Playing the Part

16 Saturday Feb 2013

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

Tags

Book Review, Darcy Daniel, Playing the Part

Anthea Crane has just finished up a successful action-adventure trilogy (think Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider), but she wants to prove she is more than just a great body. When she hears there are auditions for the lead in the movie adaptation of her mother’s favorite book, she jumps at the chance. Told that she just doesn’t have what it takes, she convinces them to give her a shot and heads to her hometown for inspiration – a town she hasn’t been to since her mother died when Anthea was eight. She stumbles upon what could be the perfect opportunity to research being a farmer’s wife – a blind man who won’t know who she is and can’t judge her on her face or her movies. Cole Daniel’s hasn’t always been blind. He remembers Anthea from childhood, when she teased him mercilessly, so he can’t resist using this as his chance of getting back at her a little for past hurts. But as they get to know each other as adults, can they get past their history and have a future together?

I enjoyed Playing the Part. Darcy Daniel does a great job of giving readers characters with heart and charm. Anthea is a little bit of a diva, but she’s spent decades being an actor. She started when she was 8, and at the same time she was dealing with the death of her mother. It was easier to lose herself in make believe worlds and she’s lost touch with the normal world. It was fun watching her realize who she could be at her core. Cole experienced a devastating incident when he was a kid … one with such far-reaching psychological damage that it made him blind. He’s spent years living a comfortable life but as he learns more about Anthea he starts to realize there could be a different life for him out there.

Playing the Part is an endearing story of two people relying too much on the past, who realize there is more for them in life if they can just let it go.

The Best Man

14 Thursday Feb 2013

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

A BLUE HERON NOVEL, Book Review, Kristan Higgins, The Best Man

The Best Man is the first in Kristan Higgins’s new Blue Heron series. Faith Holland has come home after leaving town three years ago on her wedding day … alone, after her wedding didn’t happen. Levi Cooper was best man and the one who nudged her fiancé into jilting her at the altar. Now she’s back and Levi is the police chief, still best friend to her ex-fiancé, and as infuriating (and attractive) as ever. The more time they spend together, the more good things Faith discovers about Levi. But she’s finding it very hard to forget that he’s the reason her wedding didn’t happen. Can they confront the past and move on? Maybe try for another wedding, this time together?

I love Kristan Higgins’s books and was super excited to hear that she was starting a new series. I’ve had this advanced copy for a few weeks and had to resist reading it right away. I wanted to wait until closer to the publish date but it was very hard. Her books are always emotion-filled: packed with witty dialogue, memorable characters, and poignant story lines. They make me laugh one moment and then have me in tears the next.

In The Best Man, both Faith and Levi touched my heart. Even though their backgrounds are different – Faith’s family has owned a vineyard for generations and Levi grew up in a trailer park on the wrong side of town – both lost a parent at a very young age: Levi’s father walked out on his family when Levi was in the third grade and Faith’s mother died in a car accident (with Faith in the car) when she was in the sixth grade. Faith’s survivor’s guilt weighs heavily on her and Levi has to deal with his abandonment issues, along with the stigma of growing up poor. Watching both of them come to terms with their past, where they are now and where they want to go was very satisfying.

If you’ve never read a Kristan Higgins book, The Best Man is a great place to start. It’ll be the beginning of a long and happy relationship.

Falling for Her Fiance

13 Wednesday Feb 2013

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Book Review, Cindi Madsen, Falling for Her Fiance

Faced with going to her family-oriented company retreat solo, Dani makes a bold decision and asks her best friend Wes to go as her pretend fiance. She’s up for a promotion and she wants to make a good impression but it seems that only couples get time with the boss at these events. Wes agrees but only if she will do the same at his sister’s wedding. He wants to show his family and his ex, who will be a bridesmaid in the wedding, that he’s really over her. Best friends since they met in college, there hasn’t ever been anything romantic between Dani and Wes … but pretending to be engaged brings out feelings neither of them anticipated. Will their pretense turn real or will this ruin their friendship forever?

Dani and Wes mean everything to each other. They turn to the other first in good times and bad. They share a sense of humor and understand each other. They have private jokes and can complete each other’s sentences. It isn’t a surprise that everyone thinks there is more to their relationship than friendship. Especially their significant others – their friendship is a major trouble point in their romantic relationships and has led to more than one breakup – but they have never been more than friends. They tried it once in college and it didn’t work. It even ruined their friendship for a while and they don’t want to chance that again. But the more time they spend together the harder it is to not want more. Both characters are fun and it is easy to imagine what a fantastic friendship they have, and why they might not want to risk it. It’s a believable and understandable problem, one that many of us have probably faced.

