Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Seduction on a Snowy Night by Mary Jo Putney, Madeline Hunter & Sabrina Jeffries book review

Going into this book, I had high expectations. Three rock star romance authors coming together to write a Christmas themed romance novel? Yes, please! This book doesn’t disappoint. Readers will get three happily ever afters...what more could a reader want for the holidays?

In the first story, A Christmas Abduction by Madeline Hunter, Caroline is trying to unravel the mystery that her sister, Amelia’s pregnancy came about. Amelia is keeping secrets and the new Baron Thronhill bears the brunt of Caroline’s scorn. She is conflicted when she finds herself falling for him. Caroline has fallen from high society, so there is a bit of a class issue going on. Our hero finds redemption, we have a fierce heroine to get to know, a little bit of mystery and a happy ending. A perfect winter getaway.

In our next story, A Perfect Match by Sabrina Jeffries, our heroine is secretly rich. She keeps it a secret because she does not want to end up married for the wrong reasons. She is very close with her cousin Kitty, who has many qualities but faces a reading disability that was probably not known in Regency England. So, that was a bit of an unusual, but powerful twist that leads to a happy ending in this story. Just like in the first story, there is a bit of abduction going on here which makes the story that much more exciting.

Finally, we get to Mary Jo Putney’s story, One Wicked Winter Night. Personally, wickedness is a tempting seduction...so it starts off right by just the title 😍 Lady Diana Lawrence is pretty much on the shelf. She has spent the majority of her life traveling the world and has found life to be richer without the strict societal expectations of the upper class. She has spent a lot of time living in India but realizes that it might be time to head home to England because “home” is still a pretty powerful force. Lady Diana ends up at a masquerade ball with the Duke of Castleton and the flame that burned between them has still not been extinguished. Diana is not really interested in being shackled to a man, so the Duke decides to kidnap her cat. There are some laugh out loud parts in the dialogue that make this story totally worth reading.

I loved all three stories and I think it’s perfect for winter reading. If you are looking to buy Christmas presents for your favorite romance readers, this is a great choice! I hope you love it as much as I did.

The Write Escape by Charish Reid

The first thing that caught my eye with this book was the great cover and the clever title. The Write Escape - for a literary editor and a literature professor. So perfect! This is the first book I have read by Charish Reid, so I am glad the title caught my eye. I also love Ireland, so it was hard to resist. Antonia Harper just had her heart broken and she needs to escape her life for a while. She decides that Ireland will be a quiet and peaceful place where she can get some writing done and maybe ponder the direction of her life.

Enter Aiden Byrnes, our hot and sexy professor. He also has some things to get in order in his life. There is some post-relationship stuff he needs to work past in his professional life. His mentor and colleague gave him the advice to get out of town for a while. What better place than the small village of Tully Cross. Aiden and Antonia meet, chemistry is there, sparks fly, hot sex ensues. This book is the perfect escape for a weekend.
The conflict occurs in that Antonia lives in Chicago and Aiden lives in Ireland. Once they leave vacation mode, the decisions are tough. I think the author did a great job with diversity in this story. Aiden is white and Antonia is black and there was a discussion of real-life problems but the story didn’t dwell on it. I think that interracial couples are becoming more common in the romance genre and they are reflecting our society in a more real way. Overall, this book has the right amount of romance, great setting and characters and the HEA that I want in my books.

Wrapped Up in You by Jill Shalvis book review

Helloooooooo hot and sexy sheriff. Feel free to go all alpha and use those handcuffs. *fans self*. I love the characters and the setting of this Jill Shalvis series. I want to move to Cow Hollow - just for a little bit. Wrapped up in You is Ivy and Kel’s story. Shalvis keeps it interesting by always giving us a unique glimpse into the lives of each couple, but catches us up on some of the previous characters. It could be read as a stand-alone, but I really love the world-building and enjoy reading things in order. I love that Ivy rebuilt her life and was successful at it. That is a definite challenge that all of us could face one day. As we build empathy towards her, Kel is also working to break down the emotional walls she has put up around herself.
The antagonist in this story is Ivy’s brother and the trouble he brings with him. While he does work towards redemption, he sure doesn’t make life easy for Ivy. As a reader, I was mad at him!!! Ivy needed a clean break to get on with her life and stoke the flames with Kel. As always, I have not read a Shalvis book I didn’t like. I think I am quite biased, but her books are always at the top of my librarian recommendation list. I work on creating more die-hard fans. So, if you have not read a book from this series, it’s time to put it on your TBR pile.

