Reviewed by Justin Book provided by NetGalley Originally posted at Romancing the Book
Everyone loves a good action story. Whether it’s a hunk killing somReviewed by Justin Book provided by NetGalley Originally posted at Romancing the Book
Everyone loves a good action story. Whether it’s a hunk killing some terrorists on the big screen, or a young wizard finally slaying the evil sorcerer who also slayed his parents, action grips us at our core. It excites, scares, and thrills us. Soft Targets by John Gilstrap is no exception.
This story follows an FBI Special Agent searching for her kidnapped girls. She gets introduced to two hulking special forces types who quickly decide that she is worth helping, and who lend a brutal aspect to the book. Early on, our main character is forced with a dilemma: do what is right, or uphold the law. Much of the book is centered around this.
The author definitely did not pull punches on this novel. It is face-paced, with not a dry moment in sight. Constant movement occurs and you will not find yourself bored. There are moments other authors would shy away from, such as the killing of a hostage by the good guys; but these moments only add to the story and lend credence to the supporting characters. There is a fair share of gore and bloodshed – not excessive, mind you – but it feels like the perfect amount for a book of this genre.
With that said, however, I have two large gripes about this book, both of which are related. The first is this: the characters remain very static throughout the whole of the novel. The only time it feels like a character bursts out of their static prison is when the main character is forced to choose between rescuing her daughters at all cost or upholding her oath to the law; this mostly happens towards the mid-beginning of the book, and she remains unchanged through most of it.
Also, it does read and feel like a prologue. This is the prequel to a series, showing how the protagonist met her two special forces friends, but if you just pick up the book off of a shelf you might be left feeling a little left out.
If you are looking for naught but action where the good guy wins in the end, this book is for you. If you aren’t willing to invest in the overarching narrative with the other books, and enjoy watching characters grow, I’d recommend you look elsewhere. If you are just looking for an action packed afternoon, while lazing about your favorite couch, I’d definitely say this is a great book to pick up.
Merged review:
Reviewed by Justin Book provided by NetGalley Originally posted at Romancing the Book
Everyone loves a good action story. Whether it’s a hunk killing some terrorists on the big screen, or a young wizard finally slaying the evil sorcerer who also slayed his parents, action grips us at our core. It excites, scares, and thrills us. Soft Targets by John Gilstrap is no exception.
This story follows an FBI Special Agent searching for her kidnapped girls. She gets introduced to two hulking special forces types who quickly decide that she is worth helping, and who lend a brutal aspect to the book. Early on, our main character is forced with a dilemma: do what is right, or uphold the law. Much of the book is centered around this.
The author definitely did not pull punches on this novel. It is face-paced, with not a dry moment in sight. Constant movement occurs and you will not find yourself bored. There are moments other authors would shy away from, such as the killing of a hostage by the good guys; but these moments only add to the story and lend credence to the supporting characters. There is a fair share of gore and bloodshed – not excessive, mind you – but it feels like the perfect amount for a book of this genre.
With that said, however, I have two large gripes about this book, both of which are related. The first is this: the characters remain very static throughout the whole of the novel. The only time it feels like a character bursts out of their static prison is when the main character is forced to choose between rescuing her daughters at all cost or upholding her oath to the law; this mostly happens towards the mid-beginning of the book, and she remains unchanged through most of it.
Also, it does read and feel like a prologue. This is the prequel to a series, showing how the protagonist met her two special forces friends, but if you just pick up the book off of a shelf you might be left feeling a little left out.
If you are looking for naught but action where the good guy wins in the end, this book is for you. If you aren’t willing to invest in the overarching narrative with the other books, and enjoy watching characters grow, I’d recommend you look elsewhere. If you are just looking for an action packed afternoon, while lazing about your favorite couch, I’d definitely say this is a great book to pick up....more
Reviewed by Shyla Book provided by the publisher for review Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
This is not your average scorching cougar taleReviewed by Shyla Book provided by the publisher for review Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
This is not your average scorching cougar tale. I love my heroines strong, and Elle was a one ball busting… well you know the phrase! * grins* I mean that in the nicest way possible. At the top of the pharmaceutical game Elle’s been playing in the sandbox with the big boys for so long her love life has suffered. Not every man can handle the demands of a high profile job, or a woman with self confidence, a game plan, and a pay check bigger than theirs.
But I digress. After being stationed in Istanbul for a few years, Elle’s last few months in the country are turned upside when she meet’s sexy, native Emre. She wants to drown in his dark eyes and lick every delectable inch of his olive-colored skin. Problem is, at forty she’s much older and has been out of the game so long she’s lost her swag. Instead of telling him how she feels she books a night with the fabulous Madam Eve at One Night Stand. The surprise she receives in return will warm your hot… and nether regions. *winks*
Emre is delicious and intoxicating like a strong Turkish cup of coffee. It’s easy to imagine falling for him. Especially, with such a beautiful back drop.
Ms. Crowe can paint an amazing picture. She constructed characters I cared about with some very carefully chosen words. This short left me completely fulfilled it won’t be the last I read by her. I highly recommend picking it up.
Merged review:
Reviewed by Shyla Book provided by the publisher for review Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
This is not your average scorching cougar tale. I love my heroines strong, and Elle was a one ball busting… well you know the phrase! * grins* I mean that in the nicest way possible. At the top of the pharmaceutical game Elle’s been playing in the sandbox with the big boys for so long her love life has suffered. Not every man can handle the demands of a high profile job, or a woman with self confidence, a game plan, and a pay check bigger than theirs.