In Falling for Her Fiance, Madsen does a fantastic job of bringing readers appealing characters with a realistic issue. She gives us two people with the challenge of risking a relationship that is extremely important to them on the chance that it could be so much more.

A Wedding Date in Hot Springs, Arkansas

11 Monday Feb 2013

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

A Wedding Date in Hot Springs Arkansas, Annalisa Daughety, Book Review

When her little sister gets engaged, Violet Matthews decides she needs a date to the event and hires a matchmaker. Violet hasn’t had the greatest luck when it comes to men and things seem to be getting worse when she meets her match. She’d gone to college with Jackson Stratford and he’d made her miserable. When Jackson admits he also needs someone for an event, they concoct a plan to pretend to date just long enough to get through them. But the more time they spend together, the more they realize they like the other. Can Jackson convince Violet that he’s not the same guy he was in college? Can Violet trust her heart to a man again?

Violet and Jackson sucked me in right from the start. Once she lets go of her animosity to him, they complement each other wonderfully. Violet’s a little unsure of herself and Jackson does a fantastic job of cheering her on, helping her evaluate what she wants and move forward. And as much as Jackson seems to have everything together, he’s got issues of his own that make him doubt himself but spending time with Violet causing him to do some re-evaluating of his own.

Daughety also gives readers a couple of B-stories full of compelling supporting characters. One involves Violet’s friend Reagan and the possible deterioration of her marriage. The other is a teen who’s come to live with her grandparents after the death of her mother. Both add extra depth and heart to an already touching story.

A Wedding Date in Hot Springs, Arkansas is an amazingly sweet book about letting go of the past, being true to yourself, and embracing your future.

The Officer Breaks the Rules

08 Friday Feb 2013

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Book Review, Jeanette Murray, The Officer Breaks the Rules

For some reason when I first tried to read Jeanette Murray’s The Officer Breaks the Rules I didn’t make it past the first couple of pages before I decided I wasn’t in the mood. But the second time I picked it up I absolutely couldn’t put it down. It’s a fantastic story about a woman who isn’t afraid to go after what she wants and a man who has decide if it is more important to be true to himself or to others. Captain Jeremy Phillips is attracted to his best friend’s sister but there are understood “guy” rules about getting involved with sisters. Unfortunately, Madison O’Shay has other ideas and she’s going to do everything in her power to show him that he should give them a chance.

The Officer Breaks the Rules is actually the second book in the series, but that didn’t cause any issues except to make me want to run out and get the first book (The Officer Says I Do). I’m assuming that, based on how this book is written, Madison and Jeremy’s relationship is introduced in the first (her brother Tim’s story). In this one we get more about Tim and his wife Skye, as well as get a preview to the characters from the next story – Dwayne and Veronica will appear in The Officer and the Secret coming out in July. These friends are a captivating group and will easily draw readers into their lives.

Madison is tough, growing up in a military family and then joining the military herself. She’s blunt, sassy, and vivacious. She’s the perfect foil to Jeremy’s more reserved manner. They’ve been dancing around their attraction, mostly because Jeremy is afraid that anything more than friendship could ruin things if it goes wrong. Madison has loved Jeremy for years and is convinced she just needs the chance to convince him that they are made for each other.

Jeremy has the added stress of trying to decide the future of his military career – he’s at the point of signing the papers necessary for three more years in the Marines but he isn’t sure that’s what he wants. Unfortunately his former Marine father isn’t so undecided and is very vocal about his thoughts. The struggle in the story is all on Jeremy’s side but Murray does a fantastic job giving readers a conflicted hero with a lot on his plate.

The Officer Break the Rules is a compelling tale full of power & passion, just like the men and women of the armed forces it brings to life.

The Better to See You

06 Wednesday Feb 2013

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Book Review, Kate SeRine, The Better to See You, Transplanted Tales series

The Better To See You is the second book in Kate SeRine’s A Transplanted Tales series. If you haven’t read the first book Red, go now and read it. Go on, I’ll wait here for you. Done? Fantastic, wasn’t it? Although The Better To See You is about Lavender Seelie and Seth Wolf, instead of Red and Nate, I believe it is important that you have read Red before moving on. There are plot points that flow from one story to the next. But since both books are amazing, it isn’t a hardship.