Brazen and the Beast by Sarah MacLean

I could not wait to get my hands on this book!!! I loved the first one. And who doesn’t love the series title Bareknuckle Bastards. You just know it’s going to be juicy. This book did not disappoint! I am a fan of reading books in series order, but this is one of those that could be a stand-alone for those readers who insist they do not like to read series books. Henrietta Sedley is our protagonist and she decides it is going to be the Year of Hattie. It starts by her decree that she will lose her virginity. She has waited long enough and she is ready to get on with her life. She hatches a preposterous plan and tries hard to make it work. Unfortunately, she may have set her sights on the wrong man. The man she may have kidnapped is nicknamed Beast (ummmm….hello….not the guy to mess with). The plan may sound foolish, but Beast thinks that Hattie just might have some information he needs. Cue the fireworks - AND they are totally attracted to each other. One might say that they are both quirky for regency times, but this just adds some fun to the overall story.

The characters in this book are all unusual and you will fall in love with all of them. I would say that Whit (aka Beast) was really hard to get to like. Just like Hattie, the reader has to get to know him before he lets his defenses down and you can start to see the appeal of a silent but strong and determined alpha male.

 I love this world that the author has created. It sets itself apart by being on the fringes of polite society. A lot of the scenes take place in the dark underground of Covent Garden and the characters tend to go against what society expects them to do. You will love this series.

One Night to Remember by Erica Ridley book review

I’ve been a fan of Erica Ridley’s romance books and this one is a definite must-read! It’s a little different than your expected regency historical romance. The main character, Felicity, is a female who masquerades as a male to race curricles and she has also become an expert mechanic. Because her family is titled, no one can find out about her hobby because that is not what a lady does. Obviously, Lady Felicity is a bit eccentric, which makes the story that much more enjoyable.

Giles Langford is our other protagonist. He is a master mechanic, who has the best smithy in town. He is well known for winning all the races and for apprenticing orphans - not to mention he is quite handsome. Felicity meets Giles after her brother, the Duke, asks him to come over to look at his carriage. As they meet in the stables, sparks fly. Then tension in the story comes from whether or not the class divisions can be overcome to create their version of happily ever after. Expect the unexpected in this story. I had a lot of fun reading it and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys Regency historical romances.

Slacker Alert!


Saturday, July 13, 2019

A Highlander Walks into a Bar by Laura Trentham book review

This book is among my favorites this summer! I do love all things Scottish, so this book had a lot going for it for me with just the cover and title! This story is a blend of the Highlands and southern hospitality. Highland, Georgia is a small town that embraces it’s Scottish heritage and brings in tourists because of it. Rose and her daughter Isabel (Izzy) have been keeping a large estate going by continuing the tradition of the annual Highland festival. The annual festival is a lot of work and Rose decides to take a vacation before the mad dash to the end. When Izzy picks her mother up at the airport, she is not expecting her mom to have brought home a Highlander. They claim it was love at first sight, but Izzy and Gareth’s nephew, Alasdair are not quite as trusting of the whole arrangement. 

It becomes pretty apparent to the reader that Gareth and Alasdair are keeping secrets. But so do Rose and Izzy. Neither party wants the other party to take advantage of their family. Isabel thinks Gareth might be interested in the estate and Alasdair thinks Rose might be interest in what Gareth left behind in Scotland. Alasdair decides to help Izzy with the final plans for the Highland Games and they notice the sparks between. In fact, they are quite hard to ignore. Alasdair is a hot Scotsman who looks good in his regular work clothes, but even better in a kilt! There was so much fun and humor in this story. Lots of laugh out loud moments and lots of really sweet moments. Izzy has her fair share of awkward moments and as a reader you will feel embarrassed right alongside of her. Fortunately, Alasdair thinks her personality and quirkiness are endearing and he enjoys spending time with Izzy. 

There is a little bit of a mystery going on as Alasdair inadvertently sets off a chain of events that will make Izzy and Rose very mad at him. But part of the fun is watching Alasdair work towards making changes in his life that will bring him closer to his family and find a woman that he genuinely cares for. Izzy and Alasdair bring out the best in each other and their personalities balance each other out. I like the secondary romance between Rose and Gareth and some characters are introduced that will be part of the next book. Imagining Alasdair’s accent and good looks make this for a swoon worthy read. He could very well be your next book boyfriend. The author does a nice job ending the first story, but setting up readers for book two.

