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Book Review – Ashes

01 Wednesday Jan 2014

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As promised, here’s my review of Ashes. 

*****

07ab7-ashes-cover-500Accidents happen for a reason…

Journalist Ambrosia Pellerin accepts an assignment involving the legendary phoenix, expecting, if nothing else, a little entertainment. Instead, she winds up pregnant—by a surprisingly human-looking firebird, Reece Bennu.

As the Phoenix prince, Reece is next in line to the throne and expected to marry a purebred royal. A common human such as Ambrosia is not in the cards. He swears, though, he’ll never be an absentee father.

As Ambrosia’s due date grows closer, so do the soon-to-be parents. But will their tentative love survive the prejudice of Reece’s grandmother, who will stop at nothing to tear the two apart?

I really enjoyed getting to know Reece and the world that he inhabits, plus meeting Ambrosia and following along as she gets to know his world too. Gilman does a great job of giving her readers something that will appeal to a large audience – you’ve got an accidental pregnancy between strangers, a rich and powerful family that doesn’t approve of their relationship, and then the supernatural world of phoenixes. It’s one that you need to be ok with the paranormal part to be able to truly enjoy it but the nice thing is that at its heart there is a more basic story too. It’s not all about the woo-woo world they live in, it also about two people falling in love and facing a choice of whether what they could have is worth fighting for.

Lovers of paranormal romances will find this a definitely treat. Phoenixes, people … that’s a new one for me, but I’m digging it. We’ve seen a lot of vampires and shape shifters but it is also fun to have something different and creatures that live among us undetected, who are hard to kill and have long lives but with definite weaknesses … the possibilities for stories are endless and there are some open ended threads in this one that hint at more (not gaping holes, but there are possibilities for on-going story lines).  I’m excited to see what else Gilman comes up with.

Book Review – Conveniently His Princess

29 Sunday Dec 2013

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Book review time!

*****

cover32437-mediumOnly one thing stands between Aram Nazaryan and the high-powered position he craves: the proper wife. Although this billionaire would do anything to return to Zohayd, the desert kingdom he considers home, marrying Princess Kanza Aal Ajmaan is too high a price to pay. Or so he thinks—until he meets Kanza…and she turns his world upside down.

After claiming Kanza as his princess, everything falls into place. But then she learns the truth. She may have married for love, but his vows are tainted by ambition. Will doubt, betrayal and mistrust end this too-convenient union?

I think these romances with middle eastern heroes aren’t going to be for everyone – the men tend to have very specific ideas and are more dominant than some romances – but they are very popular with some.  Personally, I liked it, so if you are into this kind of thing this is definitely a good choice.  It is part of a series, so there are returning characters, but they play a small enough role that you can read this one as a stand alone novel.

And being a Harlequin Desire book, some of the prose tended to be a little more flowery than maybe some other romance novels – the hero and heroine make statements that some may find cheesy – but the plot was very interesting and I was quite satisfied with the resolution.  Some of the sex scenes were a little florid too, but hot at the same time.  Just prepare yourself for a more colorful writing style and you’ll be ok.  The story is definitely worth reading as long as you are OK with the tone.

Book Review – Fighting Love

26 Thursday Dec 2013

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We’ve seen a sneak peek of this one before here, but check out what I thought of it with my new review.

*****

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Talk about kicking a fighter while he’s down.

Former Middleweight champion and confirmed bachelor Tommy “Lightning” Sparks has lost it all: his belt, his career, and now his home. After the devastating fire, he moves in with his drama-free best friend, Julie. One encounter changes everything and Julie is no longer the girl he’s spent his life protecting but a desirable woman he wants to take to his bed. Knowing his reputation, he’s determined to protect Julie more than ever—from himself.

Veterinarian Julie Rogers has been in love with Tommy since she was ten, but would love to get over the man. She’s quiet nights at home and a glass of wine. He’s clubbing all night and shots of tequila. As friends they work great. As a couple? No way in hell. She just can’t get her heart to agree. When she starts spending time with another fighter, the man who’s always treated her like a sister is suddenly not being very brotherly and enflames her body like never before.

Can two childhood friends make a relationship work, or will they lose everything because they stopped FIGHTING LOVE.

I loved LOVED loved Niles’s Extreme Love and I was very excited to hear that another “Love to the Extreme” novel was coming out … and Fighting Love didn’t disappoint.  I laughed through a good portion of it and the ending brought tears to my eyes – and being able to elicit that much of a reaction definitely makes it a winner in my book.