SeRine’s A Transplanted Tales series give readers a world where, due to a spell gone very wrong, Make Believe characters now inhabit our world. InRed, Red and Nate investigate the grisly murders of Tales in Chicago. The Better To See You picks up about a year later. Red suggests Lavender go to the Refuge (a place for Tales that have had issues adjusting) after she has a knock-down, drag-out with the Charmings. Given just an address of someone who will help her, Lavender ends up at a cabin belonging to Seth Wolf. Lavender is a little concerned since Seth, aka The Big Bad Wolf from many a fairy tale (including Red’s), was a prime suspect in the Chicago murders. But as they spend more time together, Lavender realizes there is more to Seth than what she’s heard. When people start turning up dead, things quickly go from bad to worse.

The mystery portion of the series is intriguing. Set in a fantasy world, there are fewer rules to it but SeRine handles it well. She doesn’t throw a lot of curve balls at her readers so when something is revealed it makes sense to the world as it is given to you. I think that is my biggest complaint about stories that involve an otherworld element – you go along with one set of rules and suddenly the author gives you something completely new just so the plot will go a certain way. I’m looking at you, Charlaine Harris. I like surprises and there are lots of opportunities when dealing with magic, but it needs to have some kind of basis in the rest of the story. SeRine does a fantastic job of giving everything a reason for happening.

And the romance between Seth and Lavender is delicious. It’s takes a little bit of a backseat to the mystery, but SeRine steadily develops things as the plot progresses. Lavender has done a lot of growing since the Tales came over and it is very touching to see her get her confidence back. Seth’s story is enough to break your heart, so I was delighted to see him find some happiness again.

This series is an irresistible treat for readers who enjoy supernatural suspense romances. It’s inhabited by all manner of literary creatures – Little Red Riding Hood, The Big Bad Wolf, fairy godmothers, The Grimm Reaper, Dracula, the Darcys, Juliet, Puck – you name it and it is probably in the series or will make an appearance later. By having it encompass a large pool of fictional character, SeRine opens up the possibilities for future stories. And it makes it fun to anticipate who might be on the next page.

Santa Viking

03 Sunday Feb 2013

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Book Review, Sandra Hill, Santa Viking

Santa Viking is a two story anthology from Sandra Hill. The first, a historical called Bolthor’s Bride, finds Bolther spending the holidays with his fellow Viking warriors and powerless against their wives’s matchmaking. Among the mass of women who have descended looking for a husband is Katherine, a widow four-times-over who needs a husband to take care of her and her sons. She’s immediately attracted to Bolthor, despite his missing eye and battle-scarred body. He’s also attracted to Katherine but is adamant that he’s not looking for a wife. Will Saxon or Viking win this war? In A Viking For Christmas, Jessie Jones robs the Piggly Jiggly while dressed as Santa, but all she wants is the money she believes is due as a refund for a broken toy. Bodyguard Erik Thorsson is in the store killing time while he waits for his clothes to finish at the laundromat. Unfortunately, when things go a little squirrelly for Jessie, he finds himself held hostage. Although Erik quickly finds himself falling in love, can he convince Jessie that it’s for real?

Knowing that Hill writes romantic humor stories will help readers who are not familiar with her work. Her writing style is definitely tongue-in-cheek, especially the historical. Both are amusing and fun, with entertaining characters and interesting stories.

Bolthor’s Bride is written with colorful descriptions and word choices, very reminiscent of old school bodice rippers. Both Bolthor and Katherine are intriguing and their interactions are amusing. Watching Bolthor fight the inevitable with keep you smiling. There are also some additional glimpses of characters from some of Hill’s previous Viking stories for returning readers. A Viking For Christmas isn’t quite as intentionally cheesy but it does have quirky characters and funny-bone-tickling moments. The scrapes that Jessie manages to get into are laugh-out-loud and watching Erik woo her is delicious.

If you are looking for a bit of love and laughter, Santa Viking is a humorous diversion with a Norse twist.

All He Ever Dreamed

01 Friday Feb 2013

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

All He Ever Dreamed, Book Review, Shannon Stacey

Shannon Stacey’s newest Kowalski novel, All He Ever Dreamed, features the youngest brother, Josh. While his siblings have been out living their lives, Josh has been home taking care of the Northern Star Lodge. Now he wants someone else to take over at the Lodge so he can have his chance to do something he wants. Katie Davis has been best friends with Josh almost their entire lives and she’s gotten very good over the years at hiding that she wants more. When Josh suddenly starts seeing her as a more than one of the guys, do they dare become more than friends? Now that he’s finally getting the chance to pursue life away from the Lodge, will he discover that his dreams might be closer than he thought?