Charmer in Chaps by Julia London book review

Oh man, I can’t believe it’s been so long since I have written a review. Work and conferences have gotten in the way of my fun reading and reviewing. So, I am trying to catch up and write about some of the books I have loved this summer!

I’m a fan of Julia London, so I was more than willing to give this book a try. She did not disappoint. Our main characters in this book are Ella and Luca. The story is set in Texas and it was full of non-traditional surprises throughout the story. While there are is a lot of chemistry between our two characters and a HEA love story, the author tackles some tough issues. The author does a wonderful job with the character’s back stories and talks about things we don’t always delve into in romance books. Ella came back to where she grew up somewhat reluctantly because she inherited a house from her grandma. She does not have money to fix it all up, or really any money for anything. Ella was a foster kid as she was growing up, but she managed to go to college and get an accounting degree. As her car dies on the side of the road, Luca Prince is the one who finds her.

Luca comes from one of the richest families in their town. He was a star athlete, had access to whatever he wanted, and went through women like crazy. People don’t expect much from Luca because he was never really good at school and people just assume he is not very smart. He gets by on his looks. However, readers will find out that Luca can’t read because he has dyslexia and that is why he did not do well in school. His family is embarrassed by his lack of goals in life. Little do they know that Luca is learning how to read so that he can get into environmental conservation and undo some of the damage his family has done to the land over the years.

Ella and Luca kissed once upon a time in high school. Ella remembers every little detail and Luca does not seem to even remember that he went to high school with her. No reader will be able to resist the charm and flirtatious nature of this hot cowboy! Grab a fan and an ice cold drink because hot damn do sparks fly once Ella starts letting Luca into her life a little bit. They are both cautious about jumping into any sort of relationship with anyone, but Luca’s persistence pays off. I love that Ella worked so hard to make it on her own. She is tough and smart and able to fend for herself. I love that Luca was a male character who was working on getting help with reading. As a librarian, I know this is a problem, but so many adults do not ask for the help they need. So, it’s really progressive that the author wrote it into her story. It’s a perfect summer read for many reasons. You can even pretend you are in Texas by the ranch with all this summer heat! I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Never Deny a Duke by Madeline Hunter book review

I wrote in an earlier review that these books are like a gift - just waiting to be unwrapped by the reader. This book is the 3rd book in The Decadent Dukes Society trilogy. I loved them all! I know it’s going to be a late night for me if I get a Madeline Hunter ARC or it’s release day. I finished this one at about 2am. It was just impossible to stop.

I think what made this book different was that it has an English Duke (Eric Marshall, the Duke of Brentworth) and Davinia MacCallum who is Scottish and is supposed to be a Baroness. Part of the story takes place in Scotland. It is tied into the 1745 uprising and the Battle of Culloden, which is when Davinia’s family lost their land to the English. Davinia petitions the King to have her title reinstated and her estate returned. Problem is that Brentworth is the current landholder and does not want to give it up. He sort of brushes off the demands of the King, which is kind of a funny scene in the book, because what aristocrat doesn’t jump at the King’s bidding???

Brentworth is really tightly wound and very discreet with everything. His friends make fun of him for that. Davinia is a writer for Parnassus and part of the Parnassus Club. It didn’t seem like she was on the hunt for a husband. She liked her independence and she was surrounded by good friends. She was also well educated by her father and did not want to give any of her time up that she spent helping people. Her goal was to get her land back and restore her estate. She managed to get an audience with an assistant to the King, but she didn’t feel like she got anywhere. So, she went directly to Brentworth to try to sort things out with him. Ha! This led to some witty and humorous dialogue that was fun to reread.

What a great couple. Eric and Davinia are well matched. Not only do they have great conversational compatibility, but they also are certainly not lacking in the physical chemistry department. I love how in some parts they cannot keep their hands off of each other. *fans self*. I love the historical accuracy, the detailed setting, the descriptive language about the food, clothes, and estates. I don’t know if the author has had an authentic carriage ride, but it sure seems like it with how the rides were described. All in all, I loved this book! A happy and satisfying ending. I highly recommend it for fans of historical romance.

