Category Archives: Book Review

Love is in the Heir

10 Sunday Mar 2013

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The synopsis on the back of Love is in the Heir is a cute first person point of view from the heroine, kind of like she’s talking to herself, and it is a good representation of her take on things.  Miss Hannah Chilton has matchmaking aunts who have never been wrong and now they are convinced they’ve found the perfect match for her.  But the guy seems to be two different people – one a total rake and the other a sweet scholar.  How can that be?  Obviously it is because they are twins pretending to be one person.

All of the Earl of Devonsfield’s known heirs have died and after some research it is discovered that the St. Albans twins are next in line … except no one knows which one was born first.  If there is no definitive heir then the title will be no more after the current earl dies.  To avoid that, he makes a pact with the twins – they can’t tell anyone there are two of them and the first one to marry will be declared the heir.  The twins travel to Bath to find wives and there the deception goes into full swing.

This is a cute, quick read and the characters are likeable, even the arrogant Garnet.  Knowing that they are twins, you sometimes wonder how no one realizes the truth – they make comments about their physical differences and the differences in their personalities – or how the two men think they can make the deception work, but it does give the perfect plot device to the strife between the two leads.  There are also fun and endearing romances for the two elderly aunts that add an extra sweetness to the story.

Love is in the Heir is a fun historical read that plays off the age-old story line of lies and deception but Caskie has such an enjoyable writing style and quick wit that she makes it a delight.

The Geek Girl and the Scandalous Earl

07 Thursday Mar 2013

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Jamie Marten, computer gamer and geek, is going through a storage unit full of antiques when she finds herself sucked through a mirror into 1816.  Being suddenly 200 years in the past, and in the home of a real life earl, is a bit of a shock.  Micah Axelby, Earl of Dunnington, is also stunned to find a scantily clad woman in his bedroom.  Though he doesn’t really believe her story about traveling back in time, he’s too much of a gentleman to turn her into the street.  As the two spend time together, they find it difficult to fight their attraction.  But is there a time when a modern girl and a 19th century nobleman can live happily ever after?

I have to be honest, I was expecting The Geek Girl and the Scandalous Earl to have more humor.  It is a great concept, full of promise for fish out of water funniness, and while there are some cute moments, for the most part it proved itself to be a straight up romance.  Don’t get me wrong – it is a fantastic story and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  The characters are fun, the writing is great, and the plot line is intriguing.  Both Jamie and Micah are wonderful and I found myself quickly drawn to them.  They have drastically different views but they complement each other very well.  And Gina Lamm does a great job of mixing their differences and answering some of those questions that might come up if you suddenly found yourself in the past – what about personal hygiene, especially without indoor plumbing?  how do you adjust to a world before women’s lib?  what would you miss and for how long?  While a lot of their issues stem from Jamie’s modern views, at its core this is a story about opposites attracting and whether those differences can be overcome.

If you are looking for a comedic story, this might not be your first choice.  If you are looking for a vastly entertaining and compelling romance, though, The Geek Girl and the Scandalous Earl is definitely the book for you.  It’s a delightful mix of new world and old, with moments that will make you smile and others that will bring a tear to your eye.

All He Ever Desired

05 Tuesday Mar 2013

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Years ago, Ryan Kowalski asked Lauren Carpenter to leave her husband and move away with him.  She refused but almost two decades later she’s a divorced mother of a teenager and occasionally still thinks about what if she’d said yes.  Now Ryan’s back to help his siblings repair the family’s lodge but if they thought they could avoid each other they were wrong.  Lauren’s son, Nick, is caught vandalizing the Kowalski property and his punishment is to work around the lodge to pay off the damages… throwing Lauren and Ryan together again.  Will this mean they get their second chance?

Shannon Stacey’s All He Ever Desired actually falls before last month’s All He Ever Dreamed and since I’d read the other one I already knew the basics of this story.  Although, since it is a romance and anyone can figure out what will happen, it wasn’t that big a deal.  I liked Ryan and Lauren – they are fun, charming and real.  Their relationship and the way it develops is genuine, so much so that you can see this happening to people you know.  They have normal, everyday problems and have to come up with normal, everyday solutions.  It makes for a very quick read that is believable and realistic. There are also some updates on previous Kowalski stories and Stacey puts out threads for future ones.

