The Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa is a 2022 Avon publication.
The premise here is a familiar one- the fake date/ opposites attract trope/ romantic comedThe Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa is a 2022 Avon publication.
The premise here is a familiar one- the fake date/ opposites attract trope/ romantic comedy. The reviews for this convinced me to add it to my TBR list, and the blurb did sound promising.
The story was a mixed bag for me, though. I’ve made it to a point where some humor and some threads that are now commonplace in nearly every romance novel are getting old or missing the mark for me...
Or maybe I’m just getting old. But- the story was also too busy for me, with too many characters, too many fake relationships, and all that chemistry everyone was raving about was MIA for me.
That said, I did like the big Brazilian family and cute way the story wrapped up and there were one or two hilarious moments that made me laugh- but the story didn’t have the sparkle or emotional depth I prefer in my romance novels.
Overall, I’m an outlier on this one. I wish there was a way to tell which one of these ‘cartoon’ cover romances will be a good fit for me, as it is getting harder and harder to get a feel for them in advance. I took a chance on this one and it didn’t work out quite like I had hoped… but I think I’m in the minority here- so by all means make sure you read through all the positive reviews for this one. You might have better luck with it than I did....more
Together by Linda Lael Miller is a 2017 Avon publication. (Originally published in 1996)
This is a collection of short historical romances. There are fTogether by Linda Lael Miller is a 2017 Avon publication. (Originally published in 1996)
This is a collection of short historical romances. There are five stories in the collection, and all were written back in the nineties. In All Seasons- The Scent of Snow That Other Katherine Store Bought Woman Switch
The stories all have a similar theme of lovers being separated in one way or another and brought back together by love.
Personally, I can’t recall ever having read any of Linda Lael Miller’s historical romance novels!! I have read her contemporary western romance novels, though, and I usually enjoyed them. I had not added this book to my TBR list for some reason, but I found it on my Kindle device while looking for another book.
Curious, I started reading these stories and was surprised to find they were not contemporary. While, these stories are a bit dated in places, and of course, the brevity makes the story feel too rushed, I do recall reading lots of books with this style of writing back in the nineties. I enjoyed “The Other Katherine”, as it was a time slip story, which was so popular back then.
Overall, though, despite my not being a huge fan of short stories, I enjoyed the nostalgic feeling these stories had for me. These days, though far and few between, Miller’s contemporaries are much more my style.
The Christmas Killer by Alex Pine is a 2020 Avon publication.
When a dangerous criminal is released from prison, who happens to carry a grudge againstThe Christmas Killer by Alex Pine is a 2020 Avon publication.
When a dangerous criminal is released from prison, who happens to carry a grudge against DI James Walker, his wife insists they move away from the city. Just as they begin to settle into the small Cumbrian village, and a much slower, and hopefully less dangerous life, an ominous package arrives on their doorstep with a note attached which threatens a twelve-day reign of terror ala the Twelve Days of Christmas.
In blizzard like conditions a body is found in the snow – the potential first victim with eleven more to follow if the killer isn’t stopped…
This debut thriller is pretty rough around the edges. This is not an ARC copy, so I was surprised to find several glaring grammatical errors in the book, early on- especially as the book has a seasoned publisher.
I could overlook that if the story was descent- but there isn’t much here for me to recommend. The characters and dialogue are wooden and stiff, and I guessed, not only who the killer was, very early on- but the motive was also apparent, which didn’t give me much incentive to hang around to see how DI Walker would connect the dots.
But I did stick around, despite all that. The flow of the book did smooth out after a while, and honestly, the bare bones of a good crime novel are here- but the delivery needed a lot of work. That said, I think the author has some potential. The issues here can be worked out with some experience- and so I’m going to try the second installment in this series to see if things improve.
Overall, this debut got off to a rocky start- but it might be a diamond in the rough. Hopefully, the next installment is a bit more polished!
Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade is a 2020 Avon publication.
April Whittier lives a secret life away from her 'normal' life- she’s a huge fan of the televSpoiler Alert by Olivia Dade is a 2020 Avon publication.
April Whittier lives a secret life away from her 'normal' life- she’s a huge fan of the television show ‘God’s of the Gates’. It goes much deeper than that, though. She writes her own fan fiction, is into Cosplay- her favorite character is Lavenia- one half of a wildly popular internet couple.
With a new job and a new location, it seems like a good time to finally reveal her secret internet identity. So, she posts a picture of herself on Twitter, dressed in her Lavenia costume. In about a nanosecond her post goes viral with both positive and negative comments, many of them remarking upon her weight.
As fate would have it, the star of ‘God’s of the Gates”, Marcus Castor-Rupp, sees April’s tweet- and long story short- he asks her out on a date.
