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Book Review – Three Minutes to Happiness

06 Sunday Apr 2014

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cover41643-mediumPhotographer Valentine Jones doesn’t believe in love, but when her romantic friend Maggie drags her along to a speed dating event, she finds herself reluctantly attracted to architect Finn Logan. Against her better instincts, she ticks yes on her scorecard to seeing him again. He never calls.

Finn shouldn’t have flirted with Val at the speed dating event. He was there to chaperone his wayward niece, not find another girlfriend – he has two already. When he meets Val again at his cousin’s wedding, he tries to explain, and ends up kissing her instead.

Finn’s company need a photographer to nail an important contract, and Val needs the job. Before long, Finn has dissolved his harem, and persuaded Val into his bed. She’s all for a quick fling, but nothing more – a ruined marriage has taught her that love is an illusion. But Finn’s ruthless pursuit is making her change her mind, until the party at his parents’ house that changes everything…

Three Minutes to Happiness is book 2 in “The Logan” series and I will say that I think that I missed out on just a little bit by not having read book 1.  There is discussion on the romance of Finn’s brother – how he was dating his fiance’s sister but something happened (obviously) – and it affected Finn’s view on relationships.  I think that it might have helped to have more information on what happened so new readers could understand.  I felt that the rest of the book easily stood on its own so just a few sentences to help explain would have been nice, but overall it was just an annoyance instead of something that would cause me to rate this book lower.

I did feel like Finn fell for Val a little too quickly.  He went from having a “harem” to being in love in just a couple of days.  I think that if he wasn’t so against it or if they’d had more time it would have been more realistic.  Val’s issues though were a little more believable.  Her mother has had a lot of heartbreak in her life, trying to find her Mr. Right again after Val’s dad died, and Val had a front row seat.  Then Val got married young only to have her husband cheat.  All of it combined to make her not believe in love.  But she had a few really good conversations and her dealings with Finn make her reevaluate.  It’s a little slower (or at least more explained) transition so it worked a little better for me.

Overall though, I found Three Minutes to Happiness to be very enjoyable.  It’s a sweet romance and a fast read, the characters are engaging and for the most part the story is believable.  If it appeals to you, I say give it a shot – your take on Finn’s change of heart might not be the same as mine.

Book Review – The Marshal’s Ready-Made Family

05 Saturday Apr 2014

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cover38599-mediumGentlemen don’t court feisty straight shooters like JoBeth McCoy. Just as she’s resigned to a lifetime alone, a misunderstanding forces the spunky telegraph operator into a marriage of convenience. Wedding the town’s handsome new marshal offers JoBeth a chance at motherhood, caring for the orphaned little girl she’s come to love.

Garrett Cain will lose guardianship of his niece, Cora, if he stays single, but he knows no woman could accept the secrets he’s hidden about his past. The lawman can’t jeopardize Cora’s future by admitting the truth. Yet when unexpected danger in the small town threatens to expose Garrett’s long-buried secret, only a leap of faith can turn a makeshift union into a real family.

I really enjoyed The Marshall’s Ready-Made Family.  Usually my historical romances are all about the British lords and ladies so it was a nice change to move to the Old West.  Being a part of the Love Inspired line, it delivers the expected heart-tugging warmth their books are known for.

Jo is wonderfully unsure of herself – she’s not the typical girly girl (well, as girly as you get in small town Kansas).  I’d actually think that she’d be more attractive because she can take on a lot and life would have been hard, but I think she’s intimidating instead.  Garrett is a guy’s guy, as to be expected from a lawman in the West.  He’s a straight-shooter and doesn’t take a lot of nonsense.  But he’s also carrying a heavy burden and now is taking on the role of father for his orphaned niece.  The little girl is sweet and charming as only a moppet of a child can be and she instantly steals Garrett’s heart (and Jo’s too).

These two have a lot to work through before they can make a true family for Cora.  I think it is a little unfortunate that they do that work alone, instead of together, but their journey to peace is an interesting one.  For those who like a historical western, I think this one is a winner.  It’s an interesting take – with a woman that doesn’t fit in even in her rough world and a man who is carrying a whole load of weight on his shoulders.

Book Review – Loving the Marquess

03 Thursday Apr 2014

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cover28998-mediumShe is on the verge of losing everything…

To save her home and keep her two younger siblings safe, Louisa Evans must turn to the head of the family that ruined hers.

