The Other Side of Us

13 Sunday Jan 2013

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Book Review, Sarah Mayberry, The Other Side of Us

In Sarah Mayberry’s latest Harlequin romance, The Other Side of Us, Oliver Barrett discovers that his wife has been cheating on him, so he retreats to the beach-side cottage his aunt left him. Thinking of being neighborly, he introduces himself to the woman living next door and is shocked at her rudeness. He decides that it is best that he stays to himself anyway, to evaluate his situation and what he wants to do now that his marriage has been shattered. Mackenzie Williams has also decided to spend some time alone, to recuperate from the devastating car accident that has left her scarred and broken. After finishing a grueling rehab session, she’s a little surprised by the knock on the door. Trying very hard to not give in to the nausea caused by overtaxing herself, she can’t help but be rude to the man at the door. Consumed with improving her health and getting back to her job, she too decides to keep to herself. Unfortunately their dogs have other plans, developing a canine friendship that forces Oliver and Mackenzie together again.

I’d forgotten how much I like Mayberry’s romances. She gives readers complex characters with depth and interest, and stories that touch the heart. Both Oliver and Mackenzie are troubled and have much to work out, but they become friends and have an attraction that leads them to something more. I enjoyed how they helped each other and Mayberry did a good job of giving them realistic reactions to their issues. Some may have a problem with how quickly Oliver moves into something with Mackenzie but it’s handled well. The epilogue is tender and I liked how they have a happy ending, but it isn’t all roses and candy. They are given real issues with real consequences.

The Other Side of Us is a sweet romance with depth and realism.

Trouble in Texas

11 Friday Jan 2013

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Book Review, Deep in the Heart of Texas, Katie Lane, Trouble in Texas

Elizabeth Murphy is happy to be Bramble’s spinster librarian. She’s content with her good girl life … then she inherits one of the most infamous whorehouses in Texas. It gets even worse when she discovers a handsome, and very naked, man handcuffed to the bed in the house’s master suite. Brant Cates is trying to solve his great-grandfather’s murder but being held captive in Miss Hattie’s Henhouse wasn’t part of his plan. Elizabeth may be the key to helping Brant solve the mystery but can they trust the attraction between them?

Trouble in Texas is Katie Lane’s newest Deep in the Heart of Texas book (following Going Cowboy Crazy, Make Mine a Bad Boy and Catch Me a Cowboy). When I started this book I didn’t realize it was a part of a series but there were no issues following along. Brant’s brother Billy is the romantic lead in Catch Me a Cowboy and the plotline of revenge against the town of Bramble for the Cates ancestor’s mysterious death flows thru all of the books but it doesn’t take long to get you caught up. I have actually read Going Cowboy Crazy and the other two are on my To Be Read list but after reading Trouble in Texas they’ve moved to the top. I really enjoyed the first book, which is why the other two are on my TBR list, and this one is just as good.

The characters are fun and interesting. The old Hens still living at Miss Hattie’s are a hoot and they add that touch of whimsy to this romance. Brant has had a difficult life and he’s starting to believe that he’s living under the family curse. He had a brother that died young, another brother fought cancer at a very young age, and he lost his wife and son in a tornado. He’s extremely dedicated to his family but he does not do relationships beyond that. His recovery at the hands of Elizabeth and the Hens is very sweet. Elizabeth’s mother grew up at Miss Hattie’s and it left scars of its own, which she passed along to Elizabeth. Her discovery of her sensual side at Brant’s hands and change from the prudish librarian to a more comfortable woman is a delight. Brant’s brother Beau also makes an appearance and sets up the next story in the series and I’m pretty anxious to get my hands on his book. He’s in remission for cancer, which has given him a different outlook on life than the rest of his family.

If you are looking for a fun romance full of small-town charm, Trouble in Texas is the book for you. But, if you haven’t visited Bramble before, be prepared to add the three preceding books to your own To Be Read list.

Wicked Wedding of Miss Ellie Vyne

06 Sunday Jan 2013

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Book Review, Jayne Fresina, Wicked Wedding of Miss Ellie Vyne

I really enjoyed Fresina’s The Most Improper Miss Sophie Valentine and though I didn’t find Wicked Wedding of Miss Ellie Vyne to be as unique I still liked it a lot. Ellie Vyne has been responsible for taking care of her family for years. Her latest scheme involves dressing up as the Count de Bonneville and playing cards with unsuspecting aristocrats. One night, after getting a diamond necklace from a lady as payment of her card debts, Ellie finds herself face to face with her childhood nemesis, James Hartley. The last time she’d seen James they’d shared an anonymous kiss at a masked ball. James is now looking for the Count to get back his necklace and, finding Ellie instead, he believes her to be the man’s mistress. Up until now, he’s found Ellie to be just an irritant. But now that he’s seen her in nothing but a man’s shirt, he can’t get her out of his mind. Thinking to use her to get his necklace back from the count, James is stunned to discover that Ellie was the mystery woman he kissed the past summer … the one woman he’s looked for all these months has been right in front of him all along.

