Twice the Trouble

11 Tuesday Dec 2012

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Book Review, Judy Griffith Gill, Twice the Trouble

On the first day of second grade, Maggie Adair receives a call that her daughter has been fighting. She’s stunned, because her daughter is usually a quiet student. New to town, widower Dr. John Martin also gets a call that his daughter has been in a fight. He’s not surprised, since his daughter is somewhat volatile, until he finds out that she’s on the receiving end. When the two arrive at the school, they are amazed to find out that their girls have been mixed up because they look exactly alike. Apparently Jolene and Andi are twins separated at birth and adopted to different couples. Is this a chance for these two families to be one? Maggie was burned by love and John has secrets of his own. Can they overcome their pasts and create a future?

I really enjoyed Twice the Trouble. It is fast and somewhat short (a little over 150 pages), a perfect fit for the more hectic holiday season when you can only steal a few moments to read. It is similar to Gill’s Summer Lover in that it is a re-release of a story originally published in the 1990s. It doesn’t really show its age, just a couple of spots where you might go “huh?” until you remember it is an older story (like Michael Bolton on the radio or a car phone instead of a cell phone).

It is also similar to Summer Lover in that it moves very quickly. The romance between Maggie and John doesn’t take long to develop, although they do a good job of fighting their attraction for a while. Both have their reservations about getting involved, most notably the fact that the girls are sisters and could be hurt if things don’t work out, but it flows very well. Both Maggie and John are believable and interesting. Their reasons for not getting involved, and their struggles about it, make for an interesting read.

In Twice the Trouble, Gill gives readers likable main characters, adorable little girls, and a few quirky small town citizens to liven things up. If you’ve got some time in between shopping, cooking and wrapping, kick your feet up and slip into this enjoyable tale of two people deciding if they are ready to take a risk on love.

Summer Lover

08 Saturday Dec 2012

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Book Review, Judy Griffith Gill, Summer Lover

The attraction between Gray Kincaid and Donna Mailer is instantaneous and undeniable. But can Donna trust him? Ten years ago her world was shattered by his father and half-brother, forcing her to leave home. Now his father wants to buy her family’s campground and appears to be willing to do just about anything to get it, regardless of legality. For Gray, Donna is his ideal woman. Can he convince her that he’s nothing like his family? Or will a decade old secret ruin everything?

Summer Lover is a fast, enjoyable read. It came in at a little over a hundred pages and moved quickly. I had some trouble with the dialogue, mostly early in the story, because Gray seemed to move too quickly and be a little pushy. I did get past it and I think that it was partly due to the book originally being published in 1992.

I liked the plot – I thought I’d figured out how the secret would play out, but it took a little bit of a turn toward the end that was fun. I did have issues with the way it was resolved with Gray’s father. I felt that there could have been more detail to explain his actions and how things were going to proceed. Overall, though, the rest of the story was engaging enough to make up for it.

The characters were fun, once I got past my initial reaction to Gray. He overcame any negative feelings I had quickly, showing a charming, caring side to his personality. There have been difficult moments in Donna’s life and she’s understandably wary of getting involved with Gray. She’s somewhat sheltered because of her past and Gray has to deal with getting through her shields.

I think that for some the story may move too quickly – the book covers just a few days – but it delivers a good light read with a bit of a bite. The time spent while Gray and Donna get to know each other is sweet, with the secrets and revelations adding some depth.

My Kind of Christmas

07 Friday Dec 2012

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Book Review, My Kind of Christmas, Robyn Carr, Virgin River

Angie LeCroix came to Virgin River to visit her Uncle, Jack Sheridan, and decide what she wants to do with her life following a severe car accident. She is immediately drawn to Patrick Riordan, the youngest of the Riordan brothers, who is also visiting so he can evaluate his life after his best friend dies in battle. Both are convinced they just need some time to themselves, that is until they meet and decide they just want time alone together. But, of course, the Sheridans and Riordans can’t help getting involved.

My Kind of Christmas is the newest in Robyn Carr’s Virgin River series. Although it can stand alone, it will be like a holiday visit with old friends for those that have enjoyed earlier books in the series. If this is your first, no worries – you’ll feel right at home and will want to spend more time in Virgin River reading the previous stories. Although Carr’s little town isn’t as quirky as Jill Shalvis’s Lucky Harbor or Susan Mallery’s Fool’s Gold, it does have a lot in common with them – it’s a town full of people with big hearts, who give everything they have, creating a place that is extremely appealing even during the hard times.

