Review... The Chalet Girl - Kate Lace

The Chalet Girl - Kate Lace
Little Black Dress, 2007
Headline
ISBN: 9780755338313












my rating

From the back cover:

"The ski season. A glamorous world of snowy pistes, gorgeous ski instructors and glittering après-ski nightlife. What's not to love?
Quite a lot, thinks Millie Braythorpe. Four months of endless bed-making and cooking for guests have taken their toll, and the only thing she really looks forward to is her nightly gig singing in a little French bar. Then handsome troublemaker Luke comes to stay at her chalet, and before she knows it Millie's head over heels in love. But is Luke to be trusted, or is her Alpine romance destined to end in heartbreak?"

I have wanted to read this book for a while, it comes with a lot of good reviews. And while I found it enjoyable, it wasn't what I was expecting.

The book starts off great; we learn a lot about the heroine, especially how she got to where she was at that point and what she has been through. The author weaves the backstory in well, makes it gripping and not too info-dumpy.

This is one of the first books I have read (in the general romance area) that deals with abortion. This was interesting to me, as it's something that brings a lot of issues/opinions with it. However I don't really think this was made the most out of, it was virtually forgotten about in the second half of the book.

The story was built up beautifully in the first half but after that everything seemed to become too 'easy'. Too twee and convenient. Some great conflict was developed then I felt like the book kind of lost its way.

I also feel that the heroine at 18-19 years old was too young. Everything would have been deeper and easier to relate to if more time had passed since the hurtful events in her life.

Nevertheless, this is a sweet read and certainly holds your attention.

Xx

Book Review... Lucy in the Sky - Paige Toon

Lucy in the Sky - Paige Toon
Pocket Books, 2007
ISBN: 9781847390431













My rating

From the back cover:

"Settling down for a 24-hour flight to Australia, Lucy finds a text message on her phone - not from her boyfriend James, as she fondly hopes, but from a woman claiming to have slept with him four times in the past month. Trapped on the plane, she questions everything about her relationship with James. She finally calls him and he reassures her: it was only his mates playing a silly joke. James is a lawyer, persuasive and gorgeous and Lucy adores him. So why, at the wedding in Sydney of her best friend Molly, does she have niggling doubts, and find herself attracted to Molly's brother-in-law Nathan? The sooner she gets back to her regular life in London, the flat she shares with James, her job in PR, the better. Nathan is a happy-go-lucky surfer boy, with no prospects, no place to live, an almost-girlfriend in tow. And the other side of the world...Lucy - a girl caught between two distant continents - and two very different men..."


I was expecting a lot more from this book. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it but it was also quite frustrating. The blurb of this book made me think that the majority of the book would take place whilst the heroine was on the flight and her having to deal with all her conflicting emotions while stuck there. But instead this takes up no more than 10-20 pages, and the rest of the book jumps about. A lot.

The pacing of this book is a little odd, and the author's style doesn't quite appeal to me. It was too long winded, sort-of like 'I did this then I did that, then I went here. She said this, I said that and he said this, then I did this...' well, you get the idea!

It was never quite established whether or not the heroine's boyfriend did cheat on her - lots of accusations sure, all of which he denied, the consensus is that he did but I felt I needed a little bit of closure here.

I did enjoy the way that the author slowly built up the relationship between the heroine and Nathan, there is a beautiful friendship there not just a love story. One last moan and that is I feel the characters should have been older - the heroine is only 24.

I will look to read other books by this author as I feel that this is probably not the best example of her writing. It is OK though.

Xx

365 books in 365 days Challenge ... Book #341

For Lust or Money - Kate Hoffmann
Mills & Boon Blaze
Harlequin Mills & Boon, 2008
ISBN: 9780263867244 (2-in-1 edition)
eISBN: 9781408900291 (singular ebook edition)










My rating

From the back cover:

"Temptation is timeless! 
Lottery-winning cameraman Zach Haas has always wanted to make movies. And with his newfound wealth, his dream is finally within reach. Now all he needs is the inspiration. Yet when he meets actress Kelly Castelle, he’s more than inspired – he’s aching with desire…but she’s ten years older than him! 
Nevertheless, Kelly is more than happy to embark on a wild, reckless fling with the sexy younger man. However, as their smouldering affair deepens, could the passion they share be powerful enough to stand the test of time?"


