Category Archives: Book Review

Once Upon a Wallflower

28 Saturday Sep 2013

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New review is now up.

*****

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A Perennial Wallflower… When Mira Fitzhenry’s guardian arranges her engagement to one of the most scandalous lords to ever grace the peerage, all of society is abuzz.  After all, the man has left a trio of dead young women in his wake, including his first fiancée.  But Mira doesn’t see a killer in Nicholas’s moonlight eyes, and she resolves to find the real murderer before the wedding. 

A Gothic Villain… Expecting to scare the chit away within five minutes of meeting him, scarred and brooding Nicholas, the Viscount Ashfield, is intrigued by Mira’s tenacious resolve to prove his innocence.  She’s not put off by his imposing appearance, but his family’s dark secrets mean he cannot let her get close.  As the wedding approaches, Nicholas and Mira grow ever closer, yet so does the danger.  Will the truth bring Nicholas and Mira together or tear their love apart?

Once Upon a Wallflower delivers a delicious mix of romance and intrigue.  It’s a fun send up to the gothic romances of the past – with a brooding, dangerous hero and his sacrificial bride – but Mira isn’t going to sit quietly and let herself (and Nicholas) get railroaded into a relationship.

I think she’s one of may favorite heroines.  She sees something more in Nicholas than how society has portrayed him and it is something that she feels is worth pursuing.  Her logical mind and rampant curiosity demands that she help him clear his name and the journey to prove his innocence is an interesting mystery, one that plays out well.  I was very satisfied with how everything was tied together.

My only complaint is that we didn’t get a clear picture of what happened to Nicholas – why he is scarred and has a limp.  He does have a recurring dream that involves an accident with his leg, but we’re given one glimpse of it and it isn’t very clear how much of it really happened.  With all the stories about him that floated around and with Mira’s inquisitive nature, something should have been said.  But overall it doesn’t detract from the rest of the story.

I loved the fact that Nicholas and Mira are able to see more in each other than others do, looking below the surface and past the rumors to find someone worth loving.  And Watson does a great job of mixing their growing relationship with the mystery, giving readers a good balance of both romance and suspense.  Once Upon a Wallflower is a fantastic read and perfect for those that like their historical romances with that little extra bit of drama.

Love Overdue

27 Friday Sep 2013

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*****

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Meet Dorothy Jarrow: devotedly unsexy librarian 
Buttoned-up book lover DJ is all sensible shoes, drab skirts and studious glasses.  After an ill-advised spring-break-fueled fling left her mortified, she’s committed to her prim and proper look.  When she’s hired by a rural library in middle-of-nowhere Kansas, she finally has the lifestyle to match—and she can’t wait to get her admin on.

But it’s clear from day one that the small-town library is more interested in circulating rumors than books.  DJ has to organize her unloved library, win over oddball employees and avoid her flamboyant landlady’s attempts to set her up with the town pharmacist.  Especially that last part—because it turns out handsome Scott Sanderson is her old vacation fling! She is not sure whether to be relieved or offended when he doesn’t seem to recognize her.  But with every meeting, DJ finds herself secretly wondering what it would be like to take off her glasses, unpin her bun and reveal the inner vixen she’s been hiding from everyone—including herself.

I love the idea of Love Overdue – that a straight-laced, rule-following woman has a fling that she immediately regrets and years later comes face to face with her partner in crime … only he doesn’t recognize her.  I just wish we’d gotten more.  It didn’t feel like we’d gotten enough of the reasons behind her assumptions about the kind of person Scott is, although I can understand why she wouldn’t want people to know about what happened.  It is a very small town and the people in those kinds of places can have small minds to match, but she seems to exaggerate the situation.  And even worse, we’re not given the resolution!  We get to the end, Scott finds out who she is but we don’t find out what she says to him, instead we cut to the epilogue eight years later.  I think we deserved to see them have that conversation since it was such a big part of the book.  And hopefully it might have explained a few things that were a little unclear.