What neither of them realized at the time is that they already kind of know each other. Turns out Marcus is also into fanfic- which was a way for him to create the kind of stories the tv scripts fail to realize.
Naturally, if anyone ever found out- he would lose his job….
Imagine his surprise when April turns out to be “Unapologetic Lavenia”- his closest ‘fandom friend’...
This is my first attempt at reading a modern contemporary romance, (not contemporary fiction/ Women’s Fiction, Chick-lit, etc.), in quite some time- although these days CF often falls in the Rom-Com category.
I did enjoy the story. I thought the premise was unique and fresh- at least for me- but I'm pretty far out the loop on that kind of thing.
The difficulties April and Marcus face with their families is compelling and I enjoyed watching both characters develop, individually, and as a couple.
That said, while I thought the fandom/cosplay/ fanfic was a great approach, I struggled with that part of the dialogue and ended up skipping over most of it after a while. I am not the targeted audience for this one- obviously, since I have children older than the characters in this book- which is why I think I struggled some- but I can see the appeal to the targeted age group.
Overall, though, I enjoyed the book, and was invested in the drama, and the characters enough to give the second book in a series a try, hopefully, sometime soon!
All the Feels by Olivia Dade is a 2021 Avon publication.
Alex, who plays 'Cupid' on the wildly popular show, "Gods of the Gates", is having a hard timAll the Feels by Olivia Dade is a 2021 Avon publication.
Alex, who plays 'Cupid' on the wildly popular show, "Gods of the Gates", is having a hard time with his image. His repeated and very public scuffles have landed him in hot water with the powers that be. To keep him from blowing up his career, he has been given one last chance… and a minder….
Enter Lauren Clegg. Lauren desperately needs a break from her job as an ER therapist. She’s offered a handsome sum of money by her cousin to keep Alex in line. The position is challenging because of Alex’s impulsivity, but once Lauren gets to know him, the lines between professional and personal begin to blur…
While I enjoyed ‘Spoiler Alert’ well enough, I’m not really the demographic the author is writing for, and it made me feel old. LOL! I had already queued up this follow-up, so I felt obligated to at least give it a chance.
As it turns out, I enjoyed this one more than the last. I found Alex’s guilt complex issues compelling, and Lauren’s serious high stress job burnout was heartrending and eye-opening, as well.
The way the romance developed was absolutely adorable! Alex is funny and sweet, despite his reputation, and Lauren was the perfect match for him. The couple complimented one another perfectly. Their banter is so entertaining!!
The fanfic is still a part of the book, but it was toned down just a bit, and because I had a little more familiarity with it this time around, it wasn’t as much of a distraction.
Overall, I went into this one with a little bit of trepidation, but ended up getting swept up in the charm, humor, and warmth of this story. I loved it all the way from beginning to end!
The Summer Theatre by the Sea is a 2018 Avon publication.
A light, charming story with a healthy dose of depth and emotion-
Charlotte’s entire life wasThe Summer Theatre by the Sea is a 2018 Avon publication.
A light, charming story with a healthy dose of depth and emotion-
Charlotte’s entire life was upended practically overnight. She lost her job, boyfriend and residence all in one day. Without a place to live or a job, Charlotte’s only option is to call her harried sister, Lauren, who lives in Cornwall, and beg to stay with her for a little while until she can figure out what to do next.
Charlotte is ill prepared for the state of her sister’s home or how stressed she is. Attempting to help her only brings on more resentment. Meanwhile, Charlotte is facing criticism of her own, when everyone she knows advises her to relax, take a few risks, and for heaven’s sake- LIGHTEN UP!!
As the days pass, Charlotte becomes more involved in the Cornwall community, reconnects with her father and his new lady friend, and develops a friendship of sorts with a local doctor who is under intense pressure from his family to stop being a surfer dude and go back to practicing medicine.
But, the more Charlotte relaxes and grows to enjoy the laid -back community of Cornwall, Lauren becomes more and more uptight, losing weight, and pushing those who care about her away. This story is, as the cover might suggest, lighter fare, with no real super heavy or dark dilemmas, but it also has plenty of drama and emotional moments. The most poignant moments take place between Charlotte, Lauren, and their father, who has made some big mistakes with his daughters that had long-term consequences.
The Summer theatre, where Lauren works part-time, is a big summertime draw for the community, with this year’s play being a “Midsummer’s Night Dream’. Charlotte, who badly needs an outlet for her energy gets involved in the theatre, and soon finds herself to enjoying life outside of the hustle and bustle of the city, although she seems bent on getting her old job back.
At the end of the day, as far as the romantic elements went, I ended up enjoying the speech Nate gave Lauren, although I did like the way things turned out for Charlotte and Barney, too. Overall, this story was a nice well-rounded contemporary novel with a nice combination of family drama and romance set against the gorgeous backdrop of Cornwall.