He needs an heir…

The Marquess of Overlea is starting to show signs of having inherited the same illness that killed his father and older brother. To prevent the marquisate from falling into the hands of an unscrupulous cousin, Overlea must secure an heir before that illness also claims him.

But he is determined not to be the father of that heir…

Overlea’s plan is simple—marry the practical, yet desperate, Miss Evans and hold Louisa to her promise to provide him with an heir. But he waits until after they are married to tell his wife that he intends to have another man father that heir. His careful plan becomes complicated by an almost desperate need to claim Louisa for himself and an outside threat that proves even more dangerous than his illness.

I have put off reading Loving the Marquess (it’s been on my To Be Read list for a long time) and I have absolutely no idea why.  The blurb caught my attention, which is why it was on my TBR list, but for some reason I just never picked it up.  Now I regret it, because this book is quite enjoyable.

I really liked both Overlea and Louisa.  He’s your typical stubborn lord, convinced that he knows best and clueless to his emotions.  She’s sweet but strong, having to take care of her family from an early age.  They are definitely a good match for each other and once they get to the point that his silly plan is no longer on the table it was nice to see their connection deepen.

Speaking of Overlea’s little folly to have someone else father his heir, I think it could be off-putting for some but it was handled well and really didn’t go anywhere that would make anyone uncomfortable.  The plan was concocted very logically, too bad the heart had to get involved.  Being stubborn, of course, it took Overlea longer to let it go but Medeiros tied it all together nicely.

There’s a little bit of intrigue toward the end that added a little spice to the story.  I think that Overlea might have figured things out a little too easily, especially as it contradicted some strong beliefs, but otherwise it worked for me.  And had just that perfect little twist to keep things interesting.

There are also some great secondary characters that I’m looking forward to seeing more of in future books.  Louisa’s siblings and Overlea’s friend provide the perfect material for another couple of stories and although we didn’t get to know them very well, there was just enough to make me intrigued about the possibilities.

Medeiros is a relatively new author but she shows a lot of promise.  Loving the Marquess is perfect for those looking for a historical romance – the characters will keep you turning the pages and that touch of mystery will have you coming back for more.

Book Review – A Wicked Pursuit

31 Monday Mar 2014

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cover38990-mediumIn Isabella Bradford’s enthralling new trilogy, three noble brothers—London’s most scandalous rakes—are about to do the unthinkable: settle down. Harry Fitzroy, Earl of Hargreave, is the first to meet his match and lose his heart . . . to a lady who’s not all what he expected.

As the eldest son of the Duke of Breconridge, Harry Fitzroy is duty-bound to marry—and marry well. Giving up his rakish ways for the pleasures of a bride’s bed becomes a delightful prospect when Harry chooses beautiful Lady Julia Barclay, the catch of the season. But a fall from his horse puts a serious crimp in his plans. Abandoned by Julia before he can propose, the unlucky bachelor finds himself trapped in the country in the care of Julia’s younger sister.

Harry has never met a woman like Lady Augusta. Utterly without artifice, Gus is clever and capable, and seems to care not a fig for society. After a taboo kiss awakens passion that takes them both by surprise, Harry realizes he’d almost given his heart to the wrong sister. While London tongues wag, he’ll use his most seductive powers of persuasion to convince the reluctant Gus that she belongs with him—as his equal, his love, his wife.

I found A Wicked Pursuit to be an interesting read – another where the blurb didn’t quite fit the story as I read it. A good portion of the book is made up of Harry’s recovery from his injury. Julia has run off to London to find another beau, one that isn’t crippled, but Gus is keeping the truth from Harry. Luckily he doesn’t want her to see him injured so it isn’t that hard. Instead Gus and Harry spend time together getting to know one another and working their way thru his recovery. All along, Harry actually is looking to get well so he can propose to Julia and doesn’t really give falling for Gus a second thought. She’s not a beauty and she’s not flirty like he’s used to. Instead she smart, competent and compassionate – traits that have Harry reevaluating his future without him really knowing it.

I’d read another of Isabella Bradford’s books When The Duke Found Love, and while I enjoyed the story well enough and liked the hero, I wasn’t really a fan of the heroine. In this one, though, I really enjoyed both characters. They are interesting, charming and fun together. It isn’t an action-packed or drama-filled story. Instead it’s a slow burn – two people getting to know each other and slowly falling in love, discovering some truths about themselves and about each other. It’s sweet and somewhat refreshing not to have a lot of ups and downs. There is a little bit at the end but they quickly and smartly work through it, leading to a very satisfying ending.