This was a fun book – the two constantly bicker and snipe, obviously hiding a deeper attraction. This could have gotten old quickly in the hands of a less talented author, but Fresina does a great job of keeping it entertaining, while moving the story along. Neither Ellie nor James is faultless and they both have a lot of growing to do, but they are a great match. I was a little frustrated with the lack of communication between the two, but based on their history and their issues it worked with the story.

If you read Sophie’s story, you’ll likely remember James – he was Sophie’s suitor before she fell for Lazarus. In this story, you’ll get an update on Sophie and her family, as they are close to both James and Ellie, as well as tidbits of others living nearby. This was a nice continuation of the world Fresina has created and I hope that she’s planning to give us more glimpses in the future.

Wicked Wedding of Miss Ellie Vyne is a great fit for readers looking for a mix of romance, humor, and misadventure. Ellie and James may have a rocky road but everything turns out wonderfully well in the end.

To Give a Heart Wings

03 Thursday Jan 2013

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Book Review, Mary Kay McComas, To Give a Heart Wings

One night Colt McKinnon meets Hannah Alexander at a dance club and the two have an undeniable, instantaneous connection. After a dance and a passionate kiss, Hannah walks away and ignores Colt shouting after her. Unbeknownst to Colt, Hannah is deaf and, after years of seeing men’s interest turn when they find out, she’s decided that she’d prefer to keep the happy memory than risk having him reject her. Can Colt handle the reality of her life? Can Hannah trust him enough to give him a chance?

I absolutely love the rereleases of Mary Kay McComas’s books. I’ve already read By The Book and Ms. Miller and the Midas Man and just finished To Give a Heart Wings. All of them have been short and sweet, but pack quite a punch. Like her other two stories, this one is full of characters that are so believable and realistic that before long you feel like they are old friends. They have everyday problems, with everyday reactions, and you’ll find yourself pulling for them from the beginning.

Granted Hannah’s issues are a little unique, but there are millions of hearing impaired people in the world and almost all of us have likely interacted with at least one in our lives. This book was originally released in the 90s so some of the technological advances that would make her life so much easier weren’t available. But it is very realistic for the time period, and makes readers think about what it would be like. Hannah doesn’t feel sorry for herself; instead she does everything that she can to live as normal a life as possible. She’s hard-working, brave, tough, and caring, with enough smarts and humor to keep Colt on his toes.

Colt has his own issues but with Hannah’s help he is able to overcome them. He’s just as caring and hard-working as she is. He’s amazingly good to Hannah – going out of his way to do everything he can to show her that her deafness does not affect his feeling for her at all. Hannah’s friend Willie and Colt’s brother Trevor nicely round out the cast, adding a little zaniness and fun.

To Give a Heart Wings might come in a little package but it has the heart of a racehorse and McComas does a fantastic job giving readers a lot of depth in a few pages. This little romance is a quick-read but it will easily find a spot in your heart.

Waltz With a Stranger

01 Tuesday Jan 2013

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Book Review, Pamela Sherwood, Waltz With a Stranger

Years ago, American heiress Aurelia Newbold was injured in a riding accident, leaving her with a limp and a facial scar. Now she’s in London with her sister, hiding from Society while her twin enjoys the Season. One night, during a ball, she meets a handsome stranger in a deserted conservatory. When he gets her to dance a waltz with him, it’s enough to convince her that she could have more than the life she’s leading. After spending a year abroad improving her leg and her confidence, Aurelia returns with hopes of running into the man again. Only to be stunned to find him engaged to her sister.

I liked this story and the characters but I had a little difficulty getting past the fact that the woman James picked to marry is Aurelia’s sister. Yes, he was attracted to Amy when he first saw her, even before meeting Aurelia, but it just seemed weird. And there was no mention of whether they discussed Aurelia before she returned to find them engaged. It was odd to me that he would have hid the fact that he had met her before. I understand why Aurelia would have wanted to not mention it, but I’m not sure why he would have. It wasn’t like she didn’t attend the same parties as her sister and it would have been normal for a meeting to take place.