This is another purchase from the kindle store sale. I have read quite a few of Kate Hoffmann's Blaze's in the past and I like her style so I thought I would give this one a go.

The heroine Kelly is a struggling actress and arrives on the set of a TV show to film a segment on younger man/older woman relationships. She catches the eye of cameraman Zach, the hero, whom finds Kelly totally alluring. She gorgeous and also modest, but the fact that it's life imitating art with Zach being ten years younger makes Kelly wary. Knowing that, perhaps, she is a little too old for such casual relationships doesn't stop Kelly from responding to Zach's attentions. Zach starts out not wanting anything serious, not only does he have a lot going on in his life at the moment but he has been burned by love in the past. However, their hot and heavy fling quickly turns into much more but neither of them know if they are read to give up the things they would need to in order to be together, and their age difference is sometimes too obvious to ignore.

I was expecting a bit more from this book, but it ended up feeling a little flat. I was intrigued by the idea of the age difference relationship, and in general I have nothing against older woman/younger man ones but in this book the hero at twenty-four is just far too young to be believable (in my opinion anyway).
As expected from a Blaze there is plenty of steaminess, but after the first love scene everything, including the plot, seemed to lose it's way and it dragged towards to the end.

Overall not a bad story, but not quite all it could be.

Xx

365 books in 365 days Challenge ... Book #307

 

The Return of Luke McGuire - Justine Davis
Silhouette Intimate Moments
Reprinted in Harlequin Showcase 2-in-1
Harlequin, 2011
ISBN: 9780373688258


My rating

From the back cover:

"Luke McGuire was everything shy Amelia Blair had been fascinated by as a girl but too terrified to go near. And now here she was, the only person in the whole town decent enough to give him the time of day, caring enough to stand up for him...brave enough to get close. 
Luke didn t need the town s nasty stares to know that Amelia was off-limits. But then, reformed or not, he d never been one to abide by the rules. He only hoped that the quiet beauty would fall for the man he had become instead of the one he used to be."


This is the second book in the Showcase 2-in-1, as above.

The hero Luke has been gone from his home town for eight years, and has no desire to ever go back. Having grown up as an unwanted child of a teenage mother, his unhappiness was reflected in his juvenile delinquent behaviour. However, when he gets a desperate letter from his younger brother David, whom is also getting the same emotionless treatment from their mother, he decides to go back to try and help. The heroine Amelia has also been trying to help David, especially to try and stop him from getting into trouble. When Luke arrives and meets Amelia, there is an immediate connection between them, and Luke soon realises she is the only one who will give him a chance, ignoring his childhood reputation. Their combined efforts to help David are not very successful, but as they spend time together they begin to fall for one another. The passion between them is fierce, but neither of them know if they can offer the other anything long term.

Again, unfortunately, I found this book rather boring. I really liked the plot idea, but boy was it dragged out. The relationship between the hero and heroine develops nicely, but I don't think there was enough focus on it to really make and impact, and they didn't actually spend a lot of time together. The small town attitude (i.e. once a bad seed, always a bad seed) is written very well, and definitely one of the most interesting parts of the book.

Overall, this isn't a bad book but, in my opinion, it could do with being a bit shorter!

Xx

365 books in 365 days Challenge ... Book #306

Nighthawk - Rachel Lee
Silhouette Intimate Moments
Reprinted in Harlequin Showcase 2-in-1
Harlequin, 2011
ISBN: 9780373688258


My rating

From the back cover:

"Esther Jackson need Craig Nighthawk's protection. The father she'd helped put away for murder was now seeking her out, so against her reclusive nature, she welcomed the darkly handsome Nighthawk into her home, hoping he could keep her safe. 
Craig knew all about fear and isolation. After all, he was still being tried and convicted by the people of Conrad County for a crime he hadn't committed. All he wanted was to be left alone. Until he met Esther, and discovered in her loving arms a peace he would safeguard at any cost..."


I have had this Showcase 2-in-1 on my bookshelf for ages and thought I would give it a go.