I did like the characters though – both big and little.  Scott is kind, caring, and gives of himself to the community.  His mother is a wonderful busy-body (although her’s is another story-line that needed a little more explanation with its resolution) and she, along with many of the town’s citizens, add that nice bit of zing to the story.  I’m hoping that there will be more stories set in Verdant because not only are the townsfolk entertaining but there are some unresolved points that I’d like to see come to fruition.  And even though DJ is quick to jump to conclusions and somewhat defensive, it is understandable based on the guilt and fear she’s carrying over her affair with Scott.  When she loosens up and starts to enjoy herself I like her and, with a few more pages, I think that she could have had all of her issues out in the open and been even more likable.

Overall, I have to say that I enjoyed Love Overdue but I wish there’d been a little more going on between the covers.  It’s an intriguing plot, full of fun and interesting people, warmth and charm, and just that perfect touch of humor, but I can’t help feel like I was left wanting more, which is a bit disquieting.  I do recommend giving it a chance though – Morsi has a entertaining writing style and great ideas – and you might not find the holes that I did.

Tempting Bella

25 Wednesday Sep 2013

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Tempting Bella is a sweet story about two people who were forced to wed too young, who first met on their wedding day, and now haven’t seen each other for years.  They make assumptions about each other, mostly on Bella’s part, that create the discord in the story.  Without having contact with each other, and only knowing their own take on events, they have certain beliefs about the other and take action according to those beliefs … which of course aren’t always well received by the other.  (Like when Sebastian supports Bella travelling on the continent after she finishes school.  He thinks he’s giving her freedom since she was forced to get married at thirteen but she thinks that he doesn’t care about her and only wants her away from him.)  Years later, when the two meet again for the first time since the wedding, it is as strangers since they don’t even know what the other looks looks like, and the attraction is instantaneous.  But when their identities are revealed, they have to figure out how to get past their biases and forge a new relationship together.

I really liked Sebastian.  Nicknamed “The Saint” for his strict moral code, he could have come across as overly pious but he has his reasons for acting the way he does.  And he never pushes his ideas on anyone else or makes it feel like he is better than anyone else because of it.  Bella has some trust issues, especially with Sebastian, but she too has her reasons and I think it is sweet how he spends the book wooing her.  There’s conflict and heart all mixed in together as they try to find a path together and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

This is the second book in Diana Quincy’s “Accidental Peers” series but you really couldn’t tell it.  Apparently the first one was about Sebastian’s brother Cam but there really wasn’t much to suggest that any of the plot lines flowed between the books.  Sometimes you are told that a book can stand alone and then you feel like you have missed nuances by not having read the previous book, but this definitely wasn’t the case.  If you’ve not read Seducing Charlotte and you want to start here I don’t think you’ll have any problems.

Tempting Bella is a pretty straight forward historical romance – two people are thrown together, have bad opinions to overcome, and fall in love.  It’s sweet and saucy and fun and a good choice for those who enjoy lords and ladies finding their happy ending.

Fiance by Friday

24 Tuesday Sep 2013

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New review is now up.

*****

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Gwen Harrison:
The beautiful, high-born daughter of an English duke came to America to take over her sister-in-law’s matchmaking business.  But just because she’s the boss doesn’t mean she can’t fantasize about making her own perfect match with bodyguard Neil MacBain.  Will the enigmatic man who haunts her dreams cost her more than she bargained for?

Neil MacBain:
The retired Marine can’t deny the effect blue-blooded Gwen has on his troubled soul or his battle-hardened body.  But as a client, Gwen is off-limits—until a threat from Neil’s past returns…and Gwen is caught in the crossfire.  Now to keep her safe he will risk it all: his career, his life…and his heart.