Best quote: You know what they say.. what doesn't kill you...
"makes you stronger?"
I was going to say, gives you a lot of unhealthy coping mechanisms and a really dark sense of humour"
When a Duke loves a Woman by Lorraine Heath is a 2018 Avon publication.
A collision of two people worlds apart from each other leads to true love- butWhen a Duke loves a Woman by Lorraine Heath is a 2018 Avon publication.
A collision of two people worlds apart from each other leads to true love- but will there be a happily ever after?
When the Duke of Thornley is jilted at the altar, his pride is hurt more than his heart. But, he’s determined to find his fiancé, which leads him to a questionable area no duke would ordinarily wander into. He is attacked by thugs and left to die, and probably would have, if not for Gillie Trewlove.
Gillie was raised, along with her four ‘brothers’ by a woman who kindly took in unwanted children, often ‘by-blows’ of noble heritage. Now Gillie is paying it forward by nursing Thorne back to health.
But, Thorne takes a liking to his unconventional nurse and so once he makes it safely back home, he invents a reason to contact Gillie again. It would seem his errant fiancé was spotted in White Chapel and he enlists Gillie to help him locate her.
Naturally, the more time he spends with Gillie, the stronger his attraction to her becomes, as does his respect for her. Even if a duke could marry outside his class, Gillie is too independent to give up her business, which if she married would immediately become Thorne’s property. So, what’s a duke to do?
I love Lorraine Heath. I especially loved her western historical romances, which were some of her finest stories. However, Heath has written some fantastic Victorian/Regency period romances and is one of the best historical romance authors out there. Unfortunately, this one is not the best example of that.
For me this story was flat. The chemistry between Thorne and Gillie is tepid, at best, and their dialogue felt forced and contrived. But, after having made a loud proclamation about lightening on plausibility and realistic plots, this one really was entirely too far -fetched, with a conclusion that really did insult my intelligence. I just couldn’t suspend belief that far. The book does have some cute and funny moments and is not without charm. However, those moments couldn’t make up for everything else that was lacking in this one.
Such a Pretty Girl by Tess Diamond is a 2017 Avon publication.
FBI profiler, and bestselling crime novelist, Grace Sinclair, is facing her most difficSuch a Pretty Girl by Tess Diamond is a 2017 Avon publication.
FBI profiler, and bestselling crime novelist, Grace Sinclair, is facing her most difficult case to date. To complicate matters, she and her new partner, special agent Gavin Walker, have a bit of history between them, making things a bit awkward. Not only that, the chemistry between them is distracting, especially since Gavin is determined to convince the very skittish Grace to take a chance on a relationship with him.
But, before they can access any romantic complications, Grace must identify a killer who is murdering women who bear a striking resemblance to her. Could Grace be his real target and why?
Solid, well balanced, romantic suspense-
Everyone knows I have a soft spot for romantic suspense. The combination of romance and suspense blends two of my favorite genres, which makes it a win- win situation for me. But, it’s been a while since I’ve had the chance to indulge in a good RS book. Thankfully, this one satisfied my craving by balancing a quick paced thriller with a little steamy romance.
The plot, which embraced shades of traditional romantic suspense, which I love, held my interest and kept me engaged from start to finish. There were a few minor blips, though. While I do love a thriller that moves along at a fast clip, this one may have been just a little too brisk. Some areas were too glossed over and really could have used some firming up. The romance suffered from that same issue, to some extent, as well. The chemistry is there from the start, which sets the stage for a few steamy and sensual scenes, but the emotional connections between the couple was stilted and forced. That being said, the author did a great job of balancing the two elements which is often hard to do with RS, and is something I really appreciate! But, what sealed the deal for me, was that I was kept guessing until the end!!
So, overall, this is a very easy to read, entertaining and solid romantic suspense novel. I enjoyed it enough to add the next book to my TBR list!!
The Duke by Katharine Ashe is a 2017 Avon publication.
Ah- Sweeping romance! We sure do need more of those!
In this third installment of the ‘Devil’s DThe Duke by Katharine Ashe is a 2017 Avon publication.
Ah- Sweeping romance! We sure do need more of those!
In this third installment of the ‘Devil’s Duke’ series, we finally get Gabriel’s highly anticipated story.
Lady Amarantha Vale follows her betrothed, a missionary, to Jamaica, where she finds herself fighting off the ravages of a dangerous hurricane with a young naval officer, named Gabriel Hume. During that frightful night, with their very lives hanging in the balance, the two forge an unsinkable bond.
But, there are forces working against them, determined to keep them from the life they should have had together. However, there is a mightier force out there, one stronger than the hurricane which brought them together, and as we all know, that force- aka- true love, can not and will not be denied, no matter how many obstacles you toss onto its path.
