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Book Review – It Takes Two to Tangle

08 Friday Nov 2013

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Time for another book review.

*****

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Though he lost the use of an arm in the Napoleonic Wars, Henry Middlebrook returns to London society and begins an ambitious courtship of the ton’s reigning beauty. When he experiences limited success, he decides to ask for assistance from the beauty’s companion, Frances Whittier. A soldier’s widow with a murky past, Frances admires Henry’s courage and sends him a secret letter. He thinks the letter is from her mistress, and Frances must correct his mistake if she wants to engage his heart.

The blurb seems a little choppy but the book itself is beautifully done and both Frances and Henry are engaging and fascinating. Henry has a lot of baggage left over from the war, not only from his arm but also from the battle that caused his injury. He’s finding it difficult to reclaim a place in society and he sees Caroline as the way to get him there …. and Caroline’s companion, Frances, as a means to win. He’s a man of great pride and that pride is going to cause him issues when it goes contrary to his heart.

Frances has a history of making poor choices with men. And I think that is the only reason that I’m not sure I understand her decisions. She knows what deceiving a man can do but she doesn’t tell Henry the truth right away. I think I would understand her reasoning a little better if she hadn’t had something similar go so poorly in the past and she knows that Henry is not going to take it well when he finds out she’s the letter writer.

But I love the friendship that sparks between these two. They mesh well and understand each other, are witty and charming and humorous together, but with a deeper connection. You know that it is going to blow up at some point, and of course resolve itself, but the journey is sweet.  In It Takes Two to Tangle, Romain creates two enthralling characters that pull you in right away and keep you glued to the pages until the very end.

Book Review – Fatty Patty

06 Wednesday Nov 2013

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Review time!

*****

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Small towns, long memories. Everyone in the exclusive summer resort of James Bay, Michigan remembers FATTY PATTY, the chubby little girl with the round face and wild red curls. All grown up now, Patty Perreault teaches at the same elementary school where the painful playground memories still taunt her. She hasn’t forgotten the cruel nickname—plus she still hasn’t lost those extra pounds. Convinced her weight is the biggest reason why she’s a four-time loser in the semifinals for Teacher of the Year, Patty resolves to make some changes in her body and her life.

Sam Curtis, an overweight accountant she meets at the community pool, swims into Patty’s life with romance on his mind. But as their friendship grows, Patty finds it hard to see beyond his extra pounds. She’s torn as Sam refuses to deal with his own overweight issues. Her heart tells her one thing, but her eyes see another. She’s not interested in an overweight boyfriend.

When it comes to winning the Grand Prize in life and love, Patty has some hard lessons to learn. Will she be able to confront her fears about the kind of woman she yearns to be? Will she be able to put down the fork and give her heart a try?

I honestly did not like Patty for much of this book … But I think that was kinda the point.  We were meant to be able to identify with her but not necessarily find her likable.  She knows that she’s making bad choices and saying or doing unflattering things, but she can’t help herself.  Some of it broke my heart but I could see myself thinking or doing the same things.

Paterka does a fantastic job of giving readers someone who could just as easily live next door as between the pages of a book.  It is so easy to see how Patty gets herself into these situations and why she does what she does.  She’s so believable and relatable.

Patty does a lot of growing throughout the story and by the end I found myself rooting for her – she learns what’s important and where she belongs.  Fatty Patty is a sweet story about love, growth and learning what is important.  And I’m glad I read through to the end.

Book Review – Undeniable

05 Tuesday Nov 2013

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It’s review time again!

*****

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Grace King knows two things for certain: she loves working at her grandmother’s café and she loves the hunky town sheriff. She always has. As she bakes him sweet treats, Grace fantasizes about helping him work up an appetite all night long. But whenever she thinks she’s finally getting somewhere, he whips out some excuse to escape. Growing up, he never looked twice at her. Now Grace won’t rest until she has Jax’s undivided attention.