As always, Shannon Stacey does a great job of giving her readers engaging characters that they can relate to, a passion that sizzles, and a smart story that touches the heart.  All He Ever Desired is another delightful story in the Kowalski world, one guaranteed to keep readers returning for more.  It isn’t necessary to have read the others in the series, but if you enjoy this one keep in mind that this is Book 5 in a 6 book series, so there’s plenty of Kowalski love to go around.

Temptation

03 Sunday Mar 2013

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In Temptation, Laura Hayes is in Pennsylvania’s Amish country to film a movie.  Since she’s going to be there for a few months, she decides to buy a farm house instead of living in a hotel.  Being in the middle of Amish country, seeing their lifestyle up close, quickly has Laura looking at life in a new way.  And her attraction to her neighbor is only complicating things.  Jacob doesn’t quite follow the Amish ways exactly.  He’s been fighting a few doubts about their teachings, but it becomes more difficult when he finds himself attracted to his new neighbor.  As his feelings grow, so do his struggles.

This story was so amazingly sweet, with captivating characters and an ending that just grabbed my heart.  I really enjoyed the glimpse into the Amish lifestyle, both the upside and the down.  Barrett does a great job of showcasing the difficulties they find today, trying to balance their teachings with an every advancing world.

Jacob is a complex man, with doubts and wants.  His conflict, and how he handles it, makes him one of my favorite heroes.  Laura has her own concerns and doubts.  She comes across as selfish and pushy, but that’s part of the growth she needs to experience.  And with time on her hands in the quieter world living near the Amish she has plenty of time to think about her life.  The decisions these two have before them make for a riveting read.

Barrett also gives readers a cast of secondary characters, some in detail and some in glimpses, which nicely rounds out the Amish world. It’s a well-crafted and intriguing place, with very unique rules that creates an extended family unit that is rare today.  It’s a compelling community and one that most people will never see.

Temptation delivers beautifully on issues concerning faith, responsibility, sacrifice and love.  It gives readers a wonderful tale of two people trying to figure out if they can be more than they are and most importantly if they should.

Deep Autumn Heat

02 Saturday Mar 2013

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Deep Autumn Heat is the first book in Elisabeth Barrett’s Star Harbor romance series.  Sebastian Grayson is back in Star Harbor for the yearly reunion with his brothers.  What the big city, celebrity chef hadn’t counted on is the oh-so-enticing Lexie Meyers.  Lexie runs a local café and her spirited personality challenges Seb immediately, but Lexie has been badly hurt by a man.  And with Seb’s bad boy reputation, it would be much smarter to avoid him. . . Except their attraction may be too much to ignore.

Both Lexie and Seb are complex and interesting.  Just like an unrepentant rake from a historical novel, Seb gets brought to his knees by a good woman but he’s man enough to do it with style.  And he brings Lexie down with him.  She’s strong because she’s rebuilt herself from the ashes of a very abusive relationship, so it’s understandable that she’s very hesitant to give another man any kind of power over her.  But Seb is definitely up to the challenge.

In addition to the romance, there’s a mystery about who is leaving threatening notes for Lexie at the café and some personal attacks that suggest her ex-boyfriend might have found her.  The suspense portion of the book is well developed and flows well with the developing relationship between Lexie and Seb.  Readers are also treated to glimpses of the other three Grayson brothers, who will figure in future stories, and these guys definitely provide plenty of good romance material.  I’ve already read Blaze of Winter (Book 2 in the series, Theo’s story) and enjoyed it, so I have no doubts that the rest of the series will be great too.

With Deep Autumn Heat, Barrett delivers a rich mix of sizzle, mystery, and heart.

When Summer Comes

28 Thursday Feb 2013

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Callie Vanetta is stunned to discover that she has liver disease and needs a transplant or she won’t survive the summer.  Keeping the news to herself, she moves to her grandparents’ farm under the guise of getting it ready to sell.  When a stranger knocks on the door needing help, Callie’s life is once again changed forever. Though Levi’s stay is only temporary – he’s providing labor until he can get his motorcycle fixed – Callie may have finally found someone she can give her heart to forever.  But is it too late?