After Amarantha’s husband dies, she goes in search of her missing sister-in-law, which brings her to Scotland, and to Gabriel Hume- also known as the Devil’s Duke, a man with a dark, murderous reputation he hasn’t even bothered to deny.
Eventually, after five long years, Gabe and Amarantha will stand face to face with one another. The cruel, twisted hands of fate that forced them apart will reveal themselves, but for Amarantha the chance to recapture her one true love and her much deserved happily ever after may have come too late, for Amarantha has decided her decisions about men and love never are the right ones, so she has hardened herself against the temptation of making yet another mistake.
Well, what can I say? Katharine Ashe has gone and done it again!!
Before I get to the romantic elements, which is what the story is all about, of course, I do want to mention the obvious research concerning slavery addressed in this novel, which gave the story a little extra padding in the depth department, and was quite informative.
I also enjoyed the correspondence between Amarantha and her sister, the contents of which, preceded many of the chapters.
The characters are well drawn, very human, fallible, and likeable. I struggled just a tiny bit with the expanded cast of characters, which slowed me down a little-
But, other than that, as far as I’m concerned, this novel is what romance is all about. I love, love, love sweeping sagas and stories of undying love and devotion. For some reason, I always enjoyed stories where a couple must overcome obstacles, enduring many years of separation, before they find their way back to one another.
The conflicts, secrets, and emotional intensity always capture my imagination and my heart, keeping me riveted to the pages, totally immersed, wondering if the truth will ever come out, if too much time has passed, if they are destined to be star crossed lovers, or if true love will give them the strength to flatten all the forces working against them and ultimately prevail in the end.
I love characters who overcome adversity, who fight for love and each other. Seeing them win the battle after all they have endured, overcoming personal fears, to finally have their ‘always and forever’ makes the reward that much sweeter and appreciated all the more.
This novel harkens back to the heyday of historical romances, and is EXACTLY what a historical romance should consist of, but always seems so elusive.
Beauty and the Blacksmith by Tessa Dare is a 2013 Avon publication.
This book was free in the kindle store for a limited time last week, so I snapped Beauty and the Blacksmith by Tessa Dare is a 2013 Avon publication.
This book was free in the kindle store for a limited time last week, so I snapped it up without hesitation. This novella length story features Diana, a highborn lady, the most beautiful of her three sisters, and the daughter her mother has pinned her highest hopes on.
But, Diana is in love with Aaron Dawes, the local blacksmith, a man her mother would never approve of due to their class differences. However, after finding relief from her debilitating asthma in Spindle Cove, Diana is ready to live a little, to make her own choices and seek true happiness and love.
Aaron is more than willing to spend time with the woman he has desired for so long, but reality sets in and when the struggles become real, the couple have some hard choices to make. Is their love worth fighting for?
I’m always on the fence when it comes to novellas, since even those written by favorite authors can often disappoint. But… Tessa Dare… enough said. No way was I going to pass on this one, short story or not.
This story was a riot, laugh out loud funny, smart, witty, and super steamy, with only a sprinkling of angst.
Although, some areas are a wee bit weak, straining the boundaries of plausibility, the story is simply too divine to dribble over minor annoyances. I admit the story put me in a really good mood, and I had a lot of fun with it. 4 stars ...more
With Every Breath by Maya Banks is a 2016 Avon publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honesWith Every Breath by Maya Banks is a 2016 Avon publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
While the last book in the ‘Slow Burn’ series was pretty good, this one tops it, and is more on board with the type of romantic suspense I usually go for.
In ‘Safe at Last’, we met Wade, a close friend of Gracie’s, and it was clear something was brewing between him and Eliza, which provided some comic relief as the two traded barbs, until things got serious, with Wade proving his mettle and becoming a hero in his own right.
However, any hope the relationship might somehow continue is lost when Eliza receives a disturbing call that will alter the course of her life forever. Planning to free the world of a notorious killer, even if it means sacrificing her own life, Eliza puts a plan in motion, one that does not involve Devereaux security. But, Wade knows something is terribly wrong with Eliza and makes it his business to find out what it is and keep her from doing anything that would put herself in danger, even she fights him every step of the way….
Eliza’s foe is formidable and is one she must do face to face combat with in order to free herself of the ghost of the past. But, even Eliza will need help with this enemy and Wade intends to fight alongside her every step of the way.
I really enjoyed this installment in the series for a number of reasons. One, the bad guy is really creepy and has a backstory that actually links to Eliza in a personal way, instead of the vagueness the enemies possess in previous chapters of the series. This heightened the suspense to a whole new level and gives the story a sense of urgency that has never been present before now.