But I digress. After being stationed in Istanbul for a few years, Elle’s last few months in the country are turned upside when she meet’s sexy, native Emre. She wants to drown in his dark eyes and lick every delectable inch of his olive-colored skin. Problem is, at forty she’s much older and has been out of the game so long she’s lost her swag. Instead of telling him how she feels she books a night with the fabulous Madam Eve at One Night Stand. The surprise she receives in return will warm your hot… and nether regions. *winks*
Emre is delicious and intoxicating like a strong Turkish cup of coffee. It’s easy to imagine falling for him. Especially, with such a beautiful back drop.
Ms. Crowe can paint an amazing picture. She constructed characters I cared about with some very carefully chosen words. This short left me completely fulfilled it won’t be the last I read by her. I highly recommend picking it up....more
Reviewed by Robin Book provided by the author for review Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
I get this story…I really do. We all at some poinReviewed by Robin Book provided by the author for review Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
I get this story…I really do. We all at some point in our lives go through some small or large form of verbal abuse. If married we all find that it takes work it isn’t easy. It isn’t perfect. We work together to obtain the perfect relationship but there is always things that aren’t perfect; we don’t live in a perfect world.
While I thought that the story was full of potential I felt it fell flat with the characters. I wasn’t able to relate to them. They weren’t as strong as I thought they could or should have been. Beth just wasn’t someone that I was able to grasp a hold of as a person. She was kind of flat and one dimensional. I also felt that her husband/ex was the same way. The men in this book where just a little too whiney for me.
Ms. Sharp dealt with the marriage falling apart, the divorce, letting others know, and dating again in such a fashion that the story moved on without a hitch.
I however was not convinced with the characters. It was however a little far-fetched that Beth went from a marriage of twenty plus years to a nudist colony, a swingers experience and even plastic surgery in no time at all. I guess that is why it is fiction.
Overall it wasn’t a bad story it was just not great in this reader’s views.
Merged review:
Reviewed by Robin Book provided by the author for review Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
I get this story…I really do. We all at some point in our lives go through some small or large form of verbal abuse. If married we all find that it takes work it isn’t easy. It isn’t perfect. We work together to obtain the perfect relationship but there is always things that aren’t perfect; we don’t live in a perfect world.
While I thought that the story was full of potential I felt it fell flat with the characters. I wasn’t able to relate to them. They weren’t as strong as I thought they could or should have been. Beth just wasn’t someone that I was able to grasp a hold of as a person. She was kind of flat and one dimensional. I also felt that her husband/ex was the same way. The men in this book where just a little too whiney for me.
Ms. Sharp dealt with the marriage falling apart, the divorce, letting others know, and dating again in such a fashion that the story moved on without a hitch.
I however was not convinced with the characters. It was however a little far-fetched that Beth went from a marriage of twenty plus years to a nudist colony, a swingers experience and even plastic surgery in no time at all. I guess that is why it is fiction.
Overall it wasn’t a bad story it was just not great in this reader’s views....more
Reviewed by Robin Book provided by the publisher for review Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
I was rather disappointed in this story as a wReviewed by Robin Book provided by the publisher for review Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
I was rather disappointed in this story as a whole. Ms. Maeve went a little overboard with the sex and didn’t go far enough with the premise for the reason Laure is the way she is.
I found it a bit hard to swallow that Laure is in a relationship one moment with no apparent problems, they break up and that very day she has a stranger in her bed having hot sex. For most that may seem as if it is a dream that comes true. But, for me it was a little out of left field; leaving me a bit puzzled as to where this was all going. I soon found out as I read on but I just didn’t connect with the characters. I found them to be flat.
I was interested in the plot about Laure’s father but it soon left me with questions that I just didn’t get the answer I wanted. Not that they weren’t answered but just not in the way that I needed them to be. Things seemed rushed. The father of one of Laure’s father’s victims went with her for a visit to the prison. Things didn’t go as he wanted so he up and left leaving Laure to find her own way home. I understand the frustration and anger but come on…
I guess overall the story wasn’t bad and the idea was an interesting one but for me it kind of got away and wrapped up in all the sex which I am not saying is bad but the two just didn’t blend for me and I just didn’t feel it. The sex scenes where hot and a little more than were needed for even an erotic story. However I will give this author another try.
Merged review:
Reviewed by Robin Book provided by the publisher for review Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
I was rather disappointed in this story as a whole. Ms. Maeve went a little overboard with the sex and didn’t go far enough with the premise for the reason Laure is the way she is.
I found it a bit hard to swallow that Laure is in a relationship one moment with no apparent problems, they break up and that very day she has a stranger in her bed having hot sex. For most that may seem as if it is a dream that comes true. But, for me it was a little out of left field; leaving me a bit puzzled as to where this was all going. I soon found out as I read on but I just didn’t connect with the characters. I found them to be flat.
