lucas is going to end up staying and becoming the island’s lawyer, but it is still fun to sit back and watch him fight it as long as he does.

With Up To The Challenge, once again Osburn brings readers a touching story and engaging characters in a funny, sassy, touch-your-heart romance that will have you cuddling up and reading long into the night.

Blog Tour – Underneath It All

25 Monday Nov 2013

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I’m so excited for this one.  Not only do we welcome Cassandra Carr and two of her newest creations, Rob D’Amico and Alaina Rossa from Underneath It All but I was lucky enough to get an early copy and my review can be found below.

But first, take it away, Cassandra!

*****

Cassandra: Creations. Huh. I like it.

Rob: Well, we are your creations. Unless we just suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

Alaina: *smacking Rob* Be nice.

Rob: Ow! Careful with the shoulder!

Alaina: *snort*

Cassandra: *shaking her head and smiling* I guess creations is a good word for it. So Rob, tell us what you thought the first time you laid eyes on your lovely lady.

Rob: I thought she had a stick up her-Ow!

Cassandra: I don’t think you want to finish that sentence, bud. You keep talking and you’re gonna end up with a bruise.

Rob: She’s MEAN.

Alaina: I can keep sixteen five-year-olds in line, hon. You’re no match for me.

Rob: *muttering*

Cassandra: Let’s turn the tables. What did you think of Rob?

Rob: Yeah, hon. What did you think about me?

Alaina: I thought he was a typical entitled athlete. And really hot.

Rob: Boy, I bet that last part really ticked you off, didn’t it?

Alaina: To no end. I didn’t want to like you.

Rob: I’m irresistible.

Alaina: Modest, too.

Cassandra: Has your opinion of athletes changed since getting to know Rob?

Alaina: It’s done a 180. I don’t know if athletes in other sports are like this, but hockey players are some of the nicest, most generous people I’ve ever met.

Rob: Best-looking, too.

Alaina: When you have your teeth in, yes.

Rob: Hey, I have all my teeth.

Alaina: You do, but some of your teammates do not. *shudder*

Rob: With a lot of their faces, that’s an improvement.

Cassandra: You’re on a roll today.

Rob: You made me funny. So I’m being funny.

Cassandra: There is that…

Alaina: Don’t forget modest.

Rob: I am the very picture of modest.

Cassandra and Alaina: Right…

Cassandra: On that note, we’ll let these two crazy kids go so they can plan their next fundraiser for school supplies.

Rob: Bye!

Alaina: Thanks for having us.

Cassandra: Yes, thanks!

*****

Underneath-It-All-FINAL-COVER-200x300UNDERNEATH IT ALL

by Cassandra Carr

Blurb:

Professional hockey player Rob D’Amico is confused when he’s chosen to take part in a reading program for inner-city students. While athletes are role models, he tends toward the gregarious and playful side, rather than a studious bent.

Despite the lack of funding plaguing her inner-city district, every day kindergarten teacher Alaina Rossa ensures her students learn something to prepare them for life. At first she’s unsure how a hockey player will help her achieve that goal.

When Rob visits Alaina’s class for the first time, they welcome him with open arms, despite the lack of even the basic supplies for their education. He takes it upon himself to get the students what they need, sweeping Alaina up in the excitement.

As time goes by and she learns more about Rob, Alaina finds her heart opening to him. Is it possible her soul mate could be found in a world so different from her own? And for Rob, the last person he thought he’d find forever love with was an elementary school teacher wearing clothes permanently stained with finger paint. But when you’re playing for keeps, sometimes you have to get a little dirty.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G4C4AEA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00G4C4AEA&linkCode=as2&tag=amanshubpwebs-20

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Underneath-It-All-Storm-Series-ebook/dp/B00G4C4AEA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382545895&sr=8-1&keywords=underneath+it+all+carr

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/370148

*****

Author Bio:

Cassandra Carr is a multi-award winning erotic romance writer with Ellora’s Cave, Sybarite Seductions/Twenty or Less Press, Decadent Publishing, Siren Publishing, and Loose Id. She lives in Western New York with her husband, Inspiration, and her daughter, Too Cute for Words. When not writing she enjoys watching hockey and hanging out online. Cassandra is the co-founder of two successful group blogs, Romancing the Jock and Dirty Birdies, and participates in several others as a contributor. Currently Cassandra also serves as president of Western New York Romance Writers.

For more information about Cassandra, check out her website at http://www. booksbycassandracarr.com, “like” her Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/ AuthorCassandraCarr or follow her on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ Cassandra_Carr.

Links:

Website: http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorCassandraCarr
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cassandra_carr
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/booksbycasscarr/

 *****

Review:

I enjoyed this one, but it’s not quite what I’m used to … there was almost no conflict in the story – one smallish argument and that’s it.  There was some opportunity for more problems with the differences in their lifestyles – he’s a professional hockey player with the corresponding large salary and she’s a teacher in a very poor school district – but that didn’t really go anywhere, just that one little tiff.  There were no jealous exes or misunderstandings with puck bunnies.  No real issue with the fact that she’s just a normal person dating a hottie athlete.  Even his career didn’t really cause any trouble. 