Another reason this book stands out from the others is because in previous installments the female protagonist has been so vulnerable they are perilously close to the 'damsel in distress' type, rescued by the ultimate alpha male. But, in this book we are treated to a strong woman, capable of holding her own in a male dominated field.
The only man who has ever penetrated the walls she built around her heart, is Wade, and as he chips away at her rough exterior, he exposes her deepest fears, her immense guilt, and releases a flood of emotions that carry them both away.
The romance is intense, hot and steamy, and I think the chemistry between Wade and Eliza makes them the better suited couple, so far. They make a great team and hopefully Wade will team up the Devereraux’s again someday.
The writing has also tightened up quite a bit as well, with much less repetition and the dialogue is sharper too, giving the story much more depth.
Overall, this is the best of the series to date and if the author continues to develop it in this same vein, it could become a ‘go to’ series for me, despite the rocky road we took to get to this point. It may not have been smooth sailing, but arriving to this destination was definitely worth the bumpy ride.
Safe at Last by Maya Banks is a 2015 Avon publication.
This third installment in the ‘Slow Burn’ series finally found its footing for me, for the mostSafe at Last by Maya Banks is a 2015 Avon publication.
This third installment in the ‘Slow Burn’ series finally found its footing for me, for the most part.
This is Zack’s story and I have to say this installment is darker than the previous two chapters in the series.
Zack was slated for a career in football and had his life all mapped out with his young girlfriend, Gracie. But, when he left for college, Gracie disappeared and Zack’s life went into a tailspin. For the last twelve years, Zack has been haunted by Gracie, not knowing if she was even alive.
Gracie spent the last twelve years hating Zack for a horrific betrayal. When the two come face to face again after all this time, the whole shocking truth will finally be revealed and the shock waves will reverberate for a long time to come.
Of the three books I’ve read in this paranormal/romantic suspense series, this one is the best. This story is emotional, and deals with uncomfortable subject matter, but that is why it’s so compelling.
There is still an issue with repetitiveness, and the story dragged a little here and there, but the Devereaux brothers were much tamer in this installment and I also enjoyed the banter with Eliza and her larger role in the story.
Hopefully, the balance in this book is a signal of better things to come with this series and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next with Eliza in “With Every Breath”, coming out later this month.
Keep Me Safe by Maya Banks is a 2014 Avon publication.
Maya Banks is an author I have heard so much about, but for some reason I have only read a handKeep Me Safe by Maya Banks is a 2014 Avon publication.
Maya Banks is an author I have heard so much about, but for some reason I have only read a handful of her books. So, when it came to my attention that the fourth installment in the ‘Slow Burn’ series is due out later this month, I thought I would catch up on the series as quickly as possible before the new book is released. I was excited to see why this author is so popular, and was hoping to find a new romantic suspense series to follow.
Honestly, since I am not as familiar with the author’s writing style as many of her readers are, I can’t say if this is her best work, or if it is par for the course, or below average compared to her other work.
But, I have to confess I was not a big fan of this one. I’m fine with certain paranormal elements and I love romantic suspense, but this setup didn’t quite work for me.
Caleb was okay, I liked him well enough, but I didn’t care for the other Devereaux brothers due to their unreasonable response to Raime, but I’m sure their characters will improve as the series progresses. I liked Raime, but for those who like a kick butt heroine, who despite the physical and mental torment of having lived through countless attacks via her psychic connection to other victims, rises to the occasion and shows off her mental toughness, then you may find Raime a little too tepid. She was a little whiny and seemed to teeter on the edge of an emotional breakdown for the majority of the book, but did get old after a while. Ironically, I found that Tori is given permission to feel fragile, and is given all the time in the world to recover, while Raime’s emotional weakness is considered a flaw and is quite annoying. Even the other characters in the book, who should have been thankful to Raime, were a little hard on her. Go figure.
Overall, the plot was a kind of weak, the bad guy too shadowy, and the characters were hard to warm up to, but this is only the first book in the series, so perhaps things will firm up a little in the next installment. Here’s hoping!
The Earl by Katharine Ashe is a 2016 Avon publication.
“But if I was fearless, could I be your reckless friend? And if I was helpless, could be the onThe Earl by Katharine Ashe is a 2016 Avon publication.
“But if I was fearless, could I be your reckless friend? And if I was helpless, could be the one comes rushin’ in?
- Cyndi Lauper- ‘Fearless’
The showdown we have all been waiting for!
Lady Justice meets Peregrine after many salty, flirty, sharp, and witty written exchanges published for all to see.
The circumstances, though, are less than ideal.