If you’ve read Extreme Love, you’ll remember Tommy and his best friend, Julie.  Her feelings for him were pointed out, as well as the fact that he was very clueless.  But life’s thrown him a few curves and it’s going to throw him one more when suddenly the two are facing mutual feelings of a non-sibling variety.  All of the delicious trouble that could come out of this kind of situation is there in Niles’s latest, and she delivers them with a beautifully deft hand.

In Extreme Love Niles gave readers a very Alpha male hero – one that I knew not everyone was going to like – but both Caitlyn and Dante appealed to me and she made them almost leap off the page.  With Fighting Love she once again delivers.  Her characters are absolutely engrossing – they come alive in amazing Technicolor glory, full of life and confusion, complication and hope.  From the first page I felt every up and down as Tommy and Julie felt them.  And, though very much a fighter (both in the cage and in life), Tommy isn’t quite the overt Alpha that Dante was, so I think that this one will appeal to a larger audience.  (And the nice thing is you definitely don’t have to have read Extreme Love to be able to enjoy it.)  But Niles didn’t skimp on the hot-factor, so prepare yourself for another scorcher.

And I’m all over the fact that she’s hinting at two upcoming heroes (Mac and Brody) so I’ll be anxiously waiting for their stories to make an appearance.  Niles has definitely made a lifelong fan of me – her characters are just so compelling, her stories are fast-paced and well-developed, and her writing style is very addictive.  I get giddy just knowing that she’s got something new coming out.

Book Review – Candlelight Christmas

24 Tuesday Dec 2013

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For Christmas Eve, I want to share a wonderful holiday read.  Check out my latest review.

*****

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A single father who yearns to be a family man, Logan O’Donnell is determined to create the perfect Christmas for his son, Charlie. The entire O’Donnell clan arrives to spend the holidays in Avalon, a postcard-pretty town on the shores of Willow Lake, a place for the family to reconnect and rediscover the special gifts of the season.

One of the guests is a newcomer to Willow Lake—Darcy Fitzgerald. Sharp-witted, independent and intent on guarding her heart, she’s the last person Logan can see himself falling for. And Darcy is convinced that a relationship is the last thing she needs this Christmas.

Yet between the snowy silence of the winter woods, and toasty moments by a crackling fire, their two lonely hearts collide. The magic of the season brings them each a gift neither ever expected—a love to last a lifetime.

When I first discovered Susan Wiggs, I went through her “The Lakeshore Chronicles” series like it was candy.  I just couldn’t put them down and went straight from one to another until I ran out of released books.  That was shortly before Marrying Daisy Bellamy came out, which is the story of Logan’s ex … and I just couldn’t do it anymore.  I started the book and I think that it just broke my heart.  I felt so badly for Logan, who wanted to make a family so much, and I just couldn’t see it to the end – not that there is anything wrong with the book, both Julius and Daisy are fantastic.  I just loved Logan so much, all of the difficulties he’d faced and how he wanted to make things work out, that it was hard for me to get through … which is a wordy way of telling you why I was BEYOND THRILLED to see this book come out.

Logan started out as such a messed up kid, a lot of pressure from his dad and a substance abuse problem led him to be a wild child … then he knocked up Daisy Bellamy.  Once he decided to turn his life around, he did it whole-heartedly and he has definitely grown into a fantastic man and a wonderful father.  I love seeing him with Charlie.  They have a relaxed and hilarious relationship but Logan still knows how to be the grown-up.  In Logan, Wiggs has given her readers a man who they can identify with – one who is flawed but strives to do the best he can.  He’ll find a way into your heart and make himself at home.

Darcy is new but she’s just as much fun.  Her love of life got a little crumpled after her divorce but she’s starting to get it back … and spending time with Logan and his family helps even more.  I love these two together – they are fun, funny and I fell in love right along with them.

But the best part of any Wiggs book is that it isn’t just a romance.  It is as much about the people around them, their friends and families, as it is about the couple.  They aren’t perfect but they are definitely appealing and I had a great time getting to know new people and catching up with old friends.  If you’ve never read one of “The Lakeshore Chronicles” books, you can definitely start right here (and those that have already picked up the book so they know what I’m saying).  You’ll meet some of the characters from the previous stories (more than just Logan’s family) but you don’t have to know their history.  At most, you’ll be tempted to start at the beginning and work your way through them all.  I know I’m adding those two books I missed to my To Be Read file, because now that Logan finds his happy ending, I think I’ll be able to make it to the end.