A Wicked Pursuit is the first in the “Breconridge Brothers” series and the rest will follow Harry’s brothers. If they are anything like this one, I’ll be picking them up as soon as possible.

Book Review – Feel the Heat

30 Sunday Mar 2014

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cover36173-mediumIF YOU CAN’T STAND THE HEAT . . .

Photographer Lili DeLuca spends all her time working at her family’s Italian restaurant, instead of following her dream of getting an MFA. When famous British chef Jack Kilroy unexpectedly challenges her father to a cook-off, Lili decides she’s tired of playing it safe and vows to seduce the tempting Brit. But once a video of her and Jack kissing goes viral and her luscious (if voluptuous) butt starts trending on Twitter, Lili fears she’s cooked up a recipe for disaster . . .

Jack Kilroy’s celebrity has left him feeling used and used up. While Lili’s oh-so-sexy moans when she tastes his delicious creations turn him on, he’s even more aroused by how this beautiful, funny woman is unimpressed by his fame. He knows they could be amazing together, if she could only see past his rabid, bitch-fork-wielding fan base. Now as he’s about to start a new prime time TV cooking show, can Jack convince Lili to realize her own ambitions-and turn up the heat in his kitchen?

There is so much going on with this story – Jack’s unhappiness with his life path and his disconnect with his sister, Lili’s insecurities over her weight and her shifting family dynamic, plus a whole slew of other DeLuca’s thrown in for fun. It’s laugh-out-loud funny, but it also has a deeper emotional complexity. Everyone has fears and Meader does a wonderful job bringing those to the surface and doesn’t pull any punches.

I loved Jack – his passion and strength, the fact that he whole-heartedly accepts Lili and wants to support her at every turn. He’s smart, funny, sexy and so very very HOT. Lili has a lot of baggage leftover from growing up fat and now there is tension in the family because her mother just recently beat cancer. Not only did Lili put her dreams on hold to help out with the restaurant, but it also put a strain her relationship with her father and her sister. She’s so unsure of herself when it comes to taking a chance, whether it is on her photography or with Jack, and it makes her very relatable.

Like a good Italian family, there are tons of people around, all of them were interesting and hilarious.  Plus Jack brings along a couple of his own. The interactions between the different characters – at times cheeky and other times poignant – absolutely sparkled. It wasn’t just Lili and Jack, although I smiled every time they got together because I knew they’d say something to make me laugh. Everyone was witty and funny but still true-to-life and by the time I was done, I felt like I knew these people and could call them friends.

With Feel the Heat, Meader shows her talent, with a wonderfully engaging writing style and captivating characters, and I’m looking forward to many more books to come.

Book Review – His Favorite Regret

29 Saturday Mar 2014

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cover42256-mediumCadie Calhoun Wade is having a helluva week. She’s the Thing of Honor for her sister’s wedding. She’s finalizing her divorce. The neighbor’s dog keeps stealing into her house and treating her feet like a salt lick. And it’s a certain anniversary for a day that still stays with her, even a year later.

Her childhood best friend is also back in town. And not any ol’ friend, either. Bo Garrett just happens to be the most famous action hero in the world.

And boy, has Bo missed his Cadie! They parted on such dumb, stupid, moronic terms. And now that he’s back in Phoenix to get some outside shots for his latest alien flick, he’s not about to let her slip away again. Of course, his agent only has dollar signs in his eyes and thinks Cadie’s no Angelina. Bo’s sisters have a bit of a vendetta against her, too.

With the week Cadie’s having, she wonders if it’s just too much. That they just weren’t meant to be.

Which means Bo needs to work overtime to convince her otherwise. Luckily, an action star knows when and how to flash his smile and his muscles. And when to let the heart do the talking instead.

Especially when it comes to the girl who was his biggest regret.

His Favorite Regret was surprisingly deep. There are a lot of issues that get brought up and resolved (I don’t want to spoil anything so I’ll leave it at that). But these difficulties are mixed in with funny and lighthearted moments, making it fun and charming and a fast read.

I liked both Cadie and Bo. He is wonderfully supportive of her and pursues her relentlessly. He knows that he let her get away once and that he doesn’t want it to happen again. She is going through a horribly rough patch and she needs that support. Life has beaten her down so it is hard for her to imagine that Bo’s interest is serious, but he’s a very patient man … especially for a big shot movie star. Together Cadie and Bo are funny and sweet and fun.