Jaxson Anderson can’t deny that his best friend’s kid sister is the sexiest woman in Mirabelle, Florida. Unwilling to burden Grace with his painful past, Jax keeps the sassy blonde at arm’s length. Yet one heated kiss crumbles all of his carefully built defenses. But when a town secret surfaces, threatening to destroy everything they believe in, can the man who defended Grace from bullies as a child protect her now?

Undeniable is Richard’s follow up to Undone, which tells the story of Grace’s brother (and Jax’s best friend) Brendan and his wife Paige.  As with a lot of series, this one can technically stand on its own but I think that you might miss some of the nuances not having read the previous book.  BUT having said that, if you want to start here you’ll be fine.  I haven’t read Undone (yet) and I thought this one was fantastic.

Readers are given a great mix of suspense and romance with Jax and Grace’s story.  Jax, as a sheriff’s deputy, is investigating break-ins around town and of course the culprits cross paths with Grace at some point.  You can probably figure it out somewhat easily but even so it is well-developed and interesting.  Richard does a great job of keeping it simple and to the point – she doesn’t throw in a lot of twists and turns – making it realistic and believable.

The biggest part, though, revolves around Grace’s long-standing love for Jax and whether he will ever admit, and give in, to his feelings for her.  The emotional damage done by Jax’s abusive parents is the main thing holding him back.  Even though he had people in his life that loved and supported him, it is extremely hard to let go of those feelings of worthlessness that come from years of having his own father tell him he’s nothing.  Jax screws up so many times with Grace but knowing what his life was like you can definitely understand why he would feel the way he does.

Grace is pretty well adjusted, especially for someone who has spent a lot of her life being called a bastard.  She has never known who her father is and always wondered why he wouldn’t want to know her.  She’s also spent almost all of her life loving Jax and she’s tired of waiting for him to love her back so she takes matters into her own hands.  Things are definitely rocky for the two but she handles it like a trooper.

Richard does an amazing job of giving us realistic characters with realistic problems and reactions – they are so believable that I hurt and celebrated right along with them.  And as much as I absolutely LOVED these two, my favorite part is that the story is about so much more than them.  They have a fantastic group of friends and family who have genuine love and support for one another.  They all have their own problems and they are guaranteed to have heart-breaking stories when given their own books.  I’m looking forward to each and every one.

Undeniable gives readers rich characters, quirky small-town charm, and heartfelt highs and lows, with just that perfect touch of mystery to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Review – Plus One is a Lucky Number

30 Wednesday Oct 2013

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Review time again!

*****

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Sophie’s going to a wedding where the invite is strictly plus one… but with her single girl status not exactly fitting in with the bridesmaid dress code, and the best man being none other than the ex she would rather forget, Sophie needs a favour and she needs it fast!

Luckily for Sophie, her dreamy but distant co-worker Adam Reid owes their mutual friend James big time…and his gorgeousness more than fills the role of the ‘Perfect Boyfriend’!

As they take off to the sunny shores of Cornwall for the wedding weekend, it’s not long before pretence leads to passion and Sophie and Adam must decide; is their relationship real or is it all for show?

Plus One is a Lucky Number is another fake relationship novel and once again I think the author handles it very well.  There are some parts I’m not sure I totally understand – mostly Adam’s reaction to Sophie’s ex – but I don’t how much of that is because this is a UK book and how much is Morgan’s writing.  Overall though I found it to be quite entertaining and Morgan has an engaging style that kept me reading.

Like Shane in Her Accidental Boyfriend and Cane in Seven Day Fiance, Adam is afraid of commitment. He too had something happen in his past, which caused him to think he isn’t a good bet as a significant other.  It was great watching him fall in love and try to decide if he’s willing to risk a chance at a relationship with Sophie.  Sophie has some self-esteem issues related to a bad boyfriend and her time spent with Adam, plus the closure with her ex, does a lot to help her find herself again.  I really enjoyed seeing her come into her own, learn to believe in herself, and to stand up for what she believes is best for her.