I was interested in the plot about Laure’s father but it soon left me with questions that I just didn’t get the answer I wanted. Not that they weren’t answered but just not in the way that I needed them to be. Things seemed rushed. The father of one of Laure’s father’s victims went with her for a visit to the prison. Things didn’t go as he wanted so he up and left leaving Laure to find her own way home. I understand the frustration and anger but come on…
I guess overall the story wasn’t bad and the idea was an interesting one but for me it kind of got away and wrapped up in all the sex which I am not saying is bad but the two just didn’t blend for me and I just didn’t feel it. The sex scenes where hot and a little more than were needed for even an erotic story. However I will give this author another try....more
Reviewed by JoAnne Book provided by Jana Richards Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
Truth and Solace is book three in the Love at Solace L Reviewed by JoAnne Book provided by Jana Richards Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
Truth and Solace is book three in the Love at Solace Lake series. It’s not only a nice continuation of the series it’s an emotional read and we find out about the secrets in Harper, Scarlet and Maggie’s family and also about what’s ailing Abby, their mother’s best friend. This is Maggie and Luke’s story but it is so much more since it encompasses everyone. Loose ends are tied up nicely since this is the third and last book in the series but a holiday novella would be nice so we can see how the lodge fares once it fully opens and how they are each living their lives. It was nice to be reunited with the characters I’ve grown to love but also the inclusion of Celeste and Hope was a nice addition to the story.
The book starts off with a prologue that takes Maggie back to her childhood when she lived in the lodge with her grandparents. The story takes place ten years later and we finally learn what’s been hinted in the first two books, Lies and Solace and Secrets and Solace, regarding Maggie’s life when she left home and what really happened between she and Luke. We watch them take one step forward and two or three back since they’re both afraid to feel. There were family and friends, happiness, sadness, tears and laughter, reminisces, anger, fear, heartache, sorrow, holidays. celebrations, food, romance, loving and love. The descriptions of the weather, the land, the town, the lodge, the cottages and Abby’s home made me feel that I was there. There was a nice flow to the story that revealed truths to us a little at a time and some were shockers. The characters all had a depth to them and we learned more about them as their layers were pulled back. There’s a happily-ever-after in the offing along with a few surprises. The epilogue was nice but didn’t go far enough for me.
Richards is a new to me author only having read this series. I look forward to reading more contemporary romances that she writes.
Favorite Quote: Luke’s lips turned up in a grin. “You celebrate with donuts?”
She smiled back. “You celebrate your way, and I’ll celebrate mine.”
Merged review:
Reviewed by JoAnne Book provided by Jana Richards Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
Truth and Solace is book three in the Love at Solace Lake series. It’s not only a nice continuation of the series it’s an emotional read and we find out about the secrets in Harper, Scarlet and Maggie’s family and also about what’s ailing Abby, their mother’s best friend. This is Maggie and Luke’s story but it is so much more since it encompasses everyone. Loose ends are tied up nicely since this is the third and last book in the series but a holiday novella would be nice so we can see how the lodge fares once it fully opens and how they are each living their lives. It was nice to be reunited with the characters I’ve grown to love but also the inclusion of Celeste and Hope was a nice addition to the story.
The book starts off with a prologue that takes Maggie back to her childhood when she lived in the lodge with her grandparents. The story takes place ten years later and we finally learn what’s been hinted in the first two books, Lies and Solace and Secrets and Solace, regarding Maggie’s life when she left home and what really happened between she and Luke. We watch them take one step forward and two or three back since they’re both afraid to feel. There were family and friends, happiness, sadness, tears and laughter, reminisces, anger, fear, heartache, sorrow, holidays. celebrations, food, romance, loving and love. The descriptions of the weather, the land, the town, the lodge, the cottages and Abby’s home made me feel that I was there. There was a nice flow to the story that revealed truths to us a little at a time and some were shockers. The characters all had a depth to them and we learned more about them as their layers were pulled back. There’s a happily-ever-after in the offing along with a few surprises. The epilogue was nice but didn’t go far enough for me.
Richards is a new to me author only having read this series. I look forward to reading more contemporary romances that she writes.
Favorite Quote: Luke’s lips turned up in a grin. “You celebrate with donuts?”
She smiled back. “You celebrate your way, and I’ll celebrate mine.”...more
Reviewed by JoAnne Book provided by the publisher for review Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
This was a quickie – only 33 pages – but therReviewed by JoAnne Book provided by the publisher for review Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
This was a quickie – only 33 pages – but there was potential for more. There really wasn’t a story – it took place in a few hours in Sheila’s home – and was mainly describing Sheila’s sexual encounter with the contractor, Easton. There was an implied happy ending, not necessarily long term, that seemed a little farfetched. There wasn’t a plot or character development just a little history on each of them.
I’m not sure if I would give another book by this author a try or not.
Merged review:
Reviewed by JoAnne Book provided by the publisher for review Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
This was a quickie – only 33 pages – but there was potential for more. There really wasn’t a story – it took place in a few hours in Sheila’s home – and was mainly describing Sheila’s sexual encounter with the contractor, Easton. There was an implied happy ending, not necessarily long term, that seemed a little farfetched. There wasn’t a plot or character development just a little history on each of them.
I’m not sure if I would give another book by this author a try or not....more
Reviewed by Amy W. Book provided by the publisher for review Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
One of the characteristics I have come to assReviewed by Amy W. Book provided by the publisher for review Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
One of the characteristics I have come to associate with author Lily Harlem is versatility. Whether penning solo or in collaboration with author Natalie Dae, this author consistently delivers a panty-melting erotic experience.
Rule Breaker is no exception.
As a prison nurse, Lacey finds herself drawn to Miller, one of the inmates. He’s about to be released after paying for his crime, which means there’s a chance for her dreams to become a reality. She’s spent her life living by the rules; taking a chance with Miller would be completely unlike her.