I will say that the supporting cast is a little bit of a cliché – few of them support Bo and Cadie, tending to be judgmental or self-involved. But for comic relief they are a ton of fun, you just can’t take them too seriously. This is the start of a series so some of those characters may get their own story and make more sense but for now they are just another bit of humor in an entertaining story.

At about 150 pages, it isn’t novella length but it is something you can finish pretty quickly. And since Bo and Cadie are so engaging, you’ll probably have a hard time putting it down so that’s a good thing.

Book Review – Spiraling

29 Saturday Mar 2014

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cover41019-mediumBlue-blooded Amelia “Amy” Astor was a champion, America’s sweetheart, and on track to give the US Olympic medal glory before she gave it all up to join skating’s equivalent of the circus. Now she’s a professional princess, the lead in Enchanted Ice. But in an industry that values young, cheap, and healthy, her age, salary, and injuries are a liability.

So when she’s offered a job teaching Hollywood heartthrob Shane Marx to skate for a role in a hockey film, she leaps at the opportunity. Maybe with the right kind of exposure, she can survive one more season and put off decisions about her future a little longer. If she invites the wrong kind of exposure…well, there’s that pesky morals clause waiting in the wings.

Shane Marx traded his boy band dance moves in TruAchord for acting lessons years ago. His blond, blue-eyed gorgeousness makes him the most sought after romantic comedy lead in the movie industry. But lately his clean-cut image has been tarnished by one sex scandal after another.

When America’s ice princess meets Hollywood’s hottest leading man, what could go wrong? Inside that sequined costume is a woman of steely determination who has conquered many of her demons. And beneath his sinfully attractive exterior, Shane Marx is a man still battling his.

Spiraling is definitely not your typical romance and I was surprised at how difficult this book is to read. Not because it was a bad story but because it dealt with some very serious issues. Both Amy and Shane were very engaging – I was drawn to them from the beginning – but they both battle problems that, if they don’t get control of them, will destroy their futures. I really had fun getting to know them and seeing them get to know each other, but most importantly getting to know themselves. It was difficult at times, but always very compelling. It wasn’t always hardship for them, though, there were some fun times too which just made them all that more appealing.

I think my favorite part was that love didn’t conquer all. These two have to get help and want that help, before anything will change. It’s very realistic and somewhat hard to take at times, but that just meant the payoff was that much better. Spiraling is not an easy read, but it is definitely a worthwhile one.

Book Review – Curl Up & Dye

27 Thursday Mar 2014

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cover30442-mediumWally Lamb meets Steel Magnolias in this story of LilyAnn Bronte, the Peachy-Keen Queen, which in Blessings, Georgia, was the epitome of success. After losing her fiancé in the war in Iraq, her zest for life went into decline while added weight crept on. When a new guy arrives in town, LilyAnn embarks on a quest to remake herself from start to finish only to discover that love was always just right next-door.

I have to give a warning first – there are a couple of violent sequences (explicit and implied) that may be hard for some people to read.  I’m not at all squeamish and they bothered me.  I think, after reading Color Me Bad, I was expecting something a little more lighthearted – a Southern Belle romp – but while there are lighthearted moments and some good ol’ fashion “Bless Your Heart” charm, the story was much more serious than I thought it would be.

We start at the beginning with a history of Lily and how she got to where she is – how 11 years have past her by without her noticing.  She’s been standing still for so long it has become a habit but she’s finally decided it is time to move forward.  She’s interesting and flawed and normal and real.  Her best friend and neighbor Mike is just as engaging.  He’s loved her since they were teenagers but has been too afraid to say anything and she’s been too oblivious to notice how he feels.  Events are set into motion a storm that will rock their world and either tear it apart or bring them a happy ending.

Of course, like any worthy small-town tale, this one covers more than just Lily and her romantic fumbles.  And those secondary characters are just as interesting as the primary ones.  Full of quirkiness, fun and drama, they nicely round out Sala’s newest and leave little tidbits to possible future stories.

With colorful characters and an enticing story line, Sala’s new series proves to be amusing and appealing.  I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out for more.

Book Review – Dark Promise

23 Sunday Mar 2014

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cover43876-mediumLove can unlock the secret to saving two worlds.

As the Golden Aspen Tree withers, darkness consumes the Dragon Demons of the Underworld, turning them feral. Prince Eric Wyvern must keep his darkness at bay and woo the silver-haired human tainted with angel blood whose touch is prophesied to save the Golden Tree and restore light to the Underworld.