The heroine Esther meets her neighbour Craig, the hero, for the first time in the two years she has lived there , after one of his sheep gets into her garden. At first Esther is nervous around him, her brutal father whom crippled Esther and killed her mother has given her a lifetime of being weary of men. But she soon relaxes around him and they form a tentative friendship. Craig is intrigued by Esther, but doesn't want to become too involved with her, believing he has nothing to offer. But for some reason he can't stay away, especially when Esther's worst fear is realised - her father is out of prison and looking for her. Esther is petrified when her father makes contact, and with the law powerless to to stop him she relies on the support and protection Craig offers her. Esther begins to realise that she can't spend her whole life in fear, and her blossoming feelings for Craig help her become stronger. Even though he wants her, Craig still thinks he and Esther can never be together. So while he helps her come to terms with her fear, he also tries to push her away.

I really thought I would like this one a lot more than I did. But, I found it a little boring. The plot is really interesting but, in my opinion, far too dragged out. The lead-in to the 'big event' made it seem like this would be a suspenseful book, but I was let down. I was very intrigued by the author's use of a Native American hero, and this certainly added another layer of tension to the book, and love story. But it focused way too much on the racial/social differences between the hero and the "white man", I get it.
The sexual tension between the hero and heroine is plentiful, and really helps this book along, there were so many stops and starts to their relationship that I almost wanted to cheer when they finally got together!
I have to say that the bits I enjoyed most in this book were there actions, or should I say antics, of the animals!

An enjoyable book, but a tad boring.

Xx

365 books in 365 days Challenge ... Book #302

Dangerous Dowry - Catherine O'Connor
Mills & Boon Romance
Mills & Boon, 1992
ISBN: 9870263778007












My rating

From the back cover:

"Alone in a strange country, Jamesy was relieved to have help from one of the locals - and particularly one as attractive as Ross Stewart. But that was until he discovered who she was. Their ancestors had always been sworn enemies - and it seemed as though nothing had changed. But, despite their differences, Jamesy felt drawn to the arrogant laird - even if he did despise her. Would they ever be able to put the past behind them?"


I had to read this one for the hilarious title alone!

The heroine Jamesy has travelled to the small Scottish village where her ancesteros one hailed from, to research her family histroy. On her first day there, she meets the hero Ross and there is an immediate spark between them. But when Ross realises that Jamesy is an ancestor of his family's bitter rivals his whole attitude towards her changes and he makes it clear that she is not welcome. Jamesy tries her best to ignore the pain Ross's scorn causes her, and vows to find out the truth behind the rivalry. However much he protests to not wanting her around, Ross can't seem to stay away from Jamesy and it's clear that the more time they spend together the more they begin to fall for one another.

I must say this is an odd book, on one hand I quite liked it and no the other I though it was just plain silly. The good stuff first; The hero and heroine are good characters, well written and they work well together, plus there is plenty of chemistry between them. The writing is OK, very descriptive and the actual story has a nice flow. But the whole conflict was based on something that happened 200-or-so years ago! Seriously, who gives a damn, the hero acted like the heroine was the person to actually commit whatever was done those many years back... it's long past. In my opinion this ruined the book and left me, well, baffled, that is not romantic conflict, it's silliness!

Anyway, an odd but sort of OK book.

Xx

365 books in 365 days Challenge ... Book #301

Adam's Law - Claudia Jameson
Mills & Boon Romance
Mills & Boon, 1986
ISBN: 9780263754315












My rating

From the back cover:

"Kate's life was in tatters. Once a top London Model - now her face was scarred and her self-confidence broken. She was more than glad to hide herself away on picturesque Guernsey, as the guest of her lovable scatterbrained Aunt Dolly. Kate had envisaged a peaceful, isolated convalescence - she hadn't bargained for Adam. She found him devastating - how could anyone be so deliberately and persistently cruel? Could she endure him for long enough to discover the sweet and loving characteristics that her aunt insisted he possessed? It seemed unlikely."


Another oldie from my bookshelf.

