Review... Urgent: One Nanny Required - Olivia Logan

Urgent: One Nanny Required - Olivia Logan
Crimson Romance, 2013
eISBN: 9781440566691













My rating

From the back cover:

"Hollywood director Nick Trenton needs a nanny and fast. It certainly hasn’t helped that his son has run off every one he’s hired. With a big shoot coming up in LA, Nick’s running out of options. Then along comes Rania George—sweetshop owner and one of the few people his son doesn’t want to give the slip. No, she doesn’t like Nick, but he can work around that. He loves his son and will do anything to get the lovely Miss George to say yes to his plan. 

Rania is used to children hanging outside her sweetshop but seeing one alone on a dark night is a first. What sort of parent would let his child wander the streets at night?
Then she meets his Hollywood director father and assumes Nick’s too self absorbed to notice his son is wandering the streets alone. She learned from an early age that anything Hollywood related was bad news. She has vowed to stay away from anything—and she means anything—Hollywood. 

Not that it helps when Nick’s cute-as-a-button son captures her heart nor when she’s offered to babysit said son for a huge amount of money. Only catch is she has to fly to Hollywood and spend three weeks in the company of his devastatingly attractive father. 
After all her experiences with Hollywood, is she willing to risk it"

First and foremost... Yes, I know I haven't posted a review for ages. Sorry! Will try my best to get back on track.

Secondly, many thanks to Olivia Logan for very kindly offering me the chance to read and review this book.

OK, so moving on to the book...

This is a very sweet, almost soft romance that strolls along at a really nice pace and kept me engaged with the story all the way through. 

The character's relationship builds gradually, and beautifully, and what is nice about this book is that there isn't too much external conflict keeping the hero and heroine apart. Instead this is mainly internal conflict, which is well thought out. But... I did feel that the hero's background wasn't fully developed enough and felt a little flat. The promise was there but it didn't quite get into the nitty-gritty that I would have liked, his issues from his previous marriage were hinted at but not really fully explored.

However, the heroine is a well rounded character and her conflict is fantastically portrayed by the author. 

Sometimes when a book includes a child as a secondary character there is a risk that they could overpower the bones of the story, which must (IMO) be all about the hero and heroine in a romance. On occasions this book teetered on the edge of this, some scenes lacked emotional depth with the fantastically cute son stealing the show!

Overall though, I really enjoyed this book. It's a sweet and gentle romance that in the right mood can be really satisfying to read. I look forward to reading more from Olivia Logan in the future. 

Xx

Book Review... The Reluctant Husband - Lynne Graham

The Reluctant Husband - Lynne Graham
Harlequin Presents
Harlequin, 1998
ISBN: 9780373119714
Reissue - Harlequin Treasury, 2011
eISBN: 9781459262287








My rating

From the back cover:

"She was still his wife!
Frankie thought she'd seen the last of her husband, Santino Vitale—until he breezed back into her life with some earth-shattering news. Their marriage wasn't annulled, and now he intended to claim the wedding night they'd never had!
He had it all worked out. Within three weeks Frankie would have paid her dues and be free to leave Santino, file for divorce and forget all about him forever.
But Santino hadn't reckoned on falling for Frankie all over again—or that now she could be expecting his baby...."


I'm not entirely sure what to make of this book... I liked it, but not all of it. It is certainly classic Lynne Graham in it's style, which is definitely a good thing, however I feel that certain elements needed to be toned down a little.

I find it frustrating when authors include a hero that refuses, point blank, to believe anything the heroine says. The constant accusations of lying get old real fast and this ends up feeling like it is a desperate attempt to get as much conflict into the story as possible.

The heroine had a really interesting background, different and quite daring and it is used nicely, but I couldn't work out why the hero was always angry with her - she's hardly to blame for the crappy life she's had.

The love story between the hero and heroine is nice, but the overall angry atmosphere of the book as a whole overshadowed this a little in my opinion.

This isn't an easy read, but it is a classic angsty story that keeps you interested.