Candlelight Christmas is the perfect choice for a holiday read, or any time of year.  It’s an addictive, feel-good, happy-ending, give-you-the-warm-and-fuzzys story that should not be missed.

Book Review – Color Me Bad

23 Monday Dec 2013

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I’m going to share with everyone a short novella that you’ll want to pick up in preparation for Sharon Sala’s upcoming book, Curl Up & Dye.  It promises to be quirky, fun and sweet. But first let’s look at Color Me Bad.

cover34555-mediumAn original short story by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Sharon Sala links to her full-length contemporary women’s fiction novel, The Curl Up and Dye.

The novella centers around the four women who run the Curl Up and Dye hair salon and their relationships with the quirky customers of small-town Blessings, Georgia. Their meddlesome efforts at match-making run awry, but there’s always another makeover just around the corner.

This is a fun introduction to the world Sala has created in Blessings, Georgia – it is entertaining and definitely whets the appetite for Curl Up and Dye, coming out in February. It’s got all of the spunk and spice you’d expect from small-town Southern women, with their smiles and Bless You’s covering heartbreak and troubles.  Their humorous antics made me laugh, while I hurt for them at the same time.

Come join me in getting to know the fabulous citizens of Blessings and don’t be surprised if you find yourself anxious to visit again.

 

Book Review – Christmas in Snowflake Canyon

23 Monday Dec 2013

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Check out my review for a great holiday read.

*****

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Holiday gifts don’t always come in expected packages…especially in the town of Hope’s Crossing.

No one has ever felt sorry for Genevieve Beaumont. After all, she has everything money can buy. That is, until she discovers her fiancĂ© has been two-timing her and she’s left with two choices: marry the philanderer to please her controlling father or be disinherited and find a means to support herself.

Genevieve’s salvation appears in the most unlikely of prospects: Dylan Caine, a sexy, wounded war vet whose life is as messy as hers. Dylan’s struggling to adjust after his time in Afghanistan, and the last thing he needs is a spoiled socialite learning about the real world for the first time. True, she may have unexpected depths and beauty to match. But he knows he could never be the man she needs…and she knows he could never be the man she thinks she wants. So why are they each hoping that a Christmas miracle willl prove them both wrong?

Like Sophia in Brenda Novak’s Take Me Home for Christmas, Genevieve has a horrible reputation around her small town community – some of it deserved and some of it not.  It is hard but also encouraging to see her stumble around, trying to right some wrongs but to also find out for herself the person she is and the one she could be.  She’s got a lot of spunk and courage.

Dylan on the other hand is doing a little running, from the truth and life and other people.  But, inexplicably drawn to Gen, he’s quickly given a swift kick … and while he might fight it every step, it’s the kick he needs to evaluate his life and where he’s going.  He’s a good man, also courageous and full of fight, but he needs to remember that too.

I absolutely love these two and their journey.  And considering how much I enjoyed Charlotte and Spencer in Willowleaf Lane, it just proves that Thayne has an amazing talent for giving her readers believable, sympathetic, engaging characters.  I couldn’t put the book down and anxiously turned pages as I waited for Dylan and Gen find their way to their own happy ever after.

This is only my second Raeanne Thayne book, but it definitely won’t be my last.  (And if you haven’t read any of her books you can easily start here.  Like a lot of series, Thayne does a great job of filling in all the pertinent details about what has happened before.)  Christmas in Snowflake Canyon is amazingly sweet and touching and heartwarming and all of those other fuzzy feelings that you want from a great holiday romance.  With an endearing cast of characters and a heartfelt story, it’s guaranteed to please anyone looking for a feel good read.

 

Book Review – Take Me Home for Christmas

19 Thursday Dec 2013

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Time for a holiday book review!

*****

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I have not been shy about sharing my love for Brenda Novak’s“Whiskey Creek” novels – When Lightning Strikes , When Snow Falls , When Summer Comes – and Take Me Home for Christmas doesn’t disappoint.  We’ve gotten to know Ted and Sophia through the rest of the series (although if you haven’t read any of the others, don’t worry) and now we finally get their story.

Christmas is a time for remembering…

Too bad not all memories are pleasant! Everyone in Whiskey Creek remembers Sophia DeBussi as the town’s Mean Girl. Especially Ted Dixon, whose love she once scorned.