Plus One is a Lucky Number is another cute reminder of the fun and complications that can be found when a couple has to act like they’re in love, only to find themselves falling for each other for real.

Review – Red Hot Dragon

29 Tuesday Oct 2013

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It has been a while but today I’ve got a new book review.

*****

cover35072-mediumGriffin Cadogan is surprised when Avani Monroe, the sworn enemy of his dragon family, walks into his gym. With his mating phase approaching, the dragon shifter wonders why she risks coming into enemy territory. Yet the dark-eyed temptress shocks him even more with an outrageous demand: She wants him to help her have a baby.

After her mother’s dragon line was annihilated by the Knights, Avani vows to continue her unique dragon breed-and the registries indicate that Griffin is the best candidate. Determined to mate, Avani plans to use her seductive beauty and powerful scent to entice Griffin. The big, strong Welsh man will make for a fitting partner . . . if he doesn’t kill her first.

When they spar over the terms of her proposal, Griffin and Avani can’t deny the intense, primal attraction they feel for each other. But as they become closer to creating a child, the lovers can hear danger encircle them as loud as the clapping of wings. The dragon slayers are coming . . .and they’re gunning for Griffin, Avani, and the entire dragon race.

Red Hot Dragon is sci-fi erotica at its best (I’m calling it erotica but you might think it is just a really hot romance) – it’s steamy, sexy, and sweet but with just that right amount of fantasy.  It’s not a very long story, a little over 50 pages, but it packs a lot of sizzle into those pages.  There’s a little bit of danger involved, but like with Lopez’s Dead Sexy Dragon it is mostly about Griffin and Avani coming to terms with their changing relationship – they’ve gone from enemies to lovers (& potential parents) to mates in a very short time. 

But for having so few pages, Lopez manages to fill them with a lot of goodies.  Avani is hesitant to get into a relationship with anyone, especially Griffin, but we get a good feeling for the reasons for her fears.  Griffin’s reasons for not being involved with anyone are much easier to understand – his job is very dangerous – but you can’t always control the heart.  I really enjoyed getting to know these two and watching them fall in love.  Lopez gives them great chemistry and, of course, you can’t ignore the scorching sex scenes. It might be a little flowery for some but it’ll definitely raise your body temp a few degrees! 

It is not as heavy on the paranormal as perhaps some would like, but Red Hot Dragon is the perfect choice if you are looking for a fast, super-sexy read with a little out of this world element.  And we get a peek at the story for the next book and it looks like it is going to be a doozy. 

Seven Day Fiance

18 Friday Oct 2013

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New review now up.

*****

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This is the second story about a pretend relationship that I’ve reviewed this week and both were a lot of fun.  Both Harris and Bielman (with Her Accidental Boyfriend) did a great job of giving us couples who had their reasons for avoiding commitment but fell in love anyway.

One bad boy. One good girl. One unforgettable week.

Angelle Prejean is in a pickle. Her family is expecting her to come home with a fiancé—a fiancé who doesn’t exist. Well, he exists, but he definitely  has no idea Angelle told her mama they were engaged. Tattooed, muscled,  and hotter than sin, Cane can reduce Angelle to a hot mess with one  look—and leave her heart a mess if she falls for him. But when she ends  up winning him at a charity bachelor auction, she knows just how to  solve her fiancé problem.

Cane Robicheaux is no one’s prince. He  doesn’t do relationships and he doesn’t fall in love. When sweet,  sultry-voiced Angelle propositions him, he hopes their little fiancé  game can finally get her out of his head. He doesn’t expect her to break through all his barriers. But even as Angelle burrows deeper into his  heart, he knows once their seven days are up, so is their ruse.

Meet Cane …. Typical bad-ass with a soft heart that he hides from everyone, except his sisters and closest friends of course – has tattoos and muscles, wears leather and rides a motorcycle, and is a legendary lover.   He’s convinced that marriage is not for him.  And then cupid smacks him upside the head.