I’ve not read any of Bybee’s “Weekday Brides” books but I definitely think I’m missing out.  Fiance by Friday is more suspense than romance, but it worked for me.  I was caught up right away and felt like it didn’t slow down until it was over.  I will warn other newbies that there are a lot of references to previous characters – it doesn’t directly impact this book, but it made me itch to pick up the other stories to find out more about them.

Gwen is deliciously normal in her proper British way.  She lives in a completely different world than the one that Neil has come from, but it doesn’t stop their attraction.  I’m sure that there has been build up in earlier stories, but Bybee does a great job of setting the stage for them getting together for those new to her books.  Gwen has had a thing for Neil for months but he’s ignored it the best he can.  It doesn’t mean he hasn’t felt it to but he’s better at pushing it away.  Until a secret from his past comes knocking.  Neil is delicious in all of his marine glory so he makes a great ready-for-anything hero.

A good portion of the book is spent trying to figure out what is going on, find who is behind everything, and to catch him.  It’s great for those that like suspense but there isn’t a lot of romantic build-up, so those looking for more of a love story might be disappointed.  If you don’t mind a good mix, though, Fiance by Friday is definitely a winner – full of humor, love and mystery, I couldn’t put it down.

Romancing His English Rose

23 Monday Sep 2013

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*****

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Rose Warren and Simon Trumbull may have been betrothed since birth, but that doesn’t mean they have to like each other.  Rose is sure the notorious playboy Simon will never willingly settle down, and Simon, well… he agrees.  Never one to be forced into anything, he’d rather drink and gamble with his mates than spend time with the bookish, bespectacled Rose.

When the two are thrown together to investigate a potential poisoning mystery, neither expects the sparks that fly.  Simon discovers that Rose is, in face, a brilliant sleuth and – even better – hides a delectable body beneath her flowing skirts.  Suddenly, falling into bed may be the best idea either has heard, but can Simon convince Rose his romancing is forever?

Romancing His English Rose is part of Catherine Hemmerling’s “A Lady Lancaster Garden Society Mystery” series – the follow up to Taming Her Forbidden Earl – and there is a lot of teasing about things that happened in the first book, plus a set up at the end for the next story.  This story still made sense but if you are like me your curiosity might get the best of you, with all the hinting at things that have happened or will happen.

What throws Simon and Rose back together is a problem with Simon’s cousin, Caleb.  There is some suspicion that he might have murdered his own brother in order to inherit the title, so Simon and Rose do some digging.  The intrigue portion is engaging – well-written and comprehensive, with no loose ends – although not so much a mystery but more of a suspense element that highlights the romance of Simon and Rose falling in love.  It is a good catalyst for their relationship and I enjoy how well it flows.

It seems to me that Simon has a quick change of mind about his feelings for Rose, but it works ok.  I do wish we could have been given more of Simon “before” – his rakish actions and his hidden intelligence – so his change is a little more fluid, but maybe that is something that I’d have seen if I’d read the earlier story.  I like him though and I love that the one person he is trying to keep out is the one person that believes in him and supports the man he tries to hide.

An intriguing romance with a great mix of heart and suspense, Romancing His English Rose is a fun choice for those who are looking for a little edge to their love story.

 

Plain Admirer

21 Saturday Sep 2013

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*****

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So what if Joann Yoder’s Amish community deems her a spinster?  She’s content to stay single.  In the meantime, she’s working hard to finally buy her dream house.  So it’s problematic when she’s fired from her job to make room for the owner’s nephew, Roman Weaver.  His blue eyes aside, she simply can’t stand him!  Good thing she has the secret letters she’s been exchanging with a mystery man to keep her going.  But who is writing her letters?  And could she possibly fall for him in real life, too?

Joann Yoder is a spinster in her little Amish town, and she’s ok with that.  But she’s not ok with being shifted from one house to another, living with each of her brothers for a few months before being moved on.  She wants a home of her own and she’s just a few weeks away from being able to buy her dream house … except she’s been fired from her dream job in favor of her boss’s nephew.  Roman Weaver used to work side by side with his father and brother in the family’s saw mill until an accident lost him the use of his arm.  Now he’s a liability and being shuffled off to work for his uncle at his printing company.  As if that wasn’t bad enough, he’s forced to learn from bookish (and hostile) Joann.