The heroine Kate travels to Guernsey to stay with her aunt in order to rest and recover from her recent car accident. Kate is feeling very delicate emotionally, trying to come to terms with the fact that her face is badly scarred and her modelling career may be over. For the first few days of her stay all Kate does in mope around feeling sorry for herself, and this infuriates her aunt's stepson Adam, the hero. Adam regularly tells Kate what he thinks about her behaviour and doesn't pull any punches, at first this upsets Kate but she soon begins to fight back. Adam spends time with Kate pushing her out of her comfort zone and making her do things. They grow closer and closer and as Kate's confidence returns she falls for Adam. But she is regularly left confused over Adam's rather hot and cold attitude towards her. When the time comes for Kate to return to her life, she knows she has Adam to thank for her recovery but she is left heartbroken by Adam's sudden scorn.

This is a difficult review to write as on a couple of levels I really liked this book, but the details really let it down. I felt sympathy for the heroine and her issues over her scarred face, but at first it was made out as though the scars were really bad, and permanent, but then she had plastic surgery (once) and they completely disappeared... this is confusing as surely they couldn't have been as bad to start with?! The hero and heroine had a lot of chemistry, and I enjoyed reading how the hero constantly pushed the heroine and helped her face her problems in a 'tough love' sort of way. No POV from hero so his rather up and down moods were difficult to understand.
I didn't like the pacing of the book, the time scale moved so fas that there was hardly any room for depth.

The plot idea is good, but unfortunately the execution is not so great.

Xx

365 books in 365 days Challenge ... Book #289

His Pregnant Princess - Robyn Donald
Mills & Boon Modern
In 'His Pregnant Bride' Mills & Boon By Request, 2009
ISBN: 9780263871333

My rating

From the back cover:

"Hunter Radcliffe is like no other man Princess Lucia Bagaton has ever met. Giving herself to a commoner could cause a royal scandal. But then Lucia finds she's expecting Hunter's child! 
Hunter is insistent that they should marry; it will be just one more union of convenience for the royal house of Bagaton -- the first with a pregnant princess!"


This is the second book in the By Request omnibus, as above.

The hero Hunter is travelling to the small Mediterranean island of Dacia in order to visit his good friend, whom has recently married the Prince of Dacia. He is met at the airport by Lucia, the heroine, the cousin of the Prince and a Princess herself. Hunt believes her to be a cold hearted temptress and makes his dislike of her obvious. Cia recognises this dislike but she does her best to welcome him to her country. Ever since her cousin married, Cia has been feeling lost. No longer needed as a royal figure, as the island now has a new Princess, she has planned to leave and attend university. Although Hunt doesn't want to like Cia he ends up spending time with her and they are undeniably attracted to one another. Hunt takes Cia to his cattle station home in New Zealand for a break, where their relationship begins to bloom. When they realise Cia is pregnant Hunt wants them to marry but thinks Cia will refuse as he is not royalty, and Cia believes that Hunt feels nothing towards her.

I have to be honest and say that I found this book really boring. It doesn't have the usual intensity of Robyn Donald's books, and it seems to drag a bit. The hero and heroine are OK characters but I didn't really 'believe' either of them, the heroine in particular was a little too whiny. Also the conflict between them, such as the reason the hero doesn't initially like the heroine feels a little flimsy. And, Dacia + Lucia/Cia ... comes off as a bit lazy to be so similar.

I don't really know what else to say about this book, it's just a bit blah!

Xx

365 books in 365 days Challenge ... book #238

Playing His Dangerous Game - Tina Duncan
Mills & Boon Modern
Harlequin UK, 2011
ISBN: 9780263887167





My rating





From the back cover:

"What happens when you break all the rules...?
Socialite Shara Atwood is used to playing the celebrity game. However, the buzz of vintage champagne is nothing compared to the heady gaze and indecently muscled physique of her new bodyguard, the enigmatic Royce...
Royce has his work cut out for him! Shara is no spoilt Daddy’s Girl, but a fiercely independent woman learning to stand on her own two feet. Shara knows she should do as Royce tells her – especially when his body is between hers and danger – but she can’t help but think she’ll have more fun not obeying his every command..."


Tina Duncan is a new-to-me author, and since this is a Modern I thought I would give it a go.