Packed with plenty of kink, Harlem delivers a raunchy read that is pure naughtiness. Her erotic scenes are well developed without any sense of following a set pattern. The unexpected becomes the expected at the hands of this author. The storyline provides a completely new twist on the “traditional” good girl/bad boy relationship. What happens when the good girl decides to be a little bit bad and the bad boy encourages it? Throw in a secondary storyline featuring Lacey and Shay, her cousin by marriage, to complicate matters.
Although there were some challenging aspects of reading a story featuring UK English as opposed to the American version, I chalked it up as a cultural experience. It did take a bit for me to get used to Miller referring to Lacey as “hen.” Because of the setting in England and then in France, there is very much of an international flavor to the story that is rich in detail.
Never could I have predicted the ending. The author did a phenomenal job of laying the groundwork to lead readers in a completely different direction. The end result is one that is truly representative of Harlem’s skills as a writer.
Merged review:
Reviewed by Amy W. Book provided by the publisher for review Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
One of the characteristics I have come to associate with author Lily Harlem is versatility. Whether penning solo or in collaboration with author Natalie Dae, this author consistently delivers a panty-melting erotic experience.
Rule Breaker is no exception.
As a prison nurse, Lacey finds herself drawn to Miller, one of the inmates. He’s about to be released after paying for his crime, which means there’s a chance for her dreams to become a reality. She’s spent her life living by the rules; taking a chance with Miller would be completely unlike her.
Packed with plenty of kink, Harlem delivers a raunchy read that is pure naughtiness. Her erotic scenes are well developed without any sense of following a set pattern. The unexpected becomes the expected at the hands of this author. The storyline provides a completely new twist on the “traditional” good girl/bad boy relationship. What happens when the good girl decides to be a little bit bad and the bad boy encourages it? Throw in a secondary storyline featuring Lacey and Shay, her cousin by marriage, to complicate matters.
Although there were some challenging aspects of reading a story featuring UK English as opposed to the American version, I chalked it up as a cultural experience. It did take a bit for me to get used to Miller referring to Lacey as “hen.” Because of the setting in England and then in France, there is very much of an international flavor to the story that is rich in detail.
Never could I have predicted the ending. The author did a phenomenal job of laying the groundwork to lead readers in a completely different direction. The end result is one that is truly representative of Harlem’s skills as a writer....more
Review by Judy: crafted flawlessly in first-person present tense, a difficult mechanism. Ellie’s emotional journey is explored in depth; readers will Review by Judy: crafted flawlessly in first-person present tense, a difficult mechanism. Ellie’s emotional journey is explored in depth; readers will recognize and identify with many of her thoughts and feelings. However, the overall plot strains belief.
Ms Owen writes well. The story has tremendous possibilities, but in the opinion of this reviewer the characters’ actions and reactions to the situations in which they find themselves seem unrealistic. The topics of surviving cancer, divorce, and personal tragedy are certainly relevant but call for a more balanced approach by mature adults. While people may feel they are on a rollercoaster, as rational (or even irrational) human beings, they are well aware of the necessity to traverse the ground below with some plan and purpose.
At this writing, the novel has received four five-star reviews at Amazon.com, so readers considering the book might want to check there for another insight.
Merged review:
Review by Judy: crafted flawlessly in first-person present tense, a difficult mechanism. Ellie’s emotional journey is explored in depth; readers will recognize and identify with many of her thoughts and feelings. However, the overall plot strains belief.
Ms Owen writes well. The story has tremendous possibilities, but in the opinion of this reviewer the characters’ actions and reactions to the situations in which they find themselves seem unrealistic. The topics of surviving cancer, divorce, and personal tragedy are certainly relevant but call for a more balanced approach by mature adults. While people may feel they are on a rollercoaster, as rational (or even irrational) human beings, they are well aware of the necessity to traverse the ground below with some plan and purpose.
At this writing, the novel has received four five-star reviews at Amazon.com, so readers considering the book might want to check there for another insight....more
Reviewer: Jen I was looking for a short, quick read when I picked up Sex on the Beach, and that is exactly what I got. The story is about 100 pages wiReviewer: Jen I was looking for a short, quick read when I picked up Sex on the Beach, and that is exactly what I got. The story is about 100 pages with a pretty simple plot. Allie is on vacation and happens to be living next to undercover cop, Tony. Tony's looking for a drug dealer, but gets distracted by Allie. This about covers the first 3/4 of the book -- Tony and Allie and a whole lot of hot sex. The last 1/4 of the book wraps up the really under-developed plot line of Tony's cop job and the local drug dealer he is trying to arrest.
So, you can probably tell I had a couple issues with the book. First, Tony's an undercover cop. Yet, he totally let's Allie distract him from his job. In fact, before she knew about his job, he was willing to throw all that he's worked toward out the window for a roll in the sand with Allie. I find that hard to swallow. Wouldn't a man who has trained to be a cop and is good enough at his job to actually go undercover have better self-control? And without spoiling the story (I hope!), he also makes another major blunder, which amazed me and I sat there shaking my head when Allie accepted it with little fuss.
And then there is the plot. The basic plot line is good. And Amber Skyze has a way with a sex scene (grab an ice cold drink). But as I came to the end of the book, I was left with an unfulfilled feeling. It seemed to wrap up too neatly and the first half of the book was disconnected from the second half. This is one book that could definitely benefit from a few more pages to fill in some blanks in the plot.