Readers know where the story is going as soon as the secret letters come into play, but it is still a sweet journey.  I really enjoyed both Joann and Roman and their growth, not just with each other but with themselves.  There is also a little intrigue involving some attacks on their community that makes them take a good look at their faith and their responsibility to their town.  Honestly I love these Love Inspired books about the Amish because the romance is almost always tender and wholesome, while readers are given a quiet peek into the lives of the Amish as a family and a community.  It’s intriguing to me and I’m always left with a renewed look on my own life.

Plain Admirer is a part of the “Brides of Amish Country” series but it can definitely stand alone.  It’s a sweet look at a man and a woman trying to find their place in the world and with each other.

One Day in Apple Grove

19 Thursday Sep 2013

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cover24734-mediumCaitlin Mulchahy is spending almost all of her time helping run the family handyman business with her sisters.  Dr Jack Gannon, a former naval medic, has returned home to take over his father’s job as the small town’s only doctor.  It’s the perfect solution to keep away the ghosts of his time in Iraq.  When Cait and Jack bump into each other saving a stray puppy, sparks fly.  But is love enough to overcome Jack’s issues?

I loved the idea of One Day in Apple Grove (if you’ve read some of my past reviews you know I love quirky small towns) and I found myself liking the characters …. most of the time.  It’s a relatively simple idea that these two, who have known of each other all of their lives, reach a point where they can meet on a romantic level.  It’s something that could happen anywhere, any day, and it is that realistic vibe that is so very appealing.

But there were times when character interactions were just weird – either the dialogue was stilted or awkward, conversations just seemed unrealistic, or a character reacted in a way that seemed a little over the top considering the situation.  And it seemed like there were a lot of pages to tell a relatively short story, but I’m not even sure where all the pages went.  Which is both good and bad, because it went by relatively quickly but I didn’t feel like I got a lot of bang for my buck.  Maybe it just wasn’t tight, but I didn’t notice a lot of extraneous story telling.  It could be that the writing style just wasn’t for me, because I can honestly say that I enjoyed reading it.

I definitely say if the idea of One Day in Apple Grove intrigues you then give it a shot.  Because it is sweet and for the most part the characters are likeable …. it’s just that those awkward moments (to me anyway) that kept me from putting my whole heart into it.

Sole Witness

16 Monday Sep 2013

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*****

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Lori Summers stumbles across a murder and suddenly her world will never be the same again.  As if that isn’t bad enough, the lead detective on the case is the man who took her virginity and then dumped her for someone more popular.  It’s been years but the hurt is still there and no way can she let him get close enough to hurt her again.  Detective Davis Hamilton made a horrible mistake all of those years ago, but he never expected to have Lori in his life again.  Will this be their second chance?  Can Davis keep Lori safe with a murderer out to get her?

Sole Witness isn’t a very intense mystery or suspense novel – in fact you know who does the crime as it happens and you get her perspective throughout the book – but it is a fun one.  The characterization isn’t all that detailed but that doesn’t mean they aren’t fun.  I think that if Black had put in about a hundred more pages to the story it would have added some depth but as it is it makes the perfect light, quick read.  The hero and heroine have their issues – both with themselves and each other – and though not all of those issues are resolved I was still satisfied with the ending of the story.  There is just the right amount of sizzle, intrigue, danger and angst.  It’s not going to change your world, but it will definitely bring a smile to your face and fun to your afternoon.

If you are looking for a light-hearted crime romance that you can pick up and put down but will enjoy to the end, Sole Witness is the perfect choice.

Flirting with Danger

12 Thursday Sep 2013

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Review is now up and don’t forgot to check out release day details found here.