The hero Royce is hired by the heroine Shara's father to act as a bodyguard for her as she has been receiving some hassle from her ex-husband. Royce's first impression of Shara is that she is just like any other spoilt rich girl. But he soon realises that Shara is so much more, and that he is fiercely attracted to her. Shara is not happy to have Royce around, after spending the last year in an abusive marriage she doesn't want to be dependent on another man. But after her ex-husband's threats become more serious, she is forced to concede. As they grow closer, Royce and Shara begin to fall for one another. But Royce knows he needs to pull away and Shara only ends up hurt again.

I feel a little disappointed with his book. It sounded like it was going to be much more exciting that it turned out to be. The subject of the heroine's domestic abuse is handled well and with sensitivity by the author. But everything was revealed quite early on in the book and it felt a little too info dumpy. I think it would have created more tension throughout the book if things had been revealed in a more gradual way.
The hero is a bodyguard hired to protect the heroine from her abusive ex-husband - sounds good. His great suggestion to help her... get a restraining order. Come on, surely anyone can think of that themselves. A big let down in my opinion. I thought he was going to suggest he take her away to some secluded cottage and the sexual tension between them explodes or something. But no, the whole book is him staying with her and helping her fill out the paperwork and wait for a court date.
My last (I promise) moan about this book is the structure - every sentence is a new paragraph, and the change of POV, using scence breaks, is almost constant sometimes after only half a page. Both of these things disrupts the flow and pacing of the book and makes it quite difficult to read.

Not one for me, I'm afraid.

Xx

365 books in 365 days Challenge ... book #219

For Pleasure... Or Marriage? - Julia James
Mills & Boon Modern
In 'Passion & Pleasure' Mills & Boon By Request
Harlequin Mills & Boon, 2009
ISBN: 9780263871425


My rating





From the back cover:

"A mistress is for pleasure, not for marriage...
Tycoon Markos Makarios thinks he has the perfect woman in Vanessa: she's beautiful, adoring, living only to please him. In fact, she's the best mistress he's ever had. Until he has to warn her not to think of marriage; a mistress is only for pleasure, after all.
But Vanessa had believed she was his partner - not merely a plaything. Now Markos is about to learn the true price of the woman he's obsessed with...and to discover there's something even his billions can't buy!"


This is the second book in the By Request omnibus as above, and yet another Julia James book. A a bit of a disappointing one though...

The heroine Vanessa and the hero Markos meet in Paris, Markos is immediately attracted to her and soon discovers that she is perfect for him. Vanessa has spent most of her life sheltered and is a little flustered by Markos's attentions, yet she quickly falls for him. Six months on and Vanessa feels blissfully happy and has more or less devoted herself to him. Markos is also happy with things the way they are with Vanessa, and even the pressure from his father to marry suitably doesn't get to him. Vanessa is shocked and hurt when Markos lets it slip that he only considers her as his mistress, and will never offer her more. Initially Vanessa thinks that it is a mistake, but his actions show her the truth. She leaves without a word and with a secret and begins to build a new life for herself. Until Markos tracks her down and confronts her with his angry accusations.

I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't stand either of the characters. The hero was such an ass, he seemed to have so little respect for the heroine and that always frustrates me beyond belief (why do authors write hero's like this!). And the heroine is literally the definition of doormat, even worse than the hero's lack of respect for the heroine is the heroine's complete lack of self respect. Although she did manage to find her backbone eventually, when she finally stood up for herself were some of the best moments in the books, so she is slightly redeemed.
The story is also a little similar to other Julia James books, and while some of those worked, this one just did not.

Xx

365 books in 365 days Challenge ... book #213

One Night in the Orient - Robyn Donald
Mills & Boon Modern
Harlequin UK, 2011
ISBN: 9780263886863





My rating





From the back cover:

"Penniless and alone, who can she turn to?
When Siena sees Nick again she can't stop the ache of painful memories. Years ago he crushed her innocent heart before disappearing from her life. Since then, Siena's chosen the safe path: a fiance who might not make her pulse race, but who'll surely never hurt her.
But it's to Nick that she turns in her darkest hour. However, the brooding tycoon is no safe option. He sweeps her off to exotic Hong Kong on his private jet, determined to seduce his way back into her heart. This time for ever..."


I have had this book on my shelf since it come out, but something has always held me back from reading it, and it did turn out a little disappointing.