Angie has a delightfully blunt charm. She’s young but she’s had a serious, life-altering event and it’s caused her to take a closer look at where her life is headed. Paddy is a little misguided but it is understandable for all he’s been through. The emotional roller coaster he’s on, one of guilt, anger and grief, would play with anyone’s mind. Once they meet, the two are inseparable – giving so much to those around them, helping each other work through their issues, and deciding where to they want to go after this break from their normal lives. The supporting cast is wonderfully nosey, entertaining and caring. Guaranteed to entice new readers to run out to get the rest of the series and get to know them even better.

Coming Soon

29 Thursday Nov 2012

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There’s another sexy, FUNNY release coming from Loveswept on 12/10/2012 – THE ESCAPE DIARIES by Juliet Rosetti:

Introducing the hilarious new heroine, Mazie Maguire, in Juliet Rosetti’s irresistible debut novel that follows the outrageous adventure of a woman on the run. Wrongly convicted of killing her philandering husband, Mazie Maguire is three years into her life sentence when fate intervenes—in the form of a tornado. Just like that, she’s on the other side of the fence, running through swamps and cornfields, big box stores and suburban subdivisions. Hoping to find out who really murdered her husband, Mazie must stay a few steps ahead of both the law and her mother-in-law, who would like nothing better than to personally administer Mazie the death penalty via lethal snickerdoodle. With the Feds in hot pursuit and the national media hyping her story, Mazie stumbles upon a vast political conspiracy and a man who might just be worth a conjugal visit—if she survives.

“What does an innocent escaped convict, a killer shih tzu, fuzzy jelly beans and cow manure have in common? An exhilarating, rollicking adventure that never quits and a heroine that has you cheering her on all the way.”~Barbara Vey, Publishers Weekly

A review will be coming in the next few weeks but if you don’t want to wait, here’s the buy link.

NEW IN JANUARY is debut Wendy Vella from New Zealand!! Her book, THE RELUCTANT COUNTESS is on sale 1/14/2013!!

From rising romance star Wendy Vella comes a Cinderella story of whirlwind passion between a dashing earl and a beautiful countess—and the secret that threatens to tear them apart.

‘Secrets, lies, and raging desires – the journey to love has never been more thrilling!’ ~ Award winning author Brownwen Evans

The Reluctant Countess by Wendy Vella (Excerpt)

Here’s the buy link.

Then fabulous for February is Sharon Cullen’s debut, THE NOTORIOUS LADY ANNE – “Sharon Cullen’s The Notorious Lady Anne has everything I look for in a romance – swashbuckling adventure, a hero and heroine with sizzling chemistry, and non-stop, leap-off-the-page action. Cullen’sdebut is a sexy, fun and thrilling read.” ~ Shana Galen, Bestselling Author of When You Give a Duke a Diamond.

On sale 2/11/2013 – buy here

Romancing the Holiday

29 Thursday Nov 2012

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Book Review, Christi Barth, HelenKay Dimon, Jaci Burton, Romancing the Holiday

Romancing the Holiday brings readers three novellas full of sizzle and heart. In We’ll Be Home for Christmas by HelenKay Dimon, Lila Payne shows up to take over her uncle’s resort and finds the man she had a three-night stand with a few months back … a man that gave her another name. Ask Her at Christmas by Christi Barth finds Caitlin McIntyre’s best friend asking her to marry him … except he’s practicing to ask someone else. Now she not only has to hide how she really feels about him but he asks her to help him plan the perfect proposal. A kiss shared by coworkers at last year’s Christmas party has caused tension at the office in Jaci Burton’s The Best Thing. Now Brody and Tori have to decide how they are going to move forward.

I love the idea of anthologies – a collection of bite-sized stories in one book – but I’m also a little leery of them. I’m usually afraid that they will be too short or the author won’t put the detail in them to give them enough depth. These three, though, are extremely satisfying. The characters are well-developed and engaging. Each story has its own feel, with the Christmas season being the theme that ties them together, and are emotion-packed.

Both We’ll Be Home for Christmas and The Best Thing are part of a series. I’ve read a story in each of the series, in fact I reviewed an earlier story in Dimon’s series here, but don’t worry if you haven’t. Theses stories can definitely be enjoyed on their own and will likely cause you to want to read more.

Spencer Thomas is a treat in Dimon’s We’ll Be Home for Christmas. He’s highly intelligent, with multiple degrees, but when it comes to women he is clueless. He has had bad role-models when it comes to women sticking it out. His own mother left, as well as the women in other significant relationships in his life. If I have any complaint about this story, it is that there wasn’t enough detail about those women. I think that because it is part of a series, Dimon glossed over some of the history. The story, though, is definitely enjoyable regardless – watching Spence bumble through his interactions with Lila and his realization of his feelings – and the ending is very sweet…. and readers are given plenty of sizzle along the way.