Once I got into it, though, the story was enjoyable. The characters were interesting and by giving readers James & Aurelia’s perspective (and to a lesser extent Amy’s), Sherwood was able to provide plenty of details on their feelings and their struggles. I especially liked that Amy was an appealing character, someone that both James and Aurelia care about, so that the conflict was more pronounced. It would have been easy to make her vain or selfish, but by making her a genuinely nice person it means that readers don’t want to see her hurt. It also makes James’s breaking the engagement troublesome because he doesn’t want to cause Amy pain and it would be difficult for Aurelia to step in if her sister was upset by it.

There is also a mystery over the death of James’s cousin. Although it seemed to go a little long, it was interesting and the resolution was satisfying. It gave a little extra punch to the already troubled romance.

Overall, Waltz With a Stranger was a satisfying historical read – full of angst, love and suspense.

Under The Mistletoe

25 Tuesday Dec 2012

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Book Review, Jill Shalvis, Lucky Harbor, Under The Mistletoe

Under the Mistletoe is the newest installment in Jill Shalvis’s Lucky Harbor series and provides long-time readers a quick update, while giving new readers a tantalizing glimpse into her wonderful little town. Mia, who first appeared in The Sweetest Thing, is coming home for her aunt Chloe’s Christmas Eve wedding and asks her boyfriend Nick to come with her. Nick refuses, leaving Mia to wonder where their relationship is heading.

When I hear that Shalvis has released a new book, my first response is “Gimme, gimme, gimme!” and this one didn’t disappoint. It’s short, less than 100 pages, but packs a lot into a short space. It’s not as detailed as one of her longer novels, which is to be expected, but it is still full of heart and fun.

Both Mia and Nick have some issues resulting from their childhood – Mia was adopted and Nick spent his in foster homes. Mia reacts by needing to have people close to her but Nick is the opposite, wanting his space. Both have to evaluate where they want their relationship to go when these opposing needs collide.

Under the Mistletoe will bring readers a little Christmas cheer all year long. Those who have read Shalvis’s earlier stories will love getting an update on Maddie, Tara and Chloe. If you haven’t visited Lucky Harbor, this is a good place to get a quick taste. You’ll likely find yourself heading out to get her backlist.

The Bridegroom Wore Plaid

22 Saturday Dec 2012

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Book Review, Grace Burrowes, The Bridegroom Wore Plaid

Grace Burrowes begins a new historical romance series with a bang. In order to help his clan, Ian MacGregor, the Earl of Balfour, must marry an heiress. Genie Daniels’s parents want a title for her. The match should be perfect, except it is Genie’s penniless cousin, Augusta, that Ian can’t resist.

The Bridegroom Wore Plaid is a thrilling story, full of intrigue, danger, love and heartache. There isn’t much of a mystery – readers are given the villain right away and his reasons are made obvious – but the way it plays out is still very thrilling and the ending is quite satisfying.

Ian is all you could want in a sexy Scottish hero. He’s loyal, dedicated to his family, hard working, and handsome. He’s willing to sacrifice his own happiness but he won’t make anyone else suffer if he can help it. Some may be uncomfortable that he’s trying to woo one girl while secretly seeing her cousin, especially because they believe it can lead nowhere, but there has been no agreement made to actually wed Genie. They are just supposed to be getting to know one another to see if they would suit. Ian is desperate for her money but he is too honorable to intentionally hurt her.

Augusta has had a hard life as the family’s poor relation, since the death of her family. Spending time with Ian, though, reminds her of the person she used to be and helps her grow into someone more. She’s smart, interesting, and pretty. She cares about those around her and only wants to see them happy.

There are a handful of secondary characters that add depth and interest to the story – Ian’s brothers (Con and Gil), their sister (Mary Fran), Genie, Genie’s sister (Hester), their aunt (Julia), Genie’s brother (Matthew) and Mary Fran’s fun-loving daughter (Fiona). The developing relationships among them don’t get a lot of detail but Mary Fran and Matthew have a novella coming soon, so there might also be ones in the works for the others. Regardless, they provide some added emotion to an already heartwarming story.

If you like a little suspense and heat in your historical romances, The Bridegroom Wore Plaid is a perfect choice.

An Infamous Marriage

18 Tuesday Dec 2012

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An Infamous Marriage, Book Review, Susanna Fraser

A couple wed because of a death-bed promise, a romance destroyed during its first tender moments by infidelity … Can they make their relationship work? Jack Armstrong joined the army young and has spent most of his adult years in foreign lands. Home on leave, he finds his childhood friend dying and makes a promise to marry the man’s widow before heading back to his post in Canada. Years later he has returned, only to find a furious wife waiting for him. Because of their unusual beginning, Elizabeth didn’t necessarily expect her husband to forgo other women, but she did expect him to be discreet. She’s been living with scorn and pity for years because of his actions. Can he do anything to win her forgiveness … And her love?