The heroine Siena runs into the hero Nick when she is in England visiting her parents. She is awkward around him as she has never truly gotten over her heartbreak from him walking away after they spent a night together five years ago. Nick knows he should stay away from Siena as he knows he can't give her what she deserves. When Siena finds herself stranded in London, Nick steps in to help. Although she is reluctant, she accepts and goes to Hong Kong with him, where he has business to attend to before flying back home to New Zealand. While there, the passion between them and five years worth of bottled up feelings result in them coming together again. Both Nick and Siena are left feeling raw but they can't keep away from one another. Siena fears that Nick will break her heart again and Nick is also scared he will hurt her again, but he knows that this time he can't let her go.

I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting from this book, but it was certainly more that what I got. The blurb makes this book sound much more exciting that it actually is, and I find that quite frustrating. There was absolutely no description of the Orient setting, which let me down. I have read many other Robyn Donald books and vivid description of surroundings is usually something she excels at. The romance between the hero and heroine is well written and nice but, for me, it just lacked oomph...

Overall, I found this book a little flat, which is a shame as the story had real potential.

Xx

365 books in 365 days Challenge ... book #196

The Lost Wife - Maggie Cox
Mills & Boon Modern
Harlequin UK, 2011
ISBN: 9780263886962





My rating





From the back cover:

"It was good to know he could still get a reaction from her, despite all the muddied water flowing under the bridge between them...
Ailsa’s heart is pounding – she’s totally unprepared for the impact of confronting Jake Larsen’s unforgettable features once more! The only difference is the cruel scar that sears her estranged husband’s cheekbone, somehow enhancing his effortlessly handsome looks and reminding Ailsa of the sorrow that separates them...
Jake had thought he’d be seeing Ailsa for a few minutes – not spending days snowbound in her house with her. But the longer he stays, the more the wife he once lost becomes a woman he’s determined to win..."


Another Modern! I seem to have read quite a few of Maggie Cox's books on this challenge, and I have to say that I find them a little hit and miss... this one, sadly, is a miss.

The heroine Alisa is waiting for her daughter to arrive back from a visit with her father, when Alisa's ex-husbands Jake, the hero, turns up. Jake has come to tell Alisa that their daughter wanted to remain with her grandmother for a little while longer. He is nervous about seeing Alisa as this is the first time they have been face-to-face since their divorce. When a storm forces Jake to remain at Alisa's they are both faced with having to spend time together, despite all the painful memories it brings back. Alisa has never truly gotten over the accident that caused the death of their unborn baby and their relationship to breakdown and being with Jake again brings everything to the surface, which is made worse by Jake's reluctance to talk about it. But it is clear that not only do Jake and Alisa still desire one another fiercely but they also still care for one another.

While this book is very emotional and wrought with tension, I found that it just fell a little short of it's potential. This is a second chance love story, which I am usually a fan of, however this one just didn't seem to work (for me). There's no doubt that the issues that the hero and heroine faced are very heartbreaking and also handled very well by the author. There is some fantastic chemistry between the characters and the majority of the story is well written. Yet, I found it boring at times and incredibly tedious as the hero and heroine kept arguing and rehashing the same thing over and over again.

An emotional emotion, but just a little bit flat.

Xx

365 books in 365 days Challenge ... book #44

Vacancy: Wife of Convenience - Jessica Steele
Mills and Boon Tender Romance

Single title-
Harlequin Mills and Boon, 2005
ISBN: 9780263842258

Reprint-
The Right Bride? By Request
Harlequin Mills and Boon, 2010
ISBN: 9780263881059

My rating




From the back cover:

"Colly Gillingham is in a bind. Not only has she been evicted from her home, but she also needs a job - and fast! So seeing an advert for a senior secretary at Livingstone Developments, Colly jumps at the chance....
The moment Silas Livingstone sees Colly he knows she's exactly the woman he's been looking for. There's only one vacancy that Silas is advertising now - and that's for a wife of convenience. Will Colly take him up on the offer...?"

This is the third book in the By Request omnibus as above, and it was nice to read a more gentle romance than my current run of Moderns and Intrigues!