Meet Angelle … She’s sheltered but has escaped to try her wings – beautiful, a little bit clumsy, smart, and innocent.  She’s no match for Cane in bed but she’s going to give him a run for his money when it comes to the heart.

I loved these two.  We first met them in Taste the Heat, the first book of the “Love and Games” series, and you knew then that the showdown was coming.  But even though we could see the outcome a mile away, Cane fought it with everything he had – it is so much fun to see a big, bad man brought to his knees by a sassy woman and Cane does it with grace and style.

We know that Harris is going to bring us the story of Cane’s sister, Sherri, but I’m also hoping she extends it to include some of the people we meet in Bon Terre (as well as Jason’s firemen friends from the first book).  There is a lot of potential for entertaining stories with Angelle’s ex, Brady, and her cousin, Lacey.  Not necessarily together but I’d definitely like to see them get their happy ever afters.

Like in Taste the Heat, Harris has a fun writing style and gives us intriguing characters and cute interactions, in a story full of humor and emotion.  It’s a great light read with hidden heart, sure to please romance junkies everywhere.

Dangerous Curves Ahead

16 Wednesday Oct 2013

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New review is now up

*****.

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Ellis Garrett is dumping her critical boyfriend, opening a plus-size clothing store, and starting a blog—all to spread the word that fashion shouldn’t require a size-two body, and happiness should allow for the occasional cupcake. Or two. But is indulging fantasies about her sister’s long-ago ex, the still-hunky Michael Edwards, biting off more than she can chew?

Mike must be losing his detective’s touch. He doesn’t recognize Ellis when he bumps into her at Size Me Up, and he certainly doesn’t remember his ex-girlfriend’s outspoken sister being so irresistible. Her curves are indeed dangerous—and so is her wit. Could it be that Ellis is his Perfect Fit? One thing’s for sure: Mike will make it his sworn duty to find out…

I love a book with a realistic heroine – one that has flaws, isn’t rail thin and who makes mistakes.  But I’m not sure how I feel about the amount of back and forth with the on-again/off-again relationship between them.  I’m good with some strife and difficulty in the relationship, but occasionally it gets a little old to have a couple continue to break-up and then get back together again.  I do think that Jamison does a great job of giving readers a compelling romance between Ellis and Mike … So maybe the reason I had difficulties with it was because I was too involved.

Ellis is deliciously sassy and I got a kick out of her interactions with Mike, a fun mix of cheek and heart.  She has quite a few hang-ups left over from her last boyfriend, as well as her relationship with her sister.  She has trust issues and her self-esteem has taken quite a hit – no matter what Mike says or does, she has problems seeing herself as worthy.  And Mike has his own issues.  He’s never been in a long-term relationship and isn’t sure that it is something that he’ll ever want.  His father left when he was a teenager and he doesn’t want to open himself up to the chance that he could be hurt like his mother was.  His desire to finally attempt a grown-up relationship with Ellis makes him an endearing hero with a charming vulnerability.

Both have a lot to work through which makes them very sympathetic and has you rooting for them to get the happy every after they both need.  Jamison also creates great secondary characters, so hopefully we’ll get some great stories coming up when Mike and Ellis’s friends meet their matches.  If she writes more like this, I’ll be first in line.

Dangerous Curves Ahead is a engaging mix of love, laughter and fun – memorable characters, smart dialogue, and warm emotions make for a compelling read.

Her Accidental Boyfriend

15 Tuesday Oct 2013

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Review is now up

*****.

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Kagan Owens has a secret. One she thought she’d escaped by leaving New York, but when her past follows her to her temporary new life, Kagan lets a teeny lie slip. And now the town’s biggest playboy and flirt, Shane Sullivan, has become her pretend boyfriend–just until she’s ready to return to NYC. But the handsome, fun-loving Shane makes it tough to determine where their friendly agreement begins and ends…

Shane has no intention of settling down–in fact, his job depends on it, and nothing’s more important than his work. Still, he can’t help but agree to Kagan’s scheme, if only to find out more about the mysterious beauty. But when every touch from her sets his heart and body on fire, he realizes playing an accidental boyfriend may be more than he bargained for–and more than he can give.