Xx

Book Review... A Secret Disgrace - Penny Jordan

A Secret Disgrace - Penny Jordan
Mills & Boon Modern
Harlequin UK, 2012
ISBN: 9780263890761












My rating

From the back cover:

"A shocking Sicilian secret... 

Louise Anderson s heart pounds as she approaches the imposing castello. Only the Duke of Falconari can grant her grandparents dying wish but this is the same man who said arrivederci without a backward glance after their night of unadulterated passion... 

Caesar can t believe the woman who almost ruined his precious reputation still fiercely fires his blood. Discovering that their union created more than just salacious memories, he agrees to grant Louise s request...in exchange for a demand of his own. That she wears his band of gold! 

Penny's final Mills & Boon is a classic. Intense, brooding and dramatic."


This is Penny Jordan's final book, such a legend of romantic fiction, she will be missed.

I had to work myself up to read this book. As much as I love Penny's classic books, I haven't really enjoyed some of her more recent ones, but I knew that I couldn't not-read it!

She proves, in this book, that she is truly a master at weaving a deep and fulfilling romance into a wonderfully deep story. When it comes to story flow and descriptive writing she really can't be beaten. Yes, she's overly fond of metaphors, but somehow she makes it work.

This book, for me, didn't get off to a great start. The hero and heroine spent a lot of time in their own heads, there was hardly any dialogue between them, and a lot of backstory was given with only alludes to what happened between the characters in the past. As a result the pace felt very stilted, and the story dragged as it waffled along. For the first thirty pages or so I had no idea what was going on!

But, the last half of this book is beautiful. The hero and heroine really deserved to find happiness together, but Penny made sure they, and we, worked for it. It wasn't an easy journey.

The story itself is a little old fashioned, especially with all the 'shame' parts, but that kind of adds another layer of charm to this book. Not many authors would be able to pull this off, but Penny Jordan did.

A great book, but a little melancholic to read.

RIP Penny.

Xx

Book Review... A World She Doesn't Belong To - Natasha Tate

A World She Doesn't Belong To - Natasha Tate
Mills & Boon Modern
Harlequin UK, 2012
ISBN: 9780263890815











My rating

From the back cover:

"A sinful charade...
Laura Talbot can't believe she's even considering Kyros Spyridis's outrageous proposal- although he is her late twin sister's husband. Yet for reasons she daren't admit, the shy, innocent Laura is tempted by Kyros's dangerous proposition....
Kyros needs Laura to act as his wife and keep the lies about his disastrous marriage going-just for one more week.
Having lived all her life in her sister's shadow, will the "good" twin finally be able to step into her own light-even if it leads straight to Kyros's bed?"

A have enjoyed all of Natasha Tate's books so far, and this one sounded like it would be another good one. It is a good book, I enjoyed reading it, but in my opinion it isn't as good as previous ones.

The premise is different and a little complicated but it is played out well and kept me interested all the way through. There is a lot of tension between the hero and heroine, and not just the sexual kind, and the author writes a good mix of desire, tenderness, and suspicion to make the book dramatic.

But I felt that the hero and heroine's 'issues' were a little overdone. The hero's arrogance went to far and his complete refusal to believe anything the heroine said became incredibly frustrating to read. And the heroine's low self-confidence was the same,

However, it was a welcome change to have the hero falling for the heroine and admitting his love first and the heroine being the one to push away.

There is plenty of sizzle, and lots of emotion to the story. It's a good read.

Xx

Book Review... Unlocking Her Innocence - Lynne Graham

Unlocking her Innocence - Lynne Graham
Mills & Boon Modern
Harlequin UK, 2012
ISBN: 9780263891065












My rating

From the back cover:

"An impossible attraction 
Three years ago Ava Fitzgerald stole what was most important to billionaire Vito Barbieri - his brother's life - leaving an insurmountable void in his once full and pleasurable existence. 
Since her release from prison Ava has agonised over her fragmented memories from that night - her misguided play for Vito, his humiliating rejection and then...nothing. 
Vito's latest business merger brings him face to face with his new employee - a troubled-eyed Ava. Haunted by the dark shadows of the past, Vito is intent on revenge. Yet despite his iron-will his plan gives way to an impossible desire..."