But Sophia has paid the price for her youthful transgressions. The man she did marry was rich and powerful but abusive. So when he goes missing, she secretly hopes he’ll never come back—until she learns that he died running from an FBI probe of his investment firm. Not only has he left Sophia penniless, he’s left her to face all the townspeople he cheated.…

Sophia is reduced to looking for any kind of work to pay the bills and support her daughter. With no other options, she becomes housekeeper for none other than Ted, now a successful suspense writer. He can’t bring himself to turn his back on her, not at Christmas, but he refuses to get emotionally involved. He learned his lesson the last time.

Or will the season of love and forgiveness give them both another chance at happiness?

I will say up front that my only complaint is that we don’t get a better explanation of their past. We were given the bits and pieces but I would have liked to have had a full on discussion about exactly what happened and why. We got the idea, so while I wanted Sophia to own up to her reasons, we got enough and really the details don’t impact their current relationship.

Ted was great and I was drawn in by his confusion, hurt and uncertainty, but it was Sophia that I felt for most.  I ached for Sophia as she tries to figure out what she’s going to do now that her life has imploded so dramatically.  She’s had a very awful life but she managed to grow into an amazing woman and I cheered for her every step of the way.

We’re also given a look at their friend Eve’s story as she looks for her own love.  I know that Novak will give her a HEA, but it looks like there might be some heartbreak before she gets there.  I felt for her so during Take Me Home for Christmas but based on the tidbits that we were given, I think that her path might get more rocky before she’s done.

As always, Novak gives readers engaging characters, full of heart and humor and sadness, but always so real they could live next door.  Take Me Home for Christmas is a fantastically sweet read, perfect for the holiday season, reminding us about love, forgiveness, and second-chances.

**And for those new readers – Novak does a fantastic job of giving the highlights of what has come before, especially as they impact this story, so if this is your first book you’ll be fine.**

Book Review – Compromising Willa

12 Thursday Dec 2013

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Lady Wilhelmina Stanhope is ruined and everyone knows it.  Back in Town for the first season since her downfall, Willa plans to remain firmly on the shelf, assuming only fortune hunters will want her now.  Instead she focuses on her unique tea blends, secretly supporting a coffee house which employs poor women and children.  If her clandestine involvement in trade is discovered, she’ll be ruined. Again.

No one is more shocked by Willa’s lack of quality suitors than the newly minted Duke of Hartwell.  Having just returned from India, the dark duke is instantly attracted to the mysterious wallflower.  His pursuit is hampered by the ruthless Earl of Bellingham, who once jilted Willa and is now determined to reclaim her.

Caught between the clash of two powerful men, a furious Willa refuses to concede her independence to save her reputation. But will she compromise her heart?

When I first started writing this review, I thought I’d never read any of Diana Quincy’s “Accidental Peers” books before but then realized I’d read Book 2, Tempting Bella.  And really liked it.  But if you haven’t read any of them, don’t worry about it – Compromising Willa can definitely stand on its own.  But I definitely recommend reading other books by Quincy if these two are anything to go by.

The interactions between Willa and Hartwell are fantastically fun.  They are sassy and funny and they both give as good as they get.  Hartwell is fabulous – he’s charming, handsome and caring.  He is immediately drawn to Willa’s cheek and blatantly sets out to win her hand.  Willa is also wonderful – she’s given up on ever marrying, but she’s strong, smart and resourceful in her own right.

Some may be thrown off by Bellingham – he’s quite the villain.  Convinced that he’s loved Willa for ages, he’s intentionally set out to ruin her reputation to keep away other men until he’s in a position to marry her.  He’s got a horribly black heart and does despicable things to people.  Quincy may have been a little zealous in making him the bad guy, but she does it with such style that you actually enjoy hating him.

The plot is well-developed and the pacing is very smooth.  As we move through each of the stages of Hartwell and Willa’s relationship, I kept finding more and more to be captivated by – from the initial stages where she tries to rebuff his advances to their engagement and Bellingham’s machinations, Quincy finds new and interesting roadblocks to their happy ever after.

Compromising Willa is a wonderful treat for those who like historical romances – the dashing, gorgeous hero has to win the heart of his clever, sexy heroine and defeat the plans of the dastardly villain.  It’s deliciously fun, with a clever narrative and engaging characters, and I’m definitely looking forward to more.