Merged review:
Reviewer: Jen I was looking for a short, quick read when I picked up Sex on the Beach, and that is exactly what I got. The story is about 100 pages with a pretty simple plot. Allie is on vacation and happens to be living next to undercover cop, Tony. Tony's looking for a drug dealer, but gets distracted by Allie. This about covers the first 3/4 of the book -- Tony and Allie and a whole lot of hot sex. The last 1/4 of the book wraps up the really under-developed plot line of Tony's cop job and the local drug dealer he is trying to arrest.
So, you can probably tell I had a couple issues with the book. First, Tony's an undercover cop. Yet, he totally let's Allie distract him from his job. In fact, before she knew about his job, he was willing to throw all that he's worked toward out the window for a roll in the sand with Allie. I find that hard to swallow. Wouldn't a man who has trained to be a cop and is good enough at his job to actually go undercover have better self-control? And without spoiling the story (I hope!), he also makes another major blunder, which amazed me and I sat there shaking my head when Allie accepted it with little fuss.
And then there is the plot. The basic plot line is good. And Amber Skyze has a way with a sex scene (grab an ice cold drink). But as I came to the end of the book, I was left with an unfulfilled feeling. It seemed to wrap up too neatly and the first half of the book was disconnected from the second half. This is one book that could definitely benefit from a few more pages to fill in some blanks in the plot....more
Reviewed by JoAnne Book provided by Jana Richards Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
Secrets and Solace is a nice continuation of the Love Reviewed by JoAnne Book provided by Jana Richards Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
Secrets and Solace is a nice continuation of the Love at Lake Solace series. It was great to be reunited with characters we’ve met before especially Harper and her sisters, Scarlet and Maggie and Ethan and his brother, Cam. The epilogue set the stage for the secrets in the book, mainly from their childhoods and family history, and the story that’s set twenty-two years later. The lodge is once again front and center as the renovations continue and Harper’s dreams come closer to reality. It was fun to watch everything fall into place with surprises along the way.
The characters have a depth to them but all are hiding something from the others. We get to know them a little at a time especially Scarlet and Cam since this is their story. His daughter, Tessa, plays an integral part in the story as well and worms her way into everyone’s heart! The descriptions of the lodge, the cottage, the lake and the land made me feel like I was there. Harper and Ethan’s wedding was a sign of how Harper’s visions could make the lodge a success and she hopes the changes would make her grandfather proud if he were still alive. The story flowed smoothly with quite a few twists and turns which only added another layer. There was laughter and tears as my emotions became entwined with those in the story but especially the despair I often felt coming from Cam. There is some closure with the epilogue and another happily ever after in the offing. There’s enough loose ends to take us to book three in the series, Truth and Solace, which is Maggie’s story.
Richards is a new to me author only having read the first two books in this series. I look forward to reading more of her books.
Favorite Quote: …”I want the cottages to feel warm and homey, and a little bit rustic. When people come here, I want them to relax and feel like they’re really out in the woods o a little adventure.”
Merged review:
Reviewed by JoAnne Book provided by Jana Richards Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
Secrets and Solace is a nice continuation of the Love at Lake Solace series. It was great to be reunited with characters we’ve met before especially Harper and her sisters, Scarlet and Maggie and Ethan and his brother, Cam. The epilogue set the stage for the secrets in the book, mainly from their childhoods and family history, and the story that’s set twenty-two years later. The lodge is once again front and center as the renovations continue and Harper’s dreams come closer to reality. It was fun to watch everything fall into place with surprises along the way.
The characters have a depth to them but all are hiding something from the others. We get to know them a little at a time especially Scarlet and Cam since this is their story. His daughter, Tessa, plays an integral part in the story as well and worms her way into everyone’s heart! The descriptions of the lodge, the cottage, the lake and the land made me feel like I was there. Harper and Ethan’s wedding was a sign of how Harper’s visions could make the lodge a success and she hopes the changes would make her grandfather proud if he were still alive. The story flowed smoothly with quite a few twists and turns which only added another layer. There was laughter and tears as my emotions became entwined with those in the story but especially the despair I often felt coming from Cam. There is some closure with the epilogue and another happily ever after in the offing. There’s enough loose ends to take us to book three in the series, Truth and Solace, which is Maggie’s story.
Richards is a new to me author only having read the first two books in this series. I look forward to reading more of her books.
Favorite Quote: …”I want the cottages to feel warm and homey, and a little bit rustic. When people come here, I want them to relax and feel like they’re really out in the woods o a little adventure.”...more
Reviewed by Shyla Book provided by Netgalley Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
Discovering You has a lot of potential.
There was a touch ofReviewed by Shyla Book provided by Netgalley Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
Discovering You has a lot of potential.
There was a touch of a historical romance gone wrong. The author hints at souls who have a past life together being reborn. I enjoyed the telling of the noblewoman and the soldier who shared a forbidden love at the start of the book. I spent the entire two-hundred- and thirty-six pages waiting for confirmation or a reason for the start to be relevant. When it didn’t come, I felt let down. We never hear more about the couple from the first chapter, and that left me feeling bereft.
Lucy is an art major, with a passion for her subject, an overbearing mother, and the weight of her wealthy family dragging her down. I liked Lucy’s determination to make it own her own merit sans her family’s reputation and money, and the way she went after her dream job. Seeing her put in her time as an intern as she worked on her thesis was incredibly inspiring, and intriguing.