Reading the blurb made me feel excited about reading this one, and I needed that excitement to actually make me want to read this latest offering from Lynne Graham.

I love revenge stories, (I think this might be one of my favourite tropes, second only to secret babies!) and this on has the added surprise of a heroine whom has been in prison. Whilst reading I actually found that it isn't actually very revengey, but still an enjoyable book.

Where the last few Lynne Graham books have suffered from heroes that take the Alpha-Male idea a step too far, this book has a much gentler, more accepting hero whom is still as Alpha as you need and this certainly benefits the story.

There is a lot of shared emotion between the hero and heroine, and lots of well thought out conflict. The heroine is particularly well written; she had a lot to deal with but never caved under everything and didn't come across as a martyr.

I think a little more could have been made of with regards to the heroine's prison time, but the story didn't lack because of it. I'll be honest and say that I could have done without the 'discovery & resolution', it felt a little contrived in my opinion.

Overall, not a bad book at all. In fact a quite enjoyable one.

Xx

Book Review... Any Way You Want Me - Lucy Diamond

Any Way You Want Me - Lucy Diamond
Pan, 2007
ISBN: 9780330446433













My rating

From the back cover:

"On paper, Sadie's got it all - the partner, the children, the house. But in real life, that doesn't feel quite enough. Sadie can't help harking back to the time when she was a career woman by day and a party animal by night. And what happened to feeling like a sex kitten, anyway? The only sleepless nights she's getting now are due to the baby. Maybe a little reinvention is the answer... 
Sadie can't resist creating a fictitious online identity for herself as a hot TV producer. It's only a bit of harmless fun...until truth and fantasy become dangerously tangled. It isn't long before she's wondering if the exciting alter ego she has dreamed up really is the kind of person she wants to be after all... 
Wry, funny and with a wonderful twist in the tale, "Any Way You Want Me" is an enchanting novel of infidelity, motherhood and friends reunited that heralds the debut of a lovely new voice in fiction."


When it comes to romance novels, infidelity as a theme is an absolute no-no for me. However, with chick-lit books I don't have a problem reading this, if it's handled well, mainly because these books are more life focused (it does happen!) and we're not necessarily reading for a HEA.

This book had the heroine being unfaithful, and it's not pretty. It's not because her partner doesn't treat her right, or he is also having an affair... No, it's the selfish kind of affair, but the author doesn't make any excuses for it.

Throughout the book the heroine behaves appallingly, but at the same time you can understand why and, after all, we all make mistakes.

The author does a nice job of keeping you guessing throughout and the rollercoaster journey the heroine goes on is on that is honest, gritty, emotional, and above all believable.

I do feel that the 'other man' character wasn't really used to full potential, the author makes a big effort to make us think that he really does love the heroine despite them both being in tricky situations, but then in the end he turned into a bastard, it seemed a little inconsistent.

Also, I felt this book may have been written a few years before it was published as there were a few things that felt a little dated.

But other than that, this is an interesting, emotional, and brave story.

Xx

Book Review... Watermelon - Marian Keyes

Watermelon - Marian Keyes
Arrow, 2006
ISBN: 9780099489986

N.B. The above details refer to one of the many reprints of this book.











My rating

From the back cover:

"At twenty-nine, fun-loving, good-natured Claire has everything she ever wanted: a husband she adores, a great apartment, a good job. Then, on the day she gives birth to her first baby, James visits her in the recovery room to inform her that he's leaving her. Claire is left with a beautiful newborn daughter, a broken heart, and a body that she can hardly bear to look at in the mirror. So, in the absence of any better offers, Claire decides to go home to her family in Dublin. To her gorgeous man-eating sister Helen, her soap-watching mother, her bewildered father. And there, sheltered by the love of an (albeit quirky) family, she gets better. A lot better. In fact, so much better that when James slithers back into her life, he's in for a bit of a surprise."