Ask Her at Christmas is touching. You will feel for both Caitlin and Kyle as they deal with the fall-out from his decision to propose to a woman as part of a business merger. It is probably hard for most people to understand, as the majority of us wouldn’t be in that situation, but Barth handles it with finesse. Some might find Monica, Kyle’s soon-to-be fiance, to be a little shallow and cartoonish, but she’s fun as the antagonist.

Burton also handles the conflict in her story, The Best Thing, with style. She aptly captures the problems inherent with an office romance and draws readers in very quickly. Brody, like Spence, is a bit of an idiot when it comes to relationships, but he also quickly realizes where his heart is leading him and it is charming to watch.

If you are looking for quick reads to get you in the mood for the season, Romancing the Holidays is a must. And you just might find yourself with a list of books to read into the new year.

Born to Be Wild

28 Wednesday Nov 2012

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Book Review, Born to Be Wild, Donna Kauffman, The Three Musketeers

Born to Be Wild is the second in Donna Kauffman’s The Three Musketeers series. Dara Colbourne spent her childhood trying to be included in the close friendship shared by Zach, Jarrett and her twin brother, Dane. All she got for her trouble was merciless teasing by Zach. Now, all grown up, Dara works for a foundation that grants wishes to seriously and terminally ill children. She hasn’t seen Zach in years, but now he’s been picked by a donor to head up a camping trip for some of her kids. Zach runs an adventure business, taking thrill-seekers to extreme locations – like skiing down an active volcano or swimming with sharks. Dara doesn’t think that he’s the right person for the job but Zach won’t let it go and gets her to agree to a trial run. If she finds his plan acceptable, she will ask the foundation board to approve him for the trip. But spending time together might show them both that the teasing from their childhood has grown into something much more adult.

I have to be honest – I had to read this story twice. The first time I only made it about half way before I put it down to read something else. And I can’t pinpoint exactly why. The writing is great, the characters are interesting, and the plot-line is intriguing. I think maybe I just couldn’t personally connect with the conflict in the story. Dara’s history means she has issues with the way Zach makes a living – her dad died in a small plane crash when she was in her teens and she lost her fiancé to a surfing accident while in college. She’s afraid of losing someone else in her life because of their need for an adrenaline rush. Even though Zach works very hard to minimize any risks involved on his trips, it doesn’t make it any easier for Dara. Zach loves what he does but he can understand why Dara might have trouble with the dangers involved. Once they finally give in to each other the pages fairly sizzle and the ending was wonderful. I’m happy that I finished the book – it was satisfying and the story is handled delightfully.

Born To Be Wild is a story about reconnecting with your past and with yourself. Dara & Zach’s journey is fulfilling and, if you have the same problem I did, just keep reading. It is worth your time.

***Although this is the second story in a series it can stand alone. The characters do make appearances in each of the stories, but not in any way that would be confusing. Please keep in mind that this is a reprint and the original was published in 1995 so there is some outdated technology. Overall though, the story does not show its age. I also reviewed the first story in the series, Surrender the Dark. For that review, please visit here. ***

Babycakes

23 Friday Nov 2012

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Babycakes, Book Review, Cupcake Club, Donna Kauffman

Babycakes, the third book in Donna Kauffman’s Cupcake Club series, is a treat – full of warmth, humor and tenderness. Kit Bellamy lost everything when her greedy brother-in-law sold the family’s pie company. Mamie Sue’s Peanut Pies was created by her great-grandmother and had been run by the women in her family for generations. Now lost on what to do with her life, Kit takes a job working for Lani Dunne’s cupcakery in the small town of Sugarberry Island. Morgan Westlake has become guardian to his brother’s orphaned niece and moves with her to the island so she can be close to both of her grandmothers. There’s a definite spark between Kit and Morgan, but can she ever overlook the fact that his family’s law firm is the one that helped take her company away from her?

With this series, Kauffman has created a wonderful world that will make you plan a visit to the Georgia coast. The inhabitants of Sugarberry Island are always fantastic – caring, quirky, funny. . . they will tug at your heart, when they aren’t tickling your funny bone.

Morgan and Kit are great together. She has her hang-ups about his family but they are resolved in a satisfying manner. He, of course, is perfect – giving, sexy, intelligent, charming …. you name it. His dedication to his niece, Lilly, is compelling and Lilly herself is delightful. Watching the three of them find their way in their new lives and with each other is endearing, making this a not to be missed, feel-good read.