I enjoyed seeing the inner workings of the museum. Her tendency to be a doormat got old. I wanted to see her make better choices and stand up for herself as the story developed.
When she met Justin, a famous musician who she instantly clicked with, he gave her a small boost of confidence and courage. Their connection felt otherworldly. There were hints that that might be the reincarnation of the earlier couple, but we never got any confirmation or tangible proof., which took away some of the mystical aspects for me. Confident, but new to a serious relationship, the rock star was suave but fallible. I appreciated the realistic way he was portrayed, and the way Ms.McBrien addressed issues that would definitely come up when dating a famous singer.
There was a lot to like about this novel. I just craved more of the paranormal, and more real development between Lucy and Justin. I didn’t feel their bond was more than lust, and I wanted to.
Merged review:
Reviewed by Shyla Book provided by Netgalley Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
Discovering You has a lot of potential.
There was a touch of a historical romance gone wrong. The author hints at souls who have a past life together being reborn. I enjoyed the telling of the noblewoman and the soldier who shared a forbidden love at the start of the book. I spent the entire two-hundred- and thirty-six pages waiting for confirmation or a reason for the start to be relevant. When it didn’t come, I felt let down. We never hear more about the couple from the first chapter, and that left me feeling bereft.
Lucy is an art major, with a passion for her subject, an overbearing mother, and the weight of her wealthy family dragging her down. I liked Lucy’s determination to make it own her own merit sans her family’s reputation and money, and the way she went after her dream job. Seeing her put in her time as an intern as she worked on her thesis was incredibly inspiring, and intriguing.
I enjoyed seeing the inner workings of the museum. Her tendency to be a doormat got old. I wanted to see her make better choices and stand up for herself as the story developed.
When she met Justin, a famous musician who she instantly clicked with, he gave her a small boost of confidence and courage. Their connection felt otherworldly. There were hints that that might be the reincarnation of the earlier couple, but we never got any confirmation or tangible proof., which took away some of the mystical aspects for me. Confident, but new to a serious relationship, the rock star was suave but fallible. I appreciated the realistic way he was portrayed, and the way Ms.McBrien addressed issues that would definitely come up when dating a famous singer.
There was a lot to like about this novel. I just craved more of the paranormal, and more real development between Lucy and Justin. I didn’t feel their bond was more than lust, and I wanted to....more
As someone who is a fan of author Tawna Fenske, I found The Last to be a fun, light-hearted comedy with pleReviewed by Amy W Book provided by NetGalley
As someone who is a fan of author Tawna Fenske, I found The Last to be a fun, light-hearted comedy with plenty of heat.
The idea that two friends would remember a decade old pact sets the stage as Sarah prepares to hit a milestone birthday. There’s no denying the heat between Sarah and Ian. I especially enjoyed the scenes with Sarah’s friends, especially Junie from the group home Sarah manages for adults with Down Syndrome. The author does a tremendous job highlighting Junie as a capable, loving person.
As Sarah and Ian try to make a go of a marriage of convenience with a lengthy engagement, the couple finds there is a fine line between being besties and falling in love. While they can readily admit to a connection, there’s something about the word “love” that has Ian backing away. The scenes between them demonstrate the messy displays of emotion. It takes almost losing it all for them to realize marriage is much more than a logic-based proposition.
The journey to discover the value of love was well worth it in this story. ...more
In A Father For Her Child, the prologue takes place in April, three months before the story begins inReviewed by JoAnne Book provided by the author
In A Father For Her Child, the prologue takes place in April, three months before the story begins in July. Zach is in a skiing accident on the mountain he works at and is seriously injured and needs surgery and lots of physical therapy. This is after three friends died in an avalanche eighteen months before on another mountaintop and Zach and others who were there and survived have survivor's guilt. Zach's best friend, Sam, left behind his wife and unborn child but all is not as it seemed in their marriage. As she and Zach work through their feelings for each other and dwell on Sam and some of his actions before he died, I was caught up in the story from the first page to the last. Zach and Cadie are best friends but there's more than meets the eye because they met eight years before and she's not even privy to all that occurred back then. Her young son, Ben, is a nice addition to the story.
The descriptions of the mountain where they all work along with the cold were vivid and made me feel like I was there. I could feel Zach's suffering as he strives to make himself whole and get the full use of his body back since he wants to be working and skiing again. There are many interactions between family and friends and the lack of communication between Zach and Cadie does them in time and time again. There's sparks whenever they're together and others see through their ruse even if they think they are hiding their feelings. It doesn't help that she and her siblings work in the newly opened family business and Zach's a patient. Unfortunately, the two of them never seem to be on the same page at the same time and are always sending mixed signals. There are also promises that were made by Zach to Sam that Cadie isn't aware of.
There is a nice flow to the story and we meet up with others from the first book int he series, From Exes to Expecting. A Father For Her Child can be read as a stand alone since there's enough background information given about the other relationships. There is an epilogue, which always helps tie up loose ends and makes me happy. It takes place on New Year's Eve and gives me the closure I was looking for and a nicely played out happily ever after. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series as well as others penned by Ms. Greer. ...more
When Nevada blows into town she shows up at her friend Carly's cafe very unexpectedly. She needs to hide oReviewed by JoAnne Book provided by NetGalley
When Nevada blows into town she shows up at her friend Carly's cafe very unexpectedly. She needs to hide out but doesn't want anyone to know why she's running. She also doesn't want anyone who helps her to get hurt but she doesn't expect to feel welcome or make friends or put down roots. Is she getting too complacent? Will those looking for her find her and if so, who will be harmed? There are a lot of twists and turns in the telling of Home at Chestnut Creek which takes place in the very small town of Unforgiven, New Mexico.