I read a couple of Marian Keyes's books back when I was in my late teens, I remember liking her style so I thought I would give this one a go. Although, to be honest, I hadn't realised that this was first published all the way back in 1996. If I say one thing it's that this had held up well, and apart from a few elements this doesn't feel aged at all.

I loved reading the journey that Marian Keyes takes us on with her heroine. She was in a right ol' mess and we are with her for every high and every low. There is not 'perfect' heroine here, far from it, and there is no lack of honesty from the author about her character's sometimes terrible behaviour.

The low moments in the journey are difficult to read but also funny, as well as endearing. I found I was sad for and frustrated at the heroine in equal measures.

The narrative and 'breaking the fourth wall' style isn't my favourite, so for me this occasionally felt a little forced, however the writing is flawless - hard to believe this was Marian Keyes's debut.

This is a magical story of a life in tatters and finding the will to get through it.

Xx

Book Review... The Innocent's Surrender - Sara Craven

The Innocent's Surrender - Sara Craven
Mills & Boon Modern
Harlequin Mills & Boon, 2010
ISBN: 9780263877649











My rating

From the back cover:

"His price: her awakening 
Natasha Kirby has long been saddened by her family’s feud with the Mandrakis men…now she’s caught in its savage crossfire. Her family’s business has fallen into the hands of merciless tycoon Alex Mandrakis. Summoned to his bedroom, Natasha is given an impossible ultimatum: sacrifice her virginity, or he will destroy her family! 
Captive on Alex’s luxury yacht, Natasha finds her trembling fear turns to traitorous shivers of desire. By rights she should despise him, but slowly she finds herself wishing that her bittersweet seduction could last for ever…"


I feel like before I start writing this review I should put a disclaimer or something... This will not be a book for everyone, that's for sure!

This is a difficult review to write because this is a difficult book to read, at times. There is something about Sara Craven's rather un-PC books that I like, she's certainly 'old school' in her style. This one, well, perhaps it went a little too far!

If you read any other review for this you will be able to ascertain that the first love scene is, er, not the best. I'll be honest, it's a little rapey...

In my opinion it would have been much better without it as the rest of the story is beautifully written and very absorbing.

The book feels very dark, so in a way the first love scene does fit the mood. Sara Craven does a great job of hinting at the real truth underneath all the horrible surface stuff, and that makes you want to keep reading.

The heroine fights her feelings at every step and as a result her character really goes on a journey of self discovery (sorry for the newage speak!). She starts off unforgivably naive yet ends up really growing as a character.

The same for the hero, even though there was no POV for him, at the start I hated him but ended up falling totally for him.

This is a very up and down book, but somehow Sara Craven waves her wand and makes this a very compelling read.

If I have one moan it is that the hero and heroine didn't meet until 15% into the book (thank you Kindle stats!) and that felt a little too long to wait, IMO.

Anyway, like I said, it's not for everyone but I actually enjoyed this book.

Xx

Book Review... The Secrets She Carried - Lynne Graham

The Secrets She Carried - Lynne Graham
Mills & Boon Modern
Harlequin UK, 2012
ISBN: 9780263890860











My rating

From the back cover:

"Erin Turner and Cristophe Donakis set the bed sheets alight during their scorching affair. But Erin's hopes of a diamond ring turned to ash when he unceremoniously kicked her out of his bed and onto the cold London streets.
Years later, Erin's world is rocked again when she meets her newest business client. She knows it's him the moment his designer aftershave hits her senses...
Cristophe is going to make Erin pay back what he believes she stole - in whatever way he demands... But little does he know that Erin's about to drop two very important bombshells!"


I'll be honest, after some of Lynne Graham's more recent offerings I was a little, shall we say hesitant about reading this. But she is one of the best Modern/Presents authors though, so I will always read her newest books!