***Although it is part of a series, Babycakes can be read on it’s own. I’ve only read the first book, Sugar Rush, but I enjoyed it and was looking forward to this book. And I definitely plan to pick up Sweet Stuff as soon as possible.***

When Snow Falls

20 Tuesday Nov 2012

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Book Review, Brenda Novak, When Snow Falls, Whiskey Creek

Growing up, Cheyenne Christensen didn’t have a real home. She lived like a nomad with her mother and sister, thanks to her mother’s less than honest lifestyle. But when Cheyenne was a teenager, her mother was diagnosed with cancer and the three found themselves staying for longer than normal in Whiskey Creek, putting down roots. Now, that same cancer is back and Cheyenne finds herself caring for her dying mother. She also has to deal with the fact that her best friend has expressed an interest in the man that Cheyenne has loved since high school. Add to that, she has some concerns that there was more to her childhood than her mother is telling her. And, since she is dying, if her mother doesn’t tell her now she may never know the truth. This is a lot for anyone to deal with … can she also handle an instant and uncontrollable attraction to the baddest of the infamous Amos brothers? Is this a mistake or exactly what she needs?

When Snow Falls is book three in the Whiskey Creek series, following When We Touch and When Lightning Strikes. Every time I read one of these stories I think that it is my favorite and that the next one won’t be as good … And each time I am wrong. I absolutely LOVED Dylan Amos. He reached off the pages of the book and burrowed into my heart. Dylan gave up so much and managed to not only survive but make a solid life for his brothers. He made some mistakes and he’s paying for them now, with how almost everyone looks down on him. But if only someone would take the time to look deeper they would find he is so much more. The care and support that he gives to Cheyenne, plus the dedication and sacrifices he made for his family, has made him my favorite … well, so far. With two more Whiskey Creek novels on the calendar for next year, who knows.

This is a standalone book, but I highly recommend that if you haven’t read one of Novak’s books, run right out and get one now. When We Touch is a free novella so you have no excuse. When Snow Falls is an amazing story of the bindings of family and love, and how who we are isn’t defined by those around us or by the expectations of others, but instead by who we are at our heart.

The Bridge

19 Monday Nov 2012

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Book Review, Karen Kingsbury, The Bridge

Karen Kingsbury’s The Bridge is a poignant story of misunderstandings, faith and love. For thirty years, Charlie and Donna Barton have owned The Bridge, a new and used bookstore in Franklin, Tennessee. They have made it a welcoming place for those who are seeking a connection or help through books, treating everyone who comes in the door as family. Now a flood has destroyed everything … Can Charlie find the strength to go on? Molly Allen and Ryan Kelly met as college students. Every day they visited The Bridge and found a home there together. But their friendship came to a sudden end seven years ago and they’ve not seen each other since. Can the devastation left behind by the flood be a miracle in disguise and bring them back together?

Kingsbury gives readers another compelling treasure, full of heartbreak and second chances. This is a fast read and a wonderful way to get into the holiday spirit. As the book progresses, you get the details of Molly and Ryan’s relationship, and you feel so bad for them – their budding relationship was so sweet and endearing. They were young and learning so much together, about themselves and growing up, only to have things change so drastically, so quickly. Usually I despair over a situation where a little communication could fix things, but Kingsbury delivered it so smoothly and satisfyingly that I embraced it whole heartedly. Charlie and Donna play back-up to Molly and Ryan, but their situation is just as touching. And their perseverance in the face of hardship is inspiring.

I recommend The Bridge to anyone looking for a reminder about the reasons for the holidays and the good things that can happen to anyone who reaches out to embrace the wonders of life.

Jane’s Gift

18 Sunday Nov 2012

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Book Review, Jane's Gift, Karen Erickson

Two years ago, Jane Clark was widowed by a fire. A fire that left her burned, with a lot of scarring and her confidence shattered. She’s now moved back to her small hometown of Lone Pine Lake with her two kids to be closer to her family while she gets back on her feet. Christian Nelson is a fire captain and close friend of her brother’s. They arrange for a tour of the station to help her children feel better about fires. There is an instant attraction between them but Chris is not one for commitment after seeing his parents’ trouble marriage and Jane has serious reservations about his job. Can the wonder of the holidays bring these two together?

Jane’s Gift is a delightful and moving story. Jane has been through so much and is understandably wary – not only of the dangers of Chris’s job but also of getting involved in someone that won’t stay, leaving her alone again. She’s tough, courageous and beautiful. Her issues regarding fires and being left are compelling. Chris is drawn to Jane and her kids, even thinking long-term for the first time in his life. He’s hard-working, dedicated and funny. His problems are also handled with care and understanding. Their relationship, though quick to develop, is sweetly delivered. Erickson makes the conflicts that arise between them easily relatable and I really liked the fact that she had the characters react with grace and understanding. It was discussed, resolved and they moved on – no grudge holding or making each other pay for any slights felt. And it had a feel-good ending that warms your heart.

If you are looking for an emotion-packed book, pick up Jane’s Gift. It’s the perfect complement to the holidays – a book full of love, laughter, and forgiveness.