When Summer Comes is another fabulous entry in Brenda Novak’s Whiskey Creek series.  As always, her writing is exquisite and her characters came alive, making themselves at home in my heart.  At this point, I’ve pretty much decided to stop comparing them because they are all so uniquely compelling.

Callie decides to not tell anyone of her diagnosis because she thinks it will be easier to enjoy her last few months without dealing with everyone else’s emotions as well as her own.  And there is a lot of hope mixed in that a transplant will come and fix everything.  All of her feelings, the despair and love and anxiety , just leap off the page.  She becomes so real, so quickly, that it is very easy to understand where she’s coming from.

Levi had a rough childhood and a horrible experience while at war.  He’s very reserved and private at the beginning, but the more time he spends with Callie and her quiet acceptance of his limitations the more relaxed he becomes.  It is  heart-warming to see him start to believe that he’s found a place to call home.

As with all of the Whiskey Creek stories, this one is an ensemble piece.  There is a very close knit group of friends at the center of the series and they all bring warmth and depth to an already emotional story.  But it isn’t necessary to have read the previous books to be able to enjoy this one.  Novak does a fantastic job of making sure newcomers can understand the intricacies of the group, while providing updates on previous stories and giving readers glimpses into future ones.

If you’ve never read a Whiskey Creek novel, pick up When Summer Comes.  You’ll immediately find yourself drawn into this amazingly touching story of a couple who embrace life together, even if the end is coming soon.

That Night on Thistle Lane

26 Tuesday Feb 2013

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Phoebe O’Dunn secretly attends a masquerade ball dressed up in an amazing Edwardian gown.  When she’s swept off her feet by a swashbuckler, but left on the dance floor, she believes that her Cinderella evening is over.  Billionaire Noah Kincaid is at loose ends now that he’s sold his business so he accepts his best friend’s invitation to attend a week of hiking, followed by a charity event.  With his wealth, he’s found that most women want something from him, but he can’t resist the pull of the woman he sees across the room.  After a couple of amazing dances, he’s forced to leave her, still not knowing who she is.  What neither realizes is that they share friends and will see each other again very soon.  Without the masks they don’t recognize each other at first, but when a mystery brings them together will they dare to reveal themselves and take a chance on each other.

I really enjoyed the storyline of That Night on Thistle Lane and the mystery is very intriguing.  Neggers delivers it with fantastic timing, unwinding the details with care.  Everything ties together nicely and gives readers a feel-good ending.

Noah is a enthralling hero.  He’s not your typical romance lead – he’s a little too smart and, though he can be charming, he does have the typical cerebral type’s problem when it comes to dealing with people.  His high intelligence, though, does lead him to make some very fast and accurate reads on situations.  Unfortunately, he’s not always the best at understanding the shiftier side of people or the nuances to some relationships.  But he does understand Phoebe.  And she understands him.

I have to say that Phoebe was my only weak point, and even then it was a small one.  I really didn’t understand her motivation for some of her actions but she is still a delightful match for Noah.  This is actually the second story in a series, so maybe if I’d read the first story I’d have a better understanding of her.

There is definitely some tie in to the previous story, although it didn’t affect my reading this one.  Neggers does a great job of filling in the details so that new readers can keep up.  But if you have read Secrets of the Lost Summer then you’ll be delighted with updates of Olivia and Dylan.  It’s always a treat to be given more about a couple’s story once their romance is done.  You’ll also be given a side story about Phoebe’s sister Maggie and her estranged husband.  It’s a tender look at two people that have lost their way and aren’t sure they can find the path again.

That Night on Thistle Lane is a fun read, an imaginative mystery and a sweet romance.

Hitched!

24 Sunday Feb 2013

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I’m not sure how to describe Hitched! without giving too much away.  Here’s the official line from the publisher:

“Here comes…
Planning the most talked about wedding of the year is enough to make engineer Frith Taylor break out in a cold sweat. She’s used to construction sites, not wedding fairs! But estate manager George Challoner’s offer of help is one that’s too good to resist.
….the unsuspecting bride!