I loved the characters who have a depth to them and their own stories to tell. Carly and her husband have a baby that everyone loves. The cook in the cafe, Joe 'Fishing Eagle' King or Joseph as Nevada calls him is Navajo. There are Navajo words sprinkled throughout the story and I liked the way the meanings were explained. We learn of his traditions as well as his dreams. The manager, Lorelei, has her own problems, and we are introduced to her aging mom.
The story flowed nicely with Nevada being befriended by those she works with but also trying to keep to herself and stay under the radar. She and Joseph do a lot of talking and she tells him some of her story, sometimes without realizing it. She doesn't want him or anyone else in Unforgiven getting hurt because of her but every time she thinks of leaving something holds her back until it's almost too late! Joseph gives her the time and attention she needs by giving her a place to live, letting her help with chores and giving her a ride back and forth to work. They are just friends even though they both feel an attraction which he fights since she's a white girl. He wants to keep his Navajo traditions alive and she can't get too close since he would try to protect her and only get hurt. Nevada gets through his defenses as well as helps him see things from his past differently. I liked his connection and love he shows for his grandmother who he lived with but has since died.
Nevada opens her heart through letter writing to her mom who was a druggie and more and died when she was young. It helped her heal but also showed us another side of Nevada and not the tough girl persona she portrays. There were wonderful descriptions of the setting that made me feel like I was there. There is danger afoot but I like the way it was resolved. There is nice closure with a better happily ever after than I anticipated thanks to the epilogue.
The bonus novel, Wild Cowboy Ways by Carolyn Brown, was included in the book and I will review it in a separate post but it was another 5 star read!
Ms. Drake is an author whose books I've read before and enjoyed. I missed the first book in this series, The Last True Cowboy, that I have added to my always growing TBR pile. I look forward to reading more of her books....more
Reviewed by Lori Book provided by publisher for review
This is the third book in the Unexpected series. Each book can be read as a standalone and they dReviewed by Lori Book provided by publisher for review
This is the third book in the Unexpected series. Each book can be read as a standalone and they don’t need to be read in order if the reader doesn’t wish to.
This is a contemporary romance set in a small fictional town in anywhere USA. I love small town romances. I love the coziness of small town life. I love that the neighbors know each other, and I love that each generation grew up with each other and has a close camaraderie with each other. The same can be said when siblings stay in town and cousins grow up with each other. A simple life with family and friends is a great life, in my humble opinion.
This book focuses on the relationship between Declan and Sophia and their happily ever after.
I loved Declan. He was funny, smart, sensitive, driven, as he was a business owner. He was a likable character.
I had the hardest time liking Sophia. She just irked me to no end. I thought she was selfish, rude to her family, ungrateful, and way too sensitive. She always thought everyone was “judging” her, and I wanted to let her know she needed to get over herself and grow up.
I know this is really harsh as I’m usually not, but this character and another character, who I also thought was rude, just elicited this kind of a response from me.
Surprisingly, I liked Sophia’s family. I don’t think the reader was supposed to feel sympathy for her parents and family, but I really liked them. I thought they were caring loving people.
Despite my dislike of Sophia, I still enjoyed the book and I loved the story. I would read the other stories in this series as I liked those characters that the reader got to meet.
Just because I didn’t gel with one of the characters, doesn’t mean the book was terrible and I hope that the reader takes a chance on this book and this series....more
Reviewed by Jen Book provided by Jen Doyle Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
This installment of the Calling It series was by far my favoriReviewed by Jen Book provided by Jen Doyle Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
This installment of the Calling It series was by far my favorite. In fact, I spent the last several pages trying to read through tears. As with most series, the book can be read alone, but you’ll most likely want to read the first two books in order to get the most out of this one.
Jack and Lola. Jack get us back to the sports world. He’s made a mistake that cost him one of his best friends and caused his pitching to spiral downward. To save his career, he’s reaching out to that ex-best friend (Nate from Calling It) and then he meets Lola. Lola is a widow with 4 young sons. She has her hands full and doesn’t need a professional ballplayer to turn her life upside down.
I really liked these two together. Neither wanted anything serious and what started out as a flirtation really spiced up. Both had a lot of issues to work through before they could admit their feelings and jump in with both feet. I found myself flipping those pages and cheering them on.
It was also nice to reunite with the couples from the first two books in the series. As they’re connected with Jack and Lola, they make quite a few appearances. It was also nice to get back to the sports since that was pushed to the back burner in the second book.
All in all, this book really tugged and my heartstrings and I’m so glad that I found this series. Well done Ms Doyle....more
Reviewed by Jen Book provided by Jen Doyle Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
After finishing Calling It, I was ready to dive right back inReviewed by Jen Book provided by Jen Doyle Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
After finishing Calling It, I was ready to dive right back into this series. I was happy to see that this one featured a friends to lovers theme. Both Fitz and Deke had minor roles in the first book as they are tied to Nate, the hero of Calling It. However, it’s not necessary to have read the first book to understand and enjoy Called Out.