An Infamous Marriage is a regency treat. It takes place in the country, far from the glittery London ton, and centers around a gentleman farmer turned soldier during times of peace and war. A good historical romance gives readers a glimpse of the time without boring them or leaving them to feel like they’d spent time in the classroom. This one is no exception. Susanna Fraser shares small snippets of North America during the beginning of the 19th Century as well as life of English country gentry. The ending brings us to Waterloo and, though there is some artistic license, it paints an intriguing, personal picture of the time leading to Bonaparte’s defeat. My only real complaint is that we are introduced to characters and then not provided their fate. I can only hope there are other stories for them in the works.

I’m not a fan of infidelity in my romances but in this case it works. The marriage is more like a technicality, something on paper and not in spirit. It gives Jack someone at home to take care of things and Elizabeth has someone to support her. She isn’t as upset of Jack’s actions as she is by the gossip it creates and I enjoyed the conflict that arose from it, painful as it was at times. Their developing feelings are handled smartly and the realization of their love, and all the fallout it could bring, is very sweet.

This is Fraser’s third novel and packs quite a punch – full of heart and wit and fire. I’m looking forward to hunting down her other two novels and will definitely keep an eye out for future projects.

By the Book

16 Sunday Dec 2012

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Book Review, By the Book, Mary Kay McComas

Ellen Webster feels like the poster child for the adage about nice people finishing last. In a single day, she loses a parking space, her place in line at the store, and a promotion, plus she finds out that the woman she trained at work makes more money and her friend is interested in the guy Ellen wants to date. Spotting a booklet titled ”Have It Your Way, Getting What You Want”, she decides she’s had enough. She’s going to start standing up for herself.

By the Book is a lovely little story. As with McComas’s story Ms. Miller and the Midas Man, it was written in the mid-90s but it doesn’t really affect the book. Ellen has to learn what is important to her and the kind of person she wants to be. She’s sweet, caring, and giving, but she feels like she gets taken advantage of. She’s also tired of never getting the guy. All the women at the bank have noticed the mysterious stranger who is running the store across the street. Can she turn her new attitude into a date with the hunky new guy? Although readers will realize where the book will lead them, Ellen’s journey is quite enjoyable.

Jonah Blake has his own issues. His father left him alone at military school while he traveled the world as a photographer. Now, years later and after no contact with his father, Jonah is in town running his father’s camera shop while he is in the hospital following a stroke. Jonah has long-held bitterness and anger directed at his father for his abandonment. He finds himself attracted to Ellen and her generosity, but has not found an opportunity to meet her. He finally gets his chance and her very big heart works its magic on him.

By the Book brings readers an endearing tale of a woman who just needs to realize that being a good person doesn’t mean that she can’t also be happy.

Ms. Miller and the Midas Man

15 Saturday Dec 2012

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Book Review, Mary Kay McComas, Ms. Miller and the Midas Man

In Ms. Miller and the Midas Man, Augusta Miller has spent her life feeling like a disappointment. Since the age of 4, she’s been on the path to being a world-renowned violinist. But an injury forced her to quit. Now she teaches music in a small town elementary school and gives violin lessons on the side. She’s looking to make a safe, comfortable world for herself and she doesn’t believe it can include her sexy next-door neighbor. In order to be closer to his daughter, Scott Hammond takes the job of high school principal in his home town and moves into his childhood home. He’s fascinated by his gorgeous neighbor and it’s apparent that, though she doesn’t want to, Augusta also feels the attraction. Can Scott help her overcome her past and take a chance on a long-term relationship? Can she get over the fear that she will somehow disappoint him too?

Originally published in 1998, this story does nothing to show its age. The characters are entertaining and funny, but Gus’s insecurities and Scott’s reaction give it heart. I was a little confused by the depth of her issues, based on the reasoning provided, but, as is often the case, childhood feelings are deeply rooted and can seem inflated when seen with adult eyes. Once I accepted it, the story moved quite well. Scott is perfect, of course – kind, caring, hard-working, smart, handsome, and funny. He’s a good father, a dedicated principal, and a sexy mate. He doesn’t have any issues left over from his divorce, which is refreshing. The conflict in the story comes solely from Gus but it is handled nicely.

Ms. Miller and the Midas Man is a sweet story of a woman coming to terms with her worth, finding the ability to trust in herself, and believing that she is enough to be happy in love.