As the Falcon Club comes to an end, the leader, Peregrine, aka Colin Gray buries his father, and become the reigning Earl of Egremoor. When his arch enemy, Lady Justice asked for help in finding her missing sister, Colin agrees. When he finally stands face to face with his arch enemy, he refuses to believe ‘Lady Justice’ is a woman, having thought it was a man he had been sparring with all this time.
Emily, the ‘bookish’ “Lady Vale, is worried about her sister, who has seemingly disappeared. When she heads out to Scotland to find her, she meets up with Colin Gray, a man she has hated for the past eighteen years. The two become victims of mistaken identity and find themselves on the run.
Thus, begins their journey, where Colin and Emily trade barbs, bicker, argue, and debate, while encountering danger and intrigue. They also discover the special pulse that beat between them as children is still throbbing steadily, but the deep pain Emily feels, which is masked by fierce and passionate resentment, and Colin’s arrogant cluelessness about what caused this deep fissure, prevents forgiveness and healing.
Will the imposters be found? What will happen when Colin discovers Lady Justice’s true identity? Can the enemies call a truce? Forgive each other? Become friends, lovers?
This story is the perfect ending for the Falcon Club. While Emily may seem difficult, stubborn, and maybe even a little shrewish, the WHOLE story comes out in the end and explains so much about her behavior, her passion, and how big her heart really is. I liked Emily, actually. She feels things deeply, sticks to her convictions, and despite the price she pays for that, she holds her head up and exhibits courage and strength.
Colin’s story is heartbreaking, and his equally stubborn countenance is the result of his upbringing by a man that is publicly praised and considered a ‘great man’, but behind closed doors is a cold, hard man who raised his son in this same vein, with Colin aspiring to also become a ‘great man’ just like his father.
“A great man is not measured by the strength of his privilege, but by the depth of his heart.”
This novel is full of the contradictions and juxtapositions men and women often face and struggle with. I think Emily represents that conflict women feel by exposing both sides of the coin.
Colin and Emily are full of palpable pain, both believe they are in the right, believing in their cause, and what they feel is right. Both need to give and take, both must face their own hypocrisy and flaws, admit to them, learn from them, and let go of long held resentments, forgive and allow love to permeate and heal.
“A man is only as noble as his honesty”
This a powerful love story, albeit unconventional, which is exactly what I loved the most about it. The emotions are raw and real, stripping the protagonists bare, exposing their most hidden places, and igniting a fiery passion while reigniting their long buried feelings of love for one another.
Katherine Ashe is a force, unafraid to address the vulnerabilities behind the strength we have within ourselves.
Overall, this is an awesome story, full of adventure, passion, and romance, but also full of depth, with interesting character studies added in, which will have you thinking about the them long after you’ve finished reading.
Hero of Mine by Codi Gary is a 2016 Avon Impulse publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honHero of Mine by Codi Gary is a 2016 Avon Impulse publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
I am unfamiliar with this author, but anytime I see a storyline involving animals, and military heroes, I usually can’t resist the temptation to try it.
I have to admit that after reading the first few chapters I was not sure if I was going to like this one mainly because of all the extreme cynicism and Dani’s over the top defensiveness. But, the more I read, the more the story grew on me.
Dani is a single mom who has sworn off men and dating in order to focus on being a good mother to her son, Noah. She’s been attracted to bad boys in the past, and doesn’t trust her choices in men. Not only that, she is finds that while parenthood is rewarding, she is always worried about her parenting decisions. She is way, way, way too hard on herself and if anyone offers advice or questions anything in regards to Noah, she gets really uptight and takes it too personally, which makes her appear rude and shrill.
Tyler is a player, no two ways about it. But, he also has some redeeming qualities, such as being a member of the ‘Men of Alpha Dog’, an organization that works with at risk teens, plus he works with dogs, trying to give them a second chance too.
When Tyler and Dani cross paths, they don’t exactly hit it off, but they keep bumping into each other, sometimes in a comical way. Once they get to know each other a little, Tyler begins to wonder if he is missing out on something special by avoiding a committed relationship and Dani begins to think she and Tyler have made a connection. But, with their combined issues, they decide to take it slow and easy. Things are going pretty well, until Noah’s biological father makes an appearance and begins to aggressively pursue a relationship with Noah.
I think this story takes a realistic approach to the contemporary dating dilemmas many single moms endure, and the admission that each of us brings a certain amount baggage with us, because we have all made mistakes and life is not a fairy tale. So, Tyler and Dani both brought problems from their past into the relationship, but for the most part they handled the challenges well. There are some misunderstandings, moments of doubt, a little angst, but in the end the characters blossomed and grew, which has a huge impact on the lives of others, which made the journey extra special.
I’m glad I decided to give this book a try because I ended up really liking it.