Who doesn’t love it when good-hearted, but commitment-phobic, rakes fall head over heels in love ….  As a follow up to the first “Secret Wishes” book, Kissing the Maid of Honor, readers couldn’t have asked for more.  Bielman does a fantastic job of giving us heart and heat, charm and humor.

I loved Shane in the first book and was very excited to see that his story was going to be the second book.  He’s got a good heart but he’s got more playboy charisma than the ladies of Cascade can handle.  You know that he’s locked his heart away for a reason so it was nice to see him face his demons and move on.

We also met Kagan in the first book and it was obvious there was more to her than we knew.  I loved the fact that she manages to make a home for herself, to finally feel like the real her.  It isn’t just Shane, although the love of a sexy man doesn’t hurt, but it is finding a place where you belong and can be accepted for the person you are on the inside.  I think that is what almost all of us want and it was so satisfying to see her get that.

There’s a little bit of a teaser for a future book with Luke’s little sister Erin and a paramedic, and something is probably in the works for Kagan’s friend Charlotte and I’m guessing Shane’s friend Sebastian.  And if they are anything like the first two, I can’t wait.

Crash Into Me

14 Monday Oct 2013

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Brazen and Entangled Publishing has a seriously hot treat for readers … Crash Into Me by Tracy Wolff – I’ve got an excerpt AND a review.  Check it out below.

***

CiM_300Crash Into Me by Tracy Wolff

She’s totally off limits, but this rocker wants a taste…

Jamison Matthews has lusted after Ryder Montgomery since she was a preteen. But now that Ryder and her brother’s band, Shaken Dirty, has made it huge, she’s just one of many pining for the brooding lead singer. Too bad Ryder still sees her as a little sister. Not that it matters. Her brother would never allow it, and the last thing Jamison wants is to be another notch on a rock star’s bed post. Even if it’s Ryder’s.

Ryder doesn’t deserve happiness. After his fame destroyed his last girlfriend, he swore he’d never fall in love again. So when Jamison, the girl he’s been in danger of loving for years, joins the band on the road, he’ll do anything to deny the sparks between them—even after one hot night together. But Jamison is determined to show Ryder that he’s worthy of love—her love—and that she’s all grown up…and ready to play.

*****

Connect with Tracy

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Blog

Buy Links for Crash Into Me

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes

****

Read the excerpt below, check out my review and then go get your own copy!

*****

Excerpt CRASH INTO ME

            Onstage, the band launched into “Awake,” one of the power ballads that had made them famous. The crowd screamed their approval and so did she. Totally not her typical modus operandi, but she couldn’t help it. Something about listening to Ryder croon the darkly haunting lyrics had her knees trembling and her heart beating much too quickly. If she closed her eyes, she could do what all the other women in the audience were doing and pretend that he was singing straight to her.

So much better than remembering he’d written these heartfelt words for another woman. For Carrie, who had killed herself and broken his heart so many years before. Her own heart ached at the thought. For him. Always for him. At twenty-nine, Ryder had already been through more darkness and despair than any one person should have to handle.

“Awake” finally came to a close, the last note hanging in the air for long, tension-fueled seconds. Then the band fell silent and the audience did the same, as if they were all holding their breaths. Ryder lowered his guitar, shuffled, and stamped his feet once, twice. It was a familiar gesture, one years of experience had taught her was his way of shaking off excess emotion. Again her heart twisted. It devastated her that more than ten years after the fact he was still eaten up by what had happened. Still determined to bury it under a bunch of layers that not only insulated him from his pain but also hid the real Ryder so deep inside the public Ryder that she wondered sometimes if he even existed anymore. Or if the boy who had held her while she cried, who had let her whisper her pre-adolescent fears without ever making fun of her, had disappeared forever.

She searched for him in that one endless moment.