This is the story of Colly and Silas. Colly has been left homeless and penniless after her fathers death and him leaving everything to his avaricious wife. Colly has no job or work experience after dedicating her life to taking care of her father before he married again. She meets Silas when she applies for a job at his company, for which she is grossly unsuitable for. Silas is sympathetic when she breaks down and explains her situation.
Silas has recently learned that his grandfather has changed his will to specify that unless he is married Silas will not inherit the family business he has worked so hard for. Silas offers Colly a marriage of convenience, they will live separate lives and Colly will be provided with a flat to live in and an allowance. As they begin spending time together as friends both their feelings for one another begin to grow.

This is a really sweet romance, and beautifully written with some fantastic witty dialogue between the characters. Unfortunately certain elements of the story just didn't work for me. The story was set over a long period of time, and the two characters sometimes went months without seeing each other and for their love to develop in this time it seemed a little unbelievable. Silas's seasons for a marriage of convenience is pretty standard stuff (ie will conditions) but to keep it a secret was a bit strange, what was he going to do, turn up at his grandfathers death bed and say "oh by the way, I have been married for X number of years", it didn't really seem plausible.
I did like Colly as a character though, I really empathised with her feelings of being lost after living a sheltered life, and she was a warm and very like-able character.

Like I said, this is a very sweet romance, however I did find it just a little bit boring.

Xx

365 books in 365 days Challenge ... book #21

The Cowboy's Son - Delores Fossen
Mills and Boon Intrigue
Harlequin Mills and Boon, 2008
ISBN: 9780263872606

My rating




From the back cover:

"Marriage for baby
Ranchman Dylan Greer knew the baby he’d adopted was his in every way that mattered. Except beautiful cop Collena Drake swore a criminal ring had stolen her baby and that someone was crossing every line to keep the illegal adoption secret. In order to protect the innocent child, Collena made him an offer – get married and share custody. As a businessman, Dylan thought the plan brilliant. But resisting his bride as the danger mounted would be near impossible.
For Their Baby’s Sake Safeguarding children is their first priority"

I seem to have fallen into a bit of a rut with reading just the Modern and Intrigue series' at the moment, for that I can only apologise and promise some variety is coming!

This is the story of former cop Collena who had her baby stolen when she went into premature labour during an undercover operation to bring down an illegal adoption ring. After 2 years she has finally tracked down her baby son living with his adopted father, Dylan. She breaks in to his ranch and she confronts him with the truth about the adoption. Dylan is both shocked and angry that Collena has come for her son. Collena proposes a marriage of convenience in order for them to share custody of the baby and to stop the baby's rich paternal grandfather from taking it away. At the same time Collena is in danger from an escaped prisoner, whom she sent to jail as part of the illegal adoption ring and from a stalker that has been making Dylan's life a misery for over 10 years.

The relationship and the romance that develops between the hero and heroine is really sweet and well written. As for the rest of the book there was so many different things going on that it became a bit of a headache to read. The stealing and illegal adoption of Collena's baby is enough of a story on it's own but there was also the escaped prisoner, the murders, the baby's paternal grandfather wanting custody, Dylan's stalker, a jealous friend, unfriendly local cops, need I go on! All these things were going on at the same time that it became a bit hard to follow. And it was obvious who the stalker/killer throughout the entire book!

I feel the relationship wasn't established enough due to everything else that was going on. However if you want a lot of action then this has it!

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365 books in 365 days Challenge ... book #17

A Stormy Spanish Summer - Penny Jordan
Mills and Boon Modern
Harlequin Mills and Boon, 2011
ISBN: 9780263886368

My rating




From the back cover:

"Bound by duty, drawn by desire…
Felicity Clairemont has come to Spain to claim her inheritance. Unfortunately that means spending time with the Duque Vidal y Salvadores – and the darkly handsome Spaniard has always made it plain how little he thinks of her.
The last time Vidal saw Fliss he desired and hated her with equal measure. But now honour demands he must help her. As the truth about Fliss’s family comes flooding out, and the power of their attraction takes hold, can Vidal admit how wrong he’s been about her...?"

I have read a lot of Penny Jordan books, which is not surprising considering she is somewhat of a legend in romance writing! I like the majority of her books I read, however, for me, this one just doesn't live up to the promise.