It is a nice, sweet story about two people who meet, start to date, raise money for charity, have a little trouble at work, and go about the business of falling in love.  I’m not really complaining, it is just different … and considering how much I do complain about some books with their unending strife, perhaps that’s a very good thing. 

So, if you’re looking for a glimpse into the Happy Ever After of two realistic and engaging characters, without a lot of tension or soap opera-y drama, then Underneath It All is the book for you. 

*****

Tour Schedule:

11/14:  Spotlight – Erzabet’s Enchantments

11/15:  Spotlight – Books to Get Lost In

11/18:  Spotlight – lovetoreadforfun.com

11/19:  Interview – Diane’s Book Blog

11/20:  Spotlight – A Passion for Romance

11/22:  Spotlight – Becky on Books

11/22:  Spotlight – Inner Goddess Forum

11/23:  Spotlight or Interview – You Gotta Read Reviews

11/25:  Character Interview/Review – Romantic Reads and Such

11/26:  Interview – Lusty Penguin Reviews

11/27:  Spotlight – Ever After Romance

Book Review – The Bridesmaid

20 Wednesday Nov 2013

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New review is now up.

*****

cover32263-medium

In a twist on Planes, Trains and Automobiles, two strangers—Kate’s en route to be a bridesmaid, Joe’s en route to a life-altering job interview—battle a storm, a transportation strike, and each other in a cross-country race to make it to the wedding on time.

I have to say that I think Julia London is one of my favorite authors.  It doesn’t matter if it is contemporary or historical, her books always leave me smiling (although she does break my heart a little first sometimes).  And The Bridesmaid is no different.  It’s funny, charming, entertaining, quirky, cute, sexy …. I could go on and on but I won’t.

Kate and Joe are fantastic together and London makes their falling in love in a span of just a couple of days believable and touching.  As a novella it isn’t very long, about 100 pages, and I breezed right through it (mostly because I couldn’t put it down).  I laughed and sighed and grinned like an idiot.  It picked me up, dropped me a bit and then ended with a wonderful happy ever after.

If you’ve never read one of London’s books then The Bridesmaid is a great place to start.  It’s short, sweet, and wonderfully captures the sassy and loving nature of London’s writing.  But don’t blame me if you have to go out and pick up a bunch more to read right away.

Book Review – Play by Play

19 Tuesday Nov 2013

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New review is now up.

*****

cover36051-mediumFormer college football star Jake Dublin’s wildly popular sports blog also details his personal life. And lately it’s all about Sophie, the pretty young woman who just moved into his apartment building. His readers know her only as “Elevator Girl,” and they’re all rooting for Jake to score.

The blog posts and banter with his followers are all in good fun, and he fully intends to come clean with the woman he’s wooing and wowing. That is, until she confides that she grew up in a house full of jocks and even dated a few. Her verdict? Never again!

Jake knows he needs to confess. But somewhere along the line he fell in love with Sophie and can’t stand the thought of losing her. So he procrastinates, and blogs, and digs himself deeper into a hole, until it all leads to a showdown that’s so nail-biting, not even the best play-by-play guy could ever have seen it coming.

I absolutely love these novella love stories – you spend a couple of hours and end up feeling all warm & fuzzy – and Play by Play is no different.  It may be short and sweet but it packs a lot of romantic fun into 50 or so pages.  Even though you can see the trouble coming from the first chapter, it is still amusing to see Jake get himself into a pickle and then try to get himself out of it.  It’s got a cute premise with part of the story being told as entries and comments on Jake’s blog and of course that causes some of his problems … but like any good love story it all works out in the end.

Donovan has an engaging writing style and her characters pull you in right away.  She manages to give readers a good understanding of her characters and their motivation in just the few pages she has.  Granted it might be a little too predictable for some, but considering it is a short book I think she does a fantastic job of telling a complete and entertaining love story.  I found myself laughing and cringing and turning pages as fast as I could, and then closed the book (well, turned off my e-reader) with a little giggle.  I’m definitely looking forward to more stories in the Playmakers series and I hope they are all as engrossing, with that little inventive twist thrown in.

Book Review – Christmas on 4th Street

15 Friday Nov 2013

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New review now up.

*****

cover33271-medium

Noelle Perkins just got a second chance at life, and she intends to make the most of every minute. That’s why she ditched a frustrating legal career to open her own store in Fool’s Gold, California. The Christmas Attic celebrates everything that’s magical about her favorite season. Business is booming, and as a bonus, gorgeous army doctor Gabriel Boylan has offered to help out during the holiday rush.

Gabriel’s memories of Christmas past contain more sour grapes than sugar plums, thanks to a drill sergeant father who ran his home like a boot camp. Spending the holidays with his family while he recuperates from injury sounds as appetizing as last year’s eggnog. Still, there are some enjoyable distractions in town, including sunny, sexy Noelle…and the red-hot mistletoe kisses they can’t stop sharing.