*****

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Firefighter Jasmine Mackinnon has always just been one of the guys. So no one’s more shocked than she is to find herself kissing fellow firefighter and all-around sinfully handsome playboy Aaron Parkes after a friend’s wedding. Jasmine knows she can’t risk an emotional connection with a colleague—a potentially dangerous entanglement when fighting fires together—and nothing’s more important to her than her job.

Aaron never noticed how beautiful Jasmine was until he saw her out of her firefighter duds, but there’s something about the fiery woman that tempts him. Though he knows pursuing a real relationship is out of the question for a serial dater like him, when their casual flirtation builds into something more serious, it’s not just their jobs or their safety on the line. It’s their hearts.

Entangled’s Bliss line has no overt sex in it – more of a “door closes, fade to black” kind of thing – but in this edition there is no sex at all which I found charming.  It’s a modern story, about modern people, but the author didn’t feel the need to have them jumping into bed together.  Don’t get me wrong, I love a steamy romance too, but sometimes it is refreshing to have a story without it.  Instead the emphasis was on the two of them getting to know each other better, overcoming their assumptions about each other and themselves.

Both have their reasons for keeping their heart out of a relationship – hurts from their past have made them wary and hesitant to trust others – and I thoroughly enjoyed watching them overcome those fears.  Like with historical romances, some of the best heroes are converted rakes and Aaron is no different.  He’s led his life commitment free for a reason and his world gets a little rocked when he sees Jasmine in a new light.  He’s not comfortable with the way he’s feeling but he reacts with grace and charm and wit and I loved him for it.  Jasmine is a little hard on him but a good portion of it is a defense mechanism.  His reputation as a serial dater makes him someone she doesn’t want to get involved with but after spending a lot of one on one time together he proves very hard to resist.

A delightfully sweet love story, Flirting with Danger will appeal to readers looking for more heart than heat.  And as part of the “Firefighter’s of Adelaide” series, we can look forward to more delicious romances in the future.

Willowleaf Lane

11 Wednesday Sep 2013

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*****

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Candy shop owner Charlotte Caine knows temptation. To reboot her life, shed weight and gain perspective, she’s passing up sweet enticements left and right.  But willpower doesn’t come so easily when hell-raiser Spencer Gregory comes back to Hope’s Crossing, bringing with him memories of broken promises and teen angst.  A retired pro baseball player on the mend from injury-and a damaging scandal-he’s interested in his own brand of reinvention. 

Now everything about Spencer’s new-and-improved lifestyle, from his mission to build a rehab facility for injured veterans to his clear devotion to his preteen daughter, Peyton, touches Charlotte’s heart.  Holding on to past hurt is her only protection against falling for him-again.  But if she takes the risk, will she find in Spencer a hometown heartbreaker, or the hero she’s always wanted?

I really enjoyed Willowleaf Lane.  Being a not-so-thin woman, I love the idea of a curvy heroine – granted Charlotte is now thin, but she still has some of those big girl feelings.  She’s still a little awkward and shy, but her past gives her added empathy to those around her.  She’s smart, pretty, and caring.  She works hard and gives freely of herself.  Spencer is about what you would expect from a MLB star – he’s hot, a little entitled, and cocky (or at least he used to be until life gave him a swift kick).  He’s a little at sea now that his world has come crashing down around him, but he’s trying and that’s very sexy.  I felt so bad for Spencer at the beginning but I enjoyed seeing him start to grow into his new life and I really liked how these two started to relate to each other again.  There are some serious issues with Spencer’s daughter and I think that Thayne handled them nicely – she does a fantastic job of giving her readers characters who feel like real people with real problems.

Willowleaf Lane is part of a series but don’t let that sway you.  It can definitely stand on its own and I found myself intrigued by the little town and its inhabitants.  It’s a place of community, one that pulls together, and I liked seeing them do that for Charlotte and Spencer.  I got a nice warm and fuzzy reading this book and I was so happy to see these two get their happy ending.