The story is of Fiss, who after her father (whom she has never met) passes away is named in his will. She travels to Spain in order to see and secure her inheritance and hoping to learn a little about the father she was never allowed to meet. As we discover Fliss's father was adopted into the aristocratic Spanish family the male character Vidal is the head of. Her father had an affair with Vidal's Au pair (Fliss's mother), which was revealed quite innocently by Vidal to his matriarch grandmother who banished Fliss's mother back to England and forbade her father from contact and involvement with their lives.
In an innocent attempt to get to know her father when she was 16 Fliss was visited by Vidal after he intercepted her letter to her father, where he informed that she could not do it again. An incident involving a drunken teenager trying to have sex with Fliss left Vidal with the impression that Fliss was promiscuous.
When they meet in Spain, the hostility they both have for one another is always there as well as an intense sexual attraction.

The synopsis of the story had me quite looking forward to reading this, it sounded exciting and interesting. In regards to the story it had all the classic elements of a great romance book; intense sexual attraction, conflict, forbidden love. But if there was one misunderstanding, there was a hundred. The characters were constantly bickering and insulting each other that it got tired pretty quickly. Vidal was, quite frankly, a bastard and Fliss was uptight and a bit of a doormat (my opinion of course!). A perfect example of both these character traits was in the moment they were about to make love for the first time where Vidal put on protection and said;

"I am not such a fool as to take the kind of risks with my sexual health that intimacy with you would involve without this protection. You may be the sort of woman who boasts that her pleasure is increased by the danger of unprotected intercourse, but I am not a man who wants to put either my own or my future sexual partners' health at risk by going down that road."

And she let him continue after saying this... well I was quite flabbergasted! If that was me, I would have punched him right in the face, then punched him a second time, and possibly a few more times after that!! (btw, I don't condone violence!) Suddenly when he realises that she is a virgin and his nasty thoughts were all in his horrible mind he does a complete about face and decides he loves her? hmm, I couldn't warm to it at all.

Now, you might think I have been quite negative, so I am going to give a few positives now. This book was saved by the beauty of Penny Jordan's writing, her writing is very descriptive and the settings are described wonderfully, and she certainly loves those metaphors! If you read this book and don't like it, as I found, please don't let this put you off Penny Jordan's other books, she really is a wonderful writer.

Wow, I feel worn out with all that honesty!

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365 books in 365 days Challenge ... book #4

Official Duty - Doreen Roberts

Silhouette Intrigue

Silhouette Books, 2006

ISBN: 0373227752

My Rating

From the back cover:

"Ginny had a good reason to stay away from her home town and that reason went by the name of Cully Black...

But when her beloved foster parents were brutally murdered, Ginny knew she had no choice but to return. Facing her past - and long-buried feelings for the handsome sheriff who still owned her heart - was harder than she'd anticipated.

The long months of hiding had taken their toll and Ginny could feel a presence lurking in the shadows. Watching. Waiting. And soon, she became a killer's next target.

She's gave to once again place her trust in Cully, the only man who could keep her alive. But was his protective embrace part of his official duty...or something more?"

This is an oldie I picked up from my local library! The Silhouette brand is not even used anymore in the UK, it has been absorbed completely into Mills and Boon now, and I believe that it is shortly to be discontinued as an imprint in the US as well.

The book focuses on the female character, Ginny, returning to the home town she lived in with her foster parents for the first time in 12 years, after they are murdered. Ginny's husband has recently passed away, and previous to that Ginny had run away from the marriage due to the abuse she suffered from her husband. The male character, Cully, was also a foster child of the same foster parents, and is now the sheriff of the town, in charge of the investigation into their murders. Ginny and Cully had a brief relationship before Ginny left to pursue her dreams in the city, she wanted Cully to go away with her, but he wanted a quiet ranch life in a small town.

On returning Ginny becomes the killer's next target and has to work with Cully in order to stay safe and find the killer.

I really wanted to give this book a higher rating, but I just felt that the entire story was let down by the fact that it was so bloody obvious who the murder was, yet the characters we oblivious to it, surely the sheriff could have figured this out?!

The relationship of the characters is very good, they both have great chemistry but the baggage of their past relationship was a little annoying, they were both as stubborn as one another!

Overall, it wasn't a bad read, the romance was nice, it was just a tad predictable.

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