Although this is part of a series, it can definitely be enjoyed as a stand alone. I’ve not read any of the other Kowalski books and I didn’t have any problem keeping up. For those who have read Stacey’s previous stories will enjoy a chance to catch up with favorite characters. And everyone will get the chance to see who might be making appearances in future books.

I love both Katie and Josh. They are fun, charming and have great chemistry. Watching Josh realize that Katie is an attractive woman, and that his feelings for her are changing, is vastly entertaining. Stacey does a great job keeping it realistic by not changing the core part of their relationship, just adding the romantic element. Josh has a lot of conflicting emotions over getting involved with Katie, not only because it could ruin the best friendship that he has, but there is also the fact that he wants to leave town. Katie is also aware of his dreams and she has to take that into consideration when she decides whether it is worth the possible hurt to get her heart further involved with him. They handle this with a lot of humor and heart, quickly drawing readers in on their dilema.

All He Ever Dreamed is a delightful look at the chance best friends take when they develop their relationship further. And what it’s like to get what you’ve been wanting, only to realize it might not be what you want after all. If you haven’t met the Kowalskis, take this opportunity to fall in love with this fantastic family.

When the Duke Found Love

29 Tuesday Jan 2013

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Book Review, Isabella Bradford, When the Duke Found Love

When the Duke Found Love, the last in Isabella Bradford’s Wylder Sister trilogy, brings readers the story of Lady Diana, the youngest sister. Her head is easily turned by a handsome man and she’s on the path to ruin if she continues as she has, so her family decides to marry her to a respectable gentleman. They arrange for her to wed Lord Crump, but unfortunately she finds him boring and uninteresting. Nothing like the handsome and charming stranger she met in the park. The Duke of Sheffield is called back from France after an indiscretion with a married lady angers both their kings. To help redeem his reputation, he’s ordered to marry an upstanding lady from a good family. But his chance meeting in the park with Lady Diana will force them to choose between duty and love.

I haven’t read the other books in the series so I’m not sure if that would change my opinion, but I didn’t like Lady Diana. She does know how to have fun and she doesn’t care much about proprieties, which I found charming, but not so much the way she reacts to situations. The majority of her problems are caused by the fact that she’s impulsive and acts before she thinks. Sure, that’s supposed to be her appeal for Sheffield, but not so much for me. And it didn’t seem like there were any consequences to her choices.

Sheffield was the best part of the book for me. He’s an unrepentant rake (most historical romance heroes are, only to be redeemed by love), but he takes his responsibilities seriously. He meets with his man of affairs as soon as he returns from France and he makes sure that his properties and staff are taken care of when he’s away. It’s just in his private life that he is a little more lax. He’s only in his mid-20s which, for a man, is still young and he is expected to be carefree. He’s charming, fun, and loves his family, including his ugly but adorable dog.

I like the idea of the plot – two people on the edge of ruin who are set to marry other people but fall in love – but I just couldn’t go for Lady Diana. Sheffield’s appeal, though, kept me reading until the end. When the Duke Found Love is well-written and has a fantastic hero, so if you like historical romances give it a shot. You might like Lady Diana more than I did.

Seducing the Secret Heiress

27 Sunday Jan 2013

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Book Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Jennifer St George, Seducing the Secret Heiress

When heiress Charlotte Wentworth finds out that her fiance is unfaithful, she decides to call off the wedding. A conversation with her father reveals that the man was only marrying her as part of a business deal anyway, and that her parents don’t have an issue with that or his cheating. So she decides to take off on her own, incognito, to evaluate her future. When she saves Gabe Grenville’s young niece from drowning in Italy, only to have everything she owned stolen, they invite her to spend the week with them. She soon finds out that things are even worse. Her fiance has emptied her bank accounts and frozen her credit cards. Without funds or a plan, she accepts Gabe’s invitation to come back with them to London. A Reality TV Producer, Gabe creates a new show idea with Charlie’s help and pushes her to try out. But she’s still keeping her identity a secret, and the truth could ruin everything.

The standard plot sequence of lying, revelation and forgiveness has been used forever (especially in romances) and can get very stale. Most of the time, you feel like the author is stretching to keep the storyline going but Seducing the Secret Heiress flows nicely. Usually I don’t like romance stories that center around one person deceiving another, but it is handled well here. Charlie’s reasons are understandable and it is easy for readers to see why she makes the choices she does. Once the lying starts things quickly get out of hand, but I never felt like the choice to continue lying was forced. The characters are interesting, their decisions are realistic, and I was involved in their lives from start to finish.

In Seducing the Secret Heiress, Jennifer St George gives a fresh voice to an old plot device and makes it work.