Under Her Spell by Eliza Watson

This book is a light, fun and quick rom-com. I admit I was expecting a bit more “witch” but it was more along the lines of the show “The Good Witch”, but it was cute and there was dabbling in spells that were quite entertaining. In this story, I would stay that opposites attract. Monica is trying to get a romantic event planning business off the ground and Reed moves in next door as a divorce attorney. Not the best business neighbor. There was a lot of sexual tension leading up to them actually getting together. It was funny and had some laugh out loud moments.

Reed is very charming and can easily become a book boyfriend. He is hot, smart and as the story unfolds, doing the right thing. That, right there, is swoon-worthy. This book is a great escape. It’s well written, a good story, funny dialogue, and a satisfying ending. It’s a great choice if you are looking for your next contemporary romance.

A Touch of Forever (Cowboys of Colorado #3) by Jo Goodman book review

I’ll admit right away that my romance consists of Regency England and sometimes Scottish historical fiction. I also read small town contemporary romance. Also, erotica. Lots and lots. I get derailed by the things I really love and don’t always try new things. So, this book seemed like it would be a cowboy western romance, which it sort of was...but wasn’t. I’ve probably only read a couple books in this genre and this author was new to me. Even though she has written tons of book. I’m glad I took a chance on it. Yes, it takes place in Colorado in the early 1900’s (ish?). The railroad is being built and cowboys do exist. But Roen came from a pretty wealthy family in New York City, so he’s not really a cowboy. He’s a talented artist (not sure if he would be considered a cartographer) in the book he is a railroad engineer and kind of running away from a stalker. He likes the outdoors and working as a freelancer for the railroads suits him just fine.

Lily Salt is a widow who has sworn off men for good reason. She is a survivor and her story comes out throughout the book. When the two meet, there is instant attraction although Lily nor Roan would admit to that. Lily comes with kids and Roen is from out of town. It seems like the odds are stacked against them. Roen (I really like his name...it’s hot) gets a message he decides that a marriage of convenience would be a good answer. It would help him out and it would help Lily out. Things weren’t necessarily easy for single women in her time. This was a very slow-burn romance and normally I don’t wait that long to get to the good stuff….but this story was so good, that I had to keep reading. The kids and the people in the town were so well written that they were captivating in their own right. The nuances of racism towards Chinese Americans was historically accurate and powerfully woven into the story.

I may have fallen in love a little bit with Roen. But it was ok that Lily got him ;) This book is part of a series, but since I read it as a standalone and it was my first Jo Goodman book, it doesn’t have to be read in order. Even though I am a stickler for reading things in order. I guess I made all sort of exceptions by delving into this book. All in all, I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it to anyone willing to settle into a longer romance book. Oh, and the cover is really sexy.  I think the cover models chosen did the characters justice.

Hired by Zoey Castile book review

A contemporary romance with a twist. Aiden is a stripper turned escort who finds himself in New Orleans for a client who canceled on him at the last minute. She let him stay in the hotel room that she paid for. He doesn’t really know what to do with himself, so he heads to the bar. Aiden has a Colombian background and is close with his family, but doesn’t tell them everything including some of the mistakes he has made. Faith stops by the bar because she had a rough night. Faith works for her mom who is a prominent politician. She is well educated and proud of her African American heritage. Faith feels like she can’t please her mom and in order to do something for herself, hooks up with Aiden. They had a ton of chemistry and both ended up wanting to see more of each other. However, Faith does not really know what Aiden does for a living and she is not supposed to be doing anything that would tarnish her mom’s political campaign. Faith and Aiden really are perfect for each other, but they have to learn to accept and trust what each of them bring to the relationship. They had a strong emotional connection. The friendships in this story are worth nothing because they are strong and can persevere some bad choices. The setting was really great too and made me want to travel to New Orleans.

How to Hack a Heartbreak by Kristin Rockaway book review

I spend a lot of time reading historical and small-town contemporary romances. So, this book was a bit of a change of direction for me. The main character is Mel and she lives and works in New York. She is underpaid to do the work she is doing at a startup and her dating life has not been on point. After one too many bad dates from online apps, she made a site called JerkAlert. That is what drinking and being a good programmer will produce;) Mel is trying to navigate the male-dominated world of IT and it makes for a good setting to a modern romance story.