George may be the rebel of the prestigious Challoner family, but his insanely good looks are giving Frith wedding fever! Charm personified, he’s making her feel things she hasn’t dared feel before. Maybe her little sister’s wedding won’t be the only one Frith’s planning…?”

But that isn’t quite the way I’d describe it.  The first part isn’t too far off – Firth is asked to help with her sister’s wedding and it is definitely a celebrity to do.  She’s not used to high society so she’s out of her element.  George Challenor does get involved but it isn’t quite as they describe.  It’s a little more complicated and definitely half the fun of the book.  The second part just doesn’t fall in line with the way the book plays out.  And it is definitely more complex for it.

I really liked seeing George and Firth interact.  They both have a lot of baggage and it was enjoyable watching them come to terms with themselves and each other.  Firth has a lot of self-esteem and trust issues so George’s excessive charm and flirtatious sense of fun definitely rubs her the wrong way.  But George’s lighthearted side hides some deep scars of his own.  Hart does a great job of giving readers a complex and troubled hero that still has a lot to offer his heroine.  And I thought the ending was one of the best I’ve seen from a Harlequin story in a lot time.  I think it fit very well with the characters as they were depicted.

Harlequin describes their Kiss line as  fun, flirty and sensual.  Hitchd! is all of those but it also offers readers some added depth than I think the cover might lead readers to believe.

Home for Good

21 Thursday Feb 2013

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Home for Good is a sweet story about forgiveness and God’s love.  Eight years ago Ali Silver’s husband broke her heart when he walked away.  She hasn’t heard a word from him in the years since, but suddenly he comes home wanting a chance to uphold his wedding vows.  Can she trust that he’s home to stay?  Jericho has done a lot of growing up in the years that he’s been gone.  A war veteran, he’s realized a lot about life and faith.  Can he show Ali that he can be the man she needs him to be?

Ali has a lot to be wary of because when Jericho left it devastated her world.  She’s worked hard but it is still a struggle.  Though it looked like he had an ideal life from the outside, Jericho’s childhood was anything but good.  Afraid that he was turning into an abusive drunk like his father, he left instead of taking the chance he could hurt Ali.  Thanks to the intervention of a couple of good hearted people and a strong relationship with God, he turned his life around.

The main characters are compelling and it is loaded with interesting secondary characters that hopefully will lead to more stories.  There is an intriguing mystery about someone causing trouble at Ali’s farm that will keep those who like a little suspense in their stories hooked.  And the religious element is handled with a light hand so that those who aren’t religious will still enjoy the story.  It’s an honest depiction of people who believe and live their lives accordingly.

Home for Good is a tender look at a woman overcoming her fears to learn to trust again and realizing that it is never too late to rediscover her faith.

Take It Off!

21 Thursday Feb 2013

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Take It Off! The Naked Truth About Male Strippers is your chance to glance into the world of … you guessed it, male strippers.  All your questions – even those risqué ones and some you may not have
thought to ask – will be answered.  Written by two strippers, Take It Off! covers over twenty years of their experiences behind the scenes, backstage, and at home.  With the popularity of Magic Mike, it’s easy to see the appeal of this book as it gives readers a real life example of what they saw in the movie.

It is obvious while reading Take It Off! that Justin Whitfield and Taylor Cole aren’t professional writers but they are fun story-tellers.  They make the book interesting, with a good amount of flair to keep readers going.  As you can imagine, the book does get a little steamy (very steamy, actually) so be prepared when you pick it up that it isn’t for the faint of heart.  And for those of you wondering about the masculinity of male strippers, the ones in this book ooze testosterone and are definitely alpha males.  But their life isn’t all sex and drugs.  Take It Off! does a good job of showing you the more every day side of things, while keeping it entertaining.

Again, these are not professional writers, so the pacing and transitions can be a little strange but it was the fascinating content that kept me reading. Take It Off! showcases every day guys, in an unusual career, with the normal & not so normal issues that comes with it.