Deke and Fitz have known each other since high school. Fitz comes to town to live with her father’s “other family” and Deke is best friends with her newly discovered half-brother. Fitz always felt like an outcast in town and had a crush on Deke when they were younger. But it developed into a strong friendship. Then something happened and all of the sudden they’re seeing each other a little differently.
This story had a lot of internal dialog, mostly with Fitz. She had so much heartache at a young age, that she’s very hesitant to let her emotions run wild and fall in love, even if it’s with one of her best friends. Thank goodness she was up against a very persuasive Deke.
I enjoyed this read, but it wasn’t as good as the first in the series. I liked that old friends returned and I got to learn more about the town. But there were times that I just wanted to reach into the pages of the book and shake Fitz and Deke. That said, I’d recommend it if you’ve already stated the series and enjoy friends to lovers stories....more
Reviewed by Jen Book provided by Contest win Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
I was completely unaware of Jen Doyle’s books when I won a Reviewed by Jen Book provided by Contest win Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
I was completely unaware of Jen Doyle’s books when I won a copy of Calling It during a Facebook contest. But seeing as I like small town romances and sports romances, I was excited to try out this new-to-me author. And I’m glad I did. This was a great start to a promising series.
Nate is an all-star baseball play who returns to his hometown to rehab after a nasty accident and public ending to his engagement. He’s licking his wounds, staying out of the limelight and trying to figure out what’s next for him. He’s not looking for any sort of involvement, but is drawn to Dorie, the new local librarian. Dorie is new to town, taking her dream job and the chance to escape her big, protective family. She doesn’t recognize Nate when she first meets him, in a rather funny scene, and it’s so refreshing for Nate. What then ensues is some flirting, a kind of friends with benefits relationship and since we’re talking about a romance, a happily ever after.
The relationship between these two is the highlight of this book for me. I loved the the dance around each other that Nate and Dorie did. I liked that Dorie was hesitant to get involved with such a famous person and had to get over the related fears and that Nate was willing to jump in feet first after recently ending a disastrous relationship. But I think the fact that there actually IS a romance and not just a sudden “I love you and everything is going to work out great” ending is what won me over.
This book made me laugh and cry and I was so ready to jump into the next book as soon as I read “The End”. If you’re looking for an emotional roller coaster ride set in a small town, this might just be the book for you. And bonus points for it being a sports story as well....more
Reviewed by Jen Book provided by Jen Doyle Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
Having enjoyed the first three books in the Calling It series,Reviewed by Jen Book provided by Jen Doyle Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
Having enjoyed the first three books in the Calling It series, I went into Holiday House Call with high hopes. Now, don’t get me wrong, it was a decent story. But after the other three, I was just let down. We’re back in the same small town, but we’ve abandoned sports for sports medicine (kind of). It just wasn’t the same.
Karen has a stressful career as one of the best neurosurgeons in the country. And Tuck is a small town cop. These two had a one-night stand and then run into each other during a traffic stop and then again at the hospital where Karen works. They dance around the attraction they feel for each other and there are sparks.
Tuck was a pretty normal guy. No skeletons in the closet, no drama or really anything he needed to overcome. Mostly it was him needing to convince Karen to take a chance on him. Karen on the other hand has a bunch of issues. She has trouble emotionally handling aspects of her job and she’s not digging the fact that Tuck is a cop (her dad was one). Most of the conflict came due to Karen.
There was an interesting side story about sports concussions, which in today’s world is pretty relevant. But other than some of the settling, this book just didn’t seem to really fit into the series....more
Reviewed by Robin Book provided by Mary Gillgannon Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
I really enjoy reading about all things medieval. So wReviewed by Robin Book provided by Mary Gillgannon Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
I really enjoy reading about all things medieval. So when a book comes along about that time I try to grab it.
Ms. Gillgannon gave us a glimpse into this time period. She gave us the love story between Nicola and Fawkes. Nicola was married to Lord Mortimer at the time they first met. Lord Mortimer preferred young boys over his wife yet he wanted and needed a heir so he finds Fawkes to or rather chooses him to have sex with his wife so that she can then produce an heir. However she says the child was still born therefore she took her child and had the child a boy named Simon raised by a friend that was close enough to visit yet far enough away that Mortimer never found out.
Then chance brought Fawkes and Nicola back together because Fawkes killed Mortimer and claimed his lands and wife. Fawkes remembered that time spent with Nicola even though it was brief as did Nicola but lies and secrets keep the love at bay. It is hard to share and trust when things don’t start out that way.
The characters to me seemed a little flat. I am not saying that I didn’t like them, I did, but they just seemed blah… Parts of them started out promising but then they fell short. Nicola’s love along with her protective motherly instinct was very promising. She did prove herself to be strong and able to stand beside the men. After all she did manage the estates before Fawkes came along.
To me the storyline seemed a bit long. I felt that had it could have been shortened, some things just didn’t seem to be needed to tell the story. I found the story to seem rushed in spots and especially at the end as if she were just throwing things in to make it longer.
One of the things about reading a medieval story is the vividness of the countryside that brings your imagination alive. Your senses spring to life but, for me I was disappointed. I found this story to be lacking the imagery of the countryside and people.
Overall it wasn’t a bad story and the characters had lots of potential it just seemed rushed to me.
Romancing the
>
Books:
contemporary
(1629)
Loading...