Gabriel didn’t think he was made for happily-ever-afters. But when fate hands you a love as sweet and surprising as this, only a fool could refuse….

As much as I love Susan Mallery’s books, I put off reading this one.  I just didn’t think I was up for another story about a commitment-phobic guy running away and then coming back to beg for forgiveness … but I should have had more faith in Mallery’s immense skill as a writer.  And I definitely should have remembered that she has never steered me wrong before.  Christmas on 4th Street is just as heartwarming, quirky and romantic as any of the Fool’s Gold books that have come before it.  It’s full of witty banter and smoldering moments, tenderness and laughter.

Noelle is strong and sweet and positive.  She’s had a rough few years but she’s come out the other side with the knowledge that you have to enjoy every minute of the time you are given. Then she meets the attractive, brooding, but oh-so-charming Gabriel.  As an army trauma doctor in the Middle East, Gabriel has seen horrible things happen to people.  For years, he’s dealt with a lot of uncertainty, stress and death.  And unlike Noelle, he doesn’t see the value in getting involved with other people when disaster could strike at any moment.  But nothing prepared him for upbeat, sexy Noelle.

I think my favorite part of this story is that there isn’t a lot of trouble as Noelle and Gabriel slide into a relationship.  Gabriel is very up front about his feelings on commitment and the fact that he’s leaving after Christmas.  You know that love will win out and you get to enjoy watching their feelings grow – it’s sweet and touching, full of humor and fun.  We’re given those special touches that make Fool’s Gold so enchanting, but at its heart the story is about these two people and their path to a happy ending.

With Christmas on 4th Street, Mallery once again gives readers a sigh-worthy story about falling in love and the joy that can be found when you learn to open your heart.

Book Review – On His List

14 Thursday Nov 2013

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9781622663736“Where can I take you, Mr. Savoy?”

That was how Remy Maison’s day began, not the glamorous world of guarding underwear from her creepy landlord on laundry day, but taking her brother’s place as driver for businessman Owen Savoy. And what was with this guy? Yeah, he’s hot and all, with eyes like melted chocolate and a lean, sexy figure she’d love to explore, but Remy’s never met anyone so rigid.

Owen has a list for everything. He’s planned the entire day down to the smallest detail. All Remy has to do is stick to the list, but she never follows the rules‚ there’s no freaking way. So why is she spending all her time looking in the rearview mirror, hoping she’ll make Owen’s next list?

Once again I found myself reading a novella and wishing for more …. which can be a good or a bad thing depending on your personality. I loved Remy and the fact that her outgoing and bubbly personality causes Owen to break a little outside his very regimented life. I loved that she gets him to loosen up some and have a good time. I loved that we got to see the man beneath the business suit and that he’s actually a pretty cool guy. I just wish we’d gotten to see a little bit more of why he is the way he is – no muss, no fuss, no touching, no deviation from his plans. Was he just born this way or did something happen to him or a combination of both? I guess that’s the fun about these shorter books, the reader has the chance to shape the story a little more than normal.

Regardless, I couldn’t put it down. It’s one of my favorite things about these little stories – that I can sit down and read them while watching the news or on my lunch break – and they leave me with a smile and a lightened heart. And On His List definitely made me happy. It’s fun, entertaining, cute and funny. Sparrow gives readers fun and wacky, (but realistic) characters, full of charm and humor. The perfect go to book for those with only a small amount of time but looking for a little romance and humor to touch the heart.

Book Review – Neighbors

13 Wednesday Nov 2013

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9781622663743Rena Woods has a great life. She recently landed the contract to decorate the home of basketball wife, Cecilia Hood, her business is growing, and this contract could make her the elite decorator in St. Louis. Rena’s sacrificed her personal life for her company without a single regret. When Staff Sergeant C.J. Riker moves in across the hall, Rena can’t stand to be around him.

He may be on the volcanic side of hot, but his attitude sucks. Riker does whatever he can to get under Rena’s skin.

After a massive blow to her business sends Rena on a self-destructive binge, Riker is there to save her from doing something she might regret. Could there be more to Riker than meets the eye? And will he open up enough to Rena to tell her how he lost his leg or shut out love forever?

Somehow Murphy manages to fit the perfect amount of information into a very small number of pages. Usually these novellas end up with some details that I feel like I’m missing – maybe it’s a little backstory on the characters that would explain why they are the way they are or the ending feels too open ended so I don’t get the resolution that I want – but Neighbors was just about perfect.

We join Rena and Riker at their first meeting and are with them all the way until the happy ending(ish). They are still early on in their relationship at the end but you finish feeling like they are going to have a long and happy life. Granted Riker does have a lot of issues – PTSD, anger, moodiness – but it’s definitely understandable for everything that he’s been through. And Rena is aware of his foibles but is willing to take him on anyway, and she’s got an up-front personality that can take him on. I thought the two together were perfect. The characters seemed so real, almost like friends instead of fictional characters, and their relationship developed in a very real life manner.

Neighbors is sweet, sassy and funny. It is the perfect length with the right amount detail to tell a complete and touching love story in a tiny little package.