Why Do Dukes Fall in Love? By Megan Frampton is a 2016 Avon publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchangeWhy Do Dukes Fall in Love? By Megan Frampton is a 2016 Avon publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This cute Victorian era romance centers around Eliza Cheltham, her young daughter, Gertrude, and Michael, the Duke of Hadlow. The lives of these three very unique individuals converge when the duke finds himself in need of a secretary and Eliza discovers her deceased husband has left her destitute, meaning she will need to find a job.
Michael’s disposition is like that of many aristocrats, in that he is arrogant and impatient, snobbish and boorish. He makes no apologies for these traits and refuses to pretend politeness, or play along with what society dictates, becoming impatient when people play games instead of speaking their minds.
Eliza immediately makes an assessment of the duke’s unconventional attitude toward polite society. She shrugs off his rudeness and forthright musings and proves herself invaluable to him, earning the great duke’s respect and stirring something deep within him he can’t quite put a name to.
But, as time passes the relationship moves well beyond the propriety of their professional contract. In fact, it’s downright scandalous. However, with the huge class differences between them, they can never take the relationship any further, forcing Eliza to make a painful decision about her future.
This is a very light romp, with cute banter and an adorable child to add an added dose of charm to the story.
I know I lament often enough about the overabundance of soft and fluffy historical romances, without any dire or difficult challenges for the characters to face, other than the usual difficulties, like dealing with fussy, spoiled dukes, who avoid marriage at all cost.
But, we do still need the mind candy, if you will, with stories that provide a diversion from our hectic, stress filled lives, or from depressing headlines. This book is the perfect medicine for those times, and just what the doctored ordered.
I actually found the duke’s outlook rather refreshing. Of course, one can be plainly spoken or forthright in a tactful way, which is what Michael needed to work on. But, I agreed with him about the tediousness of polite conversations, as I also prefer people just cut to the chase and get right to the point.
He also made a pivotal connection with Gertrude. I don't usually like children added into the mix, but Gertrude proves to be a refreshing addition and I loved the way Michael accepted her and she wound him around her finger. In fact, I knew by the way he responded to Gertrude, he was in already in deep, and was in serious trouble, he just didn't know it yet.
Eliza is a practical person, and I liked that she is a mature character, and not a virginal teenager, which made it easier for me to relate to her. She doesn’t complain, is smart, and isn’t always on the verge of tears, or filled with high octane angst. She does what is right for herself and her child, proving she believes in her own self-worth.
The characters are not extremely developed, nor are not shallow. The book is intended to be fun, light and airy, and it successfully entertained me for a few hours and lighted my mood, which is something we all could use right now.
This is a nice escapist read, cute and sassy, filled with charm and humor. These types of stories never go out of style or lose their popularity, because who doesn’t like to see love erase class boundaries and defy logic?
The Virgin and the Viscount by (The Bachelor Lords #2) by Charis Michaels is a 2016 Avon Impulse publication. I was provided a copy of this book by thThe Virgin and the Viscount by (The Bachelor Lords #2) by Charis Michaels is a 2016 Avon Impulse publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
With a title like ‘The Virgin and the Viscount’ one might presume they are about to consume the typical, cookie cutter, light and airy regency style romp…
Except this story starts off in a brothel, after a young lady finds she has been kidnapped, branded, with no memory of what happened to her, and about to be forced into prostitution. But, instead, she is rescued by her ‘client’, who makes sure she gets to her aunt’s home, and then vanishes into the night never to seen or heard from again.
Now, fifteen years later, Elisabeth, finds herself face to face with the man who saved her all those years ago… Bryson Courtland, Viscount Rainsleigh. Thankfully, he doesn’t recognize her, but her relief is short lived as he soon becomes her ardent admirer, seeking to make her his wife. But, what will he think when he learns the truth?
Bryson had a horrible childhood, with both parents behaving shamelessly, reveling in debauchery, which has left Bryson determined to avoid giving in to his baser desires and running his life in an orderly fashion, taking his position of Viscount very seriously, hoping to maintain the respectability he has fought so hard to achieve. But, the time has come for him to marry and when he meets Elisabeth he knows right away she is the one for him. She is moral, respectable, does charitable work, has the right pedigree, and he actually likes her. So, he methodically sets out to convince her to marry him.
I thought this set up was rather unique and as a person suffering from regency burnout, this was a nice change of pace.
Elisabeth has used her horrifying experience to help young women escape prostitution, making sure they receive medical help and given honorable jobs. Her entire life is wrapped up in her work, but when her well meaning aunt interferes by inviting the new Viscount for dinner and insisting Elisabeth join them, her life takes on a new direction, one she never could have imagined.