Book Review – Talking Dirty with the Boss

11 Wednesday Dec 2013

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Marisa Clair wants to get her artist dreams back on track after a life detour. That means no partying, no shopping…and definitely no men to distract her. Should be easy, but there’s something about her hot and exceedingly uptight boss and she can’t seem to stop herself from ruffling Mr. Tall, Dark and Irritating.

Financial consultant Luke McNamara lives his life strictly by schedule – his OCD simply won’t allow him to do anything else. And the very last thing he needs is a sassy blonde putting lipstick on his collar and messing with his routine. She annoys the hell out of him so why can’t he stop thinking about the color of her panties…and how free he feels when he’s with her?

Marisa and Luke’s plans to steer clear of one another are shot to hell after a hot office encounter. Now the two of them will have to learn to get along as they face a much more permanent reminder of their lack of self-control – a pregnancy.

I absolutely loved this book, read it in less than a day and didn’t want to put it down.  The funny thing is that I REALLY didn’t like Marisa at first.  There is just something about her that drove me nuts, but as I got to know her I started to feel for her.  She comes across as quite self-confident, even cocky, but it is all an act to keep people from looking at her too closely.  Ashenden does such a fantastic job of making her so sympathetic that by the time the book was over I felt all of her highs and lows as if they were my own.

From the very beginning, Luke appealed to me – not because I personally have any of his quirks (just the opposite actually) but because he is so heartbreaking in his troubles.  He has such tight control over his life that you know he can’t be happy but he doesn’t see any other way to live his life.  And then comes Marisa … and she definitely shakes things up.  He’s actually the reason I initially decided to pick this one up.  I was SO captivated by the idea of a gorgeous, sexy man having to live with OCD.  I just read about a similar man in Wendy Sparrow’s novella, On His List and found the idea intriguing.  Luke is smart, sexy and caring but he carries a heavy burden and is often mistaken for being cold or weird.  He definitely makes you remember that all of those odd people in the world may have things going on that you can’t see or understand.  The outer disabilities are much easier to recognize than the ones that are on the inside.

This is Ashenden’s follow-up to Talking Dirty with the CEO and Talking Dirty with the Player and though I’ve not read either one, I’m very much intrigued.  The heroes and heroines from both books make very small appearances in this one and their storylines don’t seem to have had any direct impact on this book, so if you haven’t read them either you’ll be fine.

You’ll find Talking Dirty with the Boss to be an interesting new take on the unplanned pregnancy romance – with a flawed hero and heroine who just need someone to see who they are underneath and love them anyway.  Sharp and witty writing, combined with interesting and troubled characters, make this a can’t-miss read for romance lovers everywhere.

Book Review – Playing Doctor

09 Monday Dec 2013

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Review time!

*****

Cover_Playing Doctor - Jan Meredith

When a fellow RN jokingly predicts that Beth Roberts will meet a tall, ripped and totally lick-o-licious stranger who will fulfill her deepest desires, it’s supposed to be from across a crowded room, not giving CPR to a wedding guest. Given her tragic love life, Beth has no desire to become involved again, but who could have predicted the ponytailed doctor with the mischievous smile would break through her defenses?

Dr. Gabriel North blamed himself for his wife’s death. Now, after two years of battling guilt and meaningless hookups, he’s ready to move on. When he sees the sexy brunette at his friend’s wedding, his attraction is swift and strong, and he wastes no time in pressing his advantage. One night with the woman who makes him feel alive again isn’t enough, but gaining her trust as a man was going to take more than medical school had prepared him for.

Jan Meredith certainly knows how to bring her readers The Sexy – Gabe is definitely lick-o-licious!  And even though he has off-the-charts chemistry with Beth, it’s the tender moments that make the book work.  Mixed in with the flirting and the steaminess, the heart-to-hearts they have over their pasts and what they want for their futures are just as powerful.

Meredith brings her readers two characters that have the depth and emotion that you would normally find in a full length story.  They are very real and you understand why they’ve ended up where they have.  A lot of times these short stories have to give up some of that development in order to fit into a smaller package, but Meredith does a fantastic job of giving readers the believability needed to truly enjoy the story.  And I absolutely love the ending – it’s the perfect way to wrap up Beth and Gabe’s story.

Playing Doctor is full of passion but it also has a lot of heart.  Just over 100 pages, it proves to be a sweet and sensuous little book about opening up and loving again.  So curl up with something warm to drink and be prepared to be swept away.