Looked for him in the obsidian eyes that arrowed to the heart of the crowd even as they barricaded his own emotions.

Combed through her own memories and expectations in an effort to see Ryder as he really was instead of how he portrayed himself.

And when his eyes—his crazy, beautiful eyes—met hers, she found him. Seconds passed, long, intense seconds where she lost the ability to hear or breathe or even think. All she could do was look into Ryder’s eyes, at the feral heat boiling up and out of them, and want.

She smiled at him, waved. He snarled back. But it wasn’t a leave-me-alone snarl. No, definitely not. It was his I-want-to-fuck-you-up-against-a-wall snarl—she knew it well, had seen it directed at a lot of women through the years—and her knees gave way when she realized that this time, finally, it was directed at her. It didn’t matter that there was no sign of recognition in his eyes, no knowledge that the woman he was looking at like that was actually her. Jamison. For one moment, he wanted her the way she’d always wanted him.

It was more than enough.

*****

Review:

I think that Jamison is a good mix of several romance heroine types – she’s wants to act on a childhood crush, plus she’s crushing on someone famous that all women seem to want and he’s a bad boy on top o that.  It makes for a fun ride as she spends time with the band and the attraction between her and Ryder becomes more than they can ignore.  And oh boy, is Ryder ever sexy – he’s troubled and gorgeous and in need of someone to love him.  Sure, he’s made a family of sorts with the guys in the band but he’s living with a big load of guilt and esteem issues.  I know that realistically that these things don’t really work this way, but in my romance stories I think it’s sweet.

Although I do think that a few serious conversations should have been had about his past.  He spends most of the book completely avoiding discussing it, then suddenly he’s ready for a real relationship and all is OK.  I thoroughly enjoyed watching the two grow closer and the sex was definitely off the charts hot, but he held himself back for so long that the turning point felt a little anticlimactic.  I think a little more time should have been spent on his issues but overall I was seriously hooked on Wolff’s new series.  And the epilogue blatantly teases into the other band members’s stories – very intriguing teases that have me impatiently waiting to find out all the details.

Crash Into Me is a sexy and fun and full of rock & roll hotness.  If you like your heroes full of angst and muscles and tattoos and guilt and sex appeal, who find themselves falling for the sweet and sexy girl next door, then this is sure to be a winner.

Hearts in Motion

10 Thursday Oct 2013

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OK, I’ve got an unusual one for you …

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Take two cats, a dog, and a determined woman…

Animal lover Abby Pimm isn’t looking for love. With two rescue cats, one rescue dog, a struggling business, and her fourteen-year-old sister to raise, she’s got her hands full. What she needs is an angel – though she’ll settle for the devil if he’ll invest in her fledgling company and keep it afloat.

Add a six-year-old girl…

Wealthy businessman Holden Ramsay is no devil. He’s doing all the right things, and when he’s forced to care for his ex’s six-year-old daughter, he ends up hiring Abby as a temporary sitter – a woman who lights up his damaged heart, and perks up other organs as well. A woman who might be his redemption…or his downfall.

Who’s rescuing who?

The animals that Abby rescued think maybe it’s time they do a little rescue work of their own—because sometimes humans in love can be so dense…

*****

The premise was interesting and I enjoyed the romance as it developed between Holden and Abby.  I liked the characters and I found their growing relationship entertaining … but overall I thought it was a good book, not great.  I’m not sure I understand Abby’s reactions to her morning after with Holden, maybe it was because some of the story is given from the animal’s perspective and it has a different filter than if it was just regular narrative.
It’s a kitschy and cute idea but after a bit it kinda wore on me.  I would think it’s probably hard to write from a cat or dog point of view without it getting awkward.  And having some of the story given to readers by the animals didn’t seem to lend to a lot of character/relationship development between the leads.  I also think there were some issues that needed to be addressed that might have been overlooked in playing to the fun factor of the animals involvement.
Overall though I think it’s worth giving a chance, especially if you are looking for something a little different.