The first half of the book is centered around Bryson’s courtship of Elisabeth, the feelings that develop between them, which includes some delightful banter and with Bryson forced to literally pursue Elisabeth, something that would ordinarily be outside his comfort zone. I really thought it was sweet, and I know many will roll their eyes, and it may seem a little old fashioned, but I liked her resistance of him, which wasn’t a ploy, because it only made him want her that much more.
The second half of the book was much more serious, emotional and very sad, and more than a little frustrating. If I had been able to climb through the pages of the book, I would have kicked Bryson in the seat of the pants because Elisabeth deserved better than what she was getting.
Also, thrown into the mix was a secondary love story involving Elisabeth’s aunt, which was delightfully scandalous was a nice addition to the story.
For me personally, I found it easier to understand Elisabeth and her need to work up the courage to explain her past to Bryson, and I felt her pain more acutely because I believed she was being treated unfairly and of course prejudged.
Bryson had me warming up to him there for a while in the beginning, but before all was said and done, his intimacy issues and subsequent ill treatment of Elisabeth, cooled things off to the point of frigidity. His issues nearly tired me out and limped along much longer than necessary. So, Bryson was going to have to work really hard to melt my heart, but he almost waited too long and it came really close to being too little, too late.
First of all, let me commend and thank the author, because I greatly appreciated, more than I can say, how the historical authenticity was not compromised by adding modern terms, or by tossing out the protocols, rules, language, and dress of the period. This story is a great example of how a historical romance, especially one centered around polite society, should read.
Although, I felt like I was on a see-saw with this story, with all the ups and downs, and the ending was a little wobbly, the epilogue firmed things up nicely and left me smiling.
Thankfully, Elisabeth found someone who loved her no matter what, as did Bryson, which is all that counted in the first place.
Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover by Sarah Maclean is a 2014 Avon publication.
I’ve only recently discovered this author, and while I enjoyed the first Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover by Sarah Maclean is a 2014 Avon publication.
I’ve only recently discovered this author, and while I enjoyed the first book in the Scandal & Scoundrels series well enough, it was this series I was the most curious about.
First of all, I was relieved to find the book is not about a young girl trying to fight against the rules of society or the TON, or peerage trying to avoid marriage. Instead, we have Georgiana, who makes a mistake at sixteen, becomes an unwed mother, and is unceremoniously cast out of society despite her father’s title.
Now, ten years later, a cartoon appearing in a scandal sheet has forced her to attempt to merge herself back into society to find a titled husband for the sake of her daughter.
Enter Duncan West, the owner of the scandal sheet that forced Georgiana’s hand. Mortified that the cartoon was printed, Duncan is determined to right that wrong via his vast newspaper empire. However, he is stunned to discover that Georgiana is living a double life inside the notorious gambling club “Fallen Angels”.
Believing her to be under the thumb of the infamous “Chase”, Duncan finds himself frustrated in the extreme, his hands tied due to his own dark secrets, so, he can only help her reenter society, find a suitable match, all while the two fall hopelessly, but helplessly in love, but with no possibility of a future together.
Naturally, the reader knows that Georgiana is not living a double life, she is living a triple life, which was funny to an extent, but turns serious with each passing day as Duncan becomes more concerned for Georgiana’s welfare and future.
I loved the political intrigue in this story, and the secrets are pretty heavy, leaning toward the dark side, as did a few other situations, which is far more realistic to the times, and so more points are rewarded for daring to address some uncomfortable subject matter.
Georgiana and all her alter egos are smart, strong, but also have vulnerabilities, with Georgiana having the most to gain or lose, although there were some tense moments in the last few chapters, concerning her other endeavors. I could understand her actions sometimes, in others, not so much, but overall, she was pretty darned impressive.
Caroline is a young woman mature beyond her years, which is probably a bit of a stretch, but was also refreshing. I enjoyed the other minor characters too, all of whom played key roles in the way things eventually turned out.
The villain is written very well, is truly despicable, vile, and of course quite dangerous to a great many people. Sometimes, the villain is not fleshed out enough, but in this case we certainly do get a nice peek into his black soul and that makes the victory that much sweeter.
I saved Duncan for last, because he stole my heart. Almost from the beginning, even before I was sure his motives were pure, I thought he was dreamy and honorable, despite hints to the contrary and a few moments of real doubt that cropped up later in the story. Sometimes, a hero I don't quite trust is a little fun, because it adds to the suspense.
Duncan has a sad aura around him, but is a little darker in nature than is the norm for regency historicals, but not too dark. I liked him immensely and think he is an awesome hero.
Although there were a few times when the switching back and forth between alter egos got just a little a tiresome, I liked the way this story was constructed, it flows evenly and is steadily paced, with the right amount of chemistry and sexual tension, and a nice build up of suspense, behind an interesting storyline.
I enjoyed this one far more that the first book I read by this author, and am now able to see why this author and her books are so popular.
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