Cassandra Wright, a gifted psychic, has dreamed of Eric her whole life. When her dream lover joins her on a ski vacation, he plunges her into a nightmare. Imprisoned in a dying world filled with abuse and torture, she must become the Demon Prince’s mate or remain trapped forever. If she fails to fulfill the prophecy, the darkness will spread to her world. But how can she give herself to this dark and frightening version of the man of her dreams?

Eric will give Cassandra the world, if only he can make her see past the darkness to the man he really is, and help him save it first.

Even though this isn’t one of my favorite books, I’ll definitely be giving this series a chance. There are good bones here, I just wasn’t all that into the execution. The idea is fantastic – I love the parallel fantasy world that Guida has developed – but the beginning of the story spends a little too long on details that don’t seem to matter to the overall story and not enough is given to the important things.

I want to get to know their world better – their history, their culture, how things relate – but we get a lot of posturing by Eric in our world. He’s trying to woo Cassandra but it doesn’t really work and a lot of time is spent on her ex. It makes sense to have Eric get close to her so I’m on board with that but there is way too much time describing the scenery or details about people (some who don’t turn out to be all that important to this story). Maybe it is to set up the scene, I don’t know, but for me it doesn’t go anywhere.  There are a lot of pages that could have been spent developing a connection between Eric and Cassandra but don’t.

The action really started when we get to Eric’s world and it was absolutely fascinating. I love the idea of what darkness could do to normally good people. But, because we don’t get a good basis for Eric and Cassandra’s relationship, when they have to become mates it just doesn’t feel warm and fuzzy. I will say from that point on, even though it will be disturbing for some, it is very engaging. The evil things that are done and the way that it is taking over their world is disgusting but it makes the ending that much better.

I really like the fact that there are far reaching effects from this time. Eric has a nephew who isn’t consumed by the dark and is fully aware of all of the things that are done to him and to others. He is just a boy and this will definitely leave some scars. Guida isn’t shy about letting you know that either.

Overall, I think this could be a good start to a new series. I’ll give the next one a shot to see if some of the kinks in the flow have been worked out because I’d love to see more of this world.

Book Review – Empty Net

23 Sunday Mar 2014

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cover29874-mediumIn Toni Aleo’s third novel in her hot Assassins series, the chiseled men of this Nashville hockey team can make anything happen when they go all out for the women they want—even turn a one-night stand into a happily ever after.

Audrey Parker is up against the boards. She’s stuck in a job she hates and pining for a total jerk. Meanwhile, her sister Fallon is moving out and getting married to hockey star Lucas Brooks. Where is Audrey’s Prince Charming? Nothing she does has ever seemed to be good enough for any of the men in her life. Audrey’s about to hit rock bottom . . . until she wakes up next to Tate Odder.

The thrill of moving up from the minors to the Nashville Assassins was a welcome distraction. But not even becoming the first rookie goalie to tally three shutouts in the Stanley Cup finals alleviates the pain. With the loss of his parents and sister weighing as heavily on his soul as ever, Tate Odder can’t keep pretending he’s okay. That’s when he meets smart, sexy Audrey. Her gentle warmth and quirky sense of humor make him feel whole for the first time in too long. But to stay that way forever, Tate must find a way to accept his past and learn to live for love.

I should accept by now that these Assassins books are just going to be an emotional rollercoaster. I’ve read Taking Shots and Trying to Score and both of them broke my heart at least a couple of times. Empty Net proves to be no different.

Audrey has some serious self-esteem issues that she has to work through and a pretty big secret that has caused her to seek out only bad relationships. We got a glimpse of how bad her latest one with Levi is in Trying to Score but we get a little bit more of it here. Unfortunately those issues cause her to fight her feelings for Tate for most of the book. There is a lot of back and forth on her part and that man has the patience of a saint to put up with it. But the nice thing is that once she gets everything straight in her head it goes much better for them.

The blurb makes it seem like Tate has some issues of his own to work through, but I didn’t really see it. For being only 21 years old, he is amazingly mature and he handles the curveballs thrown by Audrey with a lot of grace and understanding. He’s centered and caring and giving, the Prince Charming that Audrey needs. He just has to wait for her to realize it.

I love that we get some updates on the previous characters and a hint at what is to come. Blue Lines looks to be just as much of a heartbreaker as the stories that have come before it, but I’m looking forward to every heart wrenching moment.

If you are brave enough to take it on, and I totally suggest you do, Empty Net may leave you wrung out but it will also leave you satisfied.