It’s funny, it’s believable and you will find yourself rooting for the HEA. Strong friendships and girl time add a lot to this story. Once I started this book, I could not put it down. It was a fun, witty, quick read. A perfect escape if you are having a bad day (or a good day).

One Tough Cowboy (Moving Violations #1) by Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick book review

I’m a big fan of Lora Leigh and love her steamy sex scenes and relationship building. However, I have not read a ton of Cowboy/Western romances, but I have to admit, they are fun! I particularly liked this one because of the Detroit connection. Samantha is a Detroit cop, who is getting over a bad relationship. She left her small hometown and Hunter behind to start her own life. She came back to Deerhaven to settle her aunt’s estate and try to figure out a mystery. What she didn’t totally count on was her attraction to Hunter. He became the sheriff of Deerhaven so he won’t leave her alone as she tries to piece together the clues for the crime she is trying to solve. Hunter is dealing with his own problems in his department and a series of unsolved violent events. What I really like is that Hunter recognizes that Samantha is a good cop and can handle herself. She is highly trained and doesn’t need rescuing. She just needs a competent partner.

Of course, they have to work together...and kiss...and be irresistibly drawn to each other. Whew….and yummy. Who doesn’t love a hot sheriff? If you need a dose of dominant alpha male, this story is for you. It’s definitely a romantic suspense book….I would say it might be more of an erotic romantic suspense book (if that is a thing), which made me love it even more! I’m looking forward to the next book. *fans self*

Her Guilty Secret by Clare Connelly book review

I’ve been enjoying the Harlequin Dare books and this one does not disappoint. There is lots of hot sex, off the charts chemistry and tons of passion. The main character is Olivia Amorelli and she is a really smart law student getting ready to graduate. She will probably have her pick of places to work. One day, Connor Hughes, show up in class as a visiting professor. He is somewhat jaded (readers will find out later what happened) and Olivia is very idealistic, so there is some verbal sparring to start off the relationship. Both Olivia and Connor feel an instant attraction, but both of them also know that a relationship between them could jeopardize Olivia’s future job prospects. However, Olivia is done being a “good girl” and makes the first move. Sparks fly. The more they fight it, the more they want each other. I like that Olivia made Connor rethink the direction of his career. She may have started out as idealistic, but she knew what was right. Lots of hot sex later, readers will see how the path to a relationship unfolds. If you are looking for a quick, steamy, sexy read, this book is for you. A HEA just in time for summer.

Nightchaser (Endeavor #1) by Amanda Bouchet book review

I’m a big fan of space operas. So much so that I have hundreds of Star Trek books all neatly tucked away, unable to get rid of them because I love them so much. I’m just sorry that it took me this long to read Nightchaser. I think I was sidetracked by work and read other things...but I read it and it was worth it! Sci-Fi romance is a bit of a new genre for me. I read a lot of science fiction, but never with a lot of romance.

This book got a lot of great reviews, both professional and reader reviews...so that is always a good sign. I love the world building in this book. This is the first book in this series, so start with this one ;) Captain Tess Bailey is the main character and a kick-ass woman! Part of the story is Tess discovering who she is and how she fits into the puzzle of this adventure. Of course, the addition of dark and sexy Shade Ganavan is a welcome addition to the story. Readers will be dying how he solves his moral dilemma in this story. There is action, adventure and of course, romance. The characters are fun and diverse. The crew is like a family and I appreciate that in a good story. I think if you are a fan of Firefly, you will be a fan of this series.

The Leading Lady by Deb Marlowe book review

This book is the 2nd book in this series and it can be read as a standalone (I did it). This was also the first book that I read by Deb Marlowe and I am glad that I did! This is a enemies to lovers story and it was just a lot of fun. I love how Callie was written. She was funny, smart, determined and is ready to fight injustice during a time when men are in charge of everything. Callie protects the women of Half Moon House against bad men and she is always getting into trouble. She can take care of herself because she has been trained to defend herself. Part of the story is set in France so it’s perfect when you are in a Francophone mood. I loved the elements of spies and intrigue in the story. The chemistry between Callie and Truitt was hot! I laughed out loud when they had to put their dislike for each other and pretend that there are husband and wife. They do keep some secrets from each other and eventually decide that they must trust each other. While this is an older book, this is a perfect series to start this summer. Just disappear into a historical romance and enjoy the HEA. Sounds perfect to me. I am glad that I read this book.