After a rather shaky start, this one actually turned out OK. It's no angst-tastic, rollercoaster-of-emotions, Lynne-Graham-book of old, but it is quite charming eventually.

The beginning wasn't great, the hero seemed like a complete arsehole at first, and it was one of those books that made me grit my teeth in anger whilst reading. But it soon settled down, and it was quite enjoyable. The hero and heroine worked well together.

One thing I particularly liked was that the children behaved badly, and that really knocked the hero for six! Very honest writing, in my opinion, I'm not sure if I have ever read a Presents where the child throws themselves on the floor in a tantrum or won't stop jumping off and on things in excitement!

Not a bad book at all, although don't take things too seriously when reading it, there are a few 'holes' in the plot!


Xx

Book Review... This Is A Love Story - Jessica Thompson

This Is A Love Story - Jessica Thompson
Coronet, 2012
ISBN: 9781444734218











My rating

From the back cover:

"This is a love story. Boy meets girl and girl falls for boy - that much is true. But when Sienna meets Nick it's not the way it happens in love stories. It's because of a squirrel on water skis... She sees Nick's dangerous brown eyes and thinks, 
Don't. 
Fall. 
Into. 
Them. 
Who will be there to catch Siena when she falls? She is so fragile. She has so many secrets, and he is not that serious. Funny and sad, this is the story of two people destined never to come together in the great love affair they crave more than anything else."


When I saw this book sitting on the new arrivals shelf at my local library, I immediatly grabbed it, the cover is just beautiful and it drew me to it like the moth to the flame!

This is a very absorbing and entertaining read, as well as emotional and deeply moving. However, it's not perfect and my main feeling whilst reading was annoyance.

The characters come across as a lot younger than they are, especially the hero, whom acted as though he was 21 not late 20's and 30's. Staying on the age theme, this book takes place over a period of five years, but I couldn't see any sign of the characters growing up at all. They acted exactly the same at the beginning all the way through to just before the ending.

The hero's POV didn't quite work, it seemed too similar to the heroines. And, I wish the author didn't write. So. Many. Sentences. Like. This. ...Like I said, annoying!

I almost gave up on this book around one third of the way through - the characters were getting on my nerves with their, at times, frustratingly immature actions and the pace of the book was SLOW!

But I'm glad I ploughed on, as it was really enjoyable by the end. The ending by the way is spectacular, so emotional that I was almost in tears.

The love the hero and heroine felt for each other felt genuine, and was full of ups and downs, just like any relationship, although I did on occasion feel like shouting at the two of them to just bloody tell each other!

So, yeah, not a perfect book, it's a bit of an effort but in the end very moving and emotional.

Xx

Book Review... Babies in Waiting - Rosie Fiore

Babies in Waiting - Rosie Fiore
Quercus, 2012
ISBN: 9780857389589













My rating

From the back cover:

"Meet Louise, 38, Toni, 26, and Gemma, 18. 
They are all expecting babies in September. And they are all discovering that impending motherhood is more than a little overwhelming. Finding their way onto an online forum, they discover fellowship, friendship, way too much information - and ultimately one another. 
Meeting in real life, they set out to face the highs, lows, secrets and revelations of pregnancy and the first months of motherhood together. But one of the women is keeping a secret that will test their friendship to its very core..."


I got this book out from the library after seeing it reviewed on the Novelicious Website (link).

I have to say that although I found the beginning a bit shaky I ended up really enjoying this book. It has a nice mix of the fun moments of the kind you would want and expect from 'chick lit' as well as some brutal honesty.

The three heroines are really well portrayed by the author, and their personalities opinions and experiences are nicely woven together. I got a little frustrated with the 18 year old Gemma, I feel that she came across more 16 than 18, a little too immature for my liking, but it did suit her spoilt-rich-girl background.

These three women all make mistakes along the way and the author isn't afraid to make them pay for them/ I particularly enjoyed Louise's story, especially her finding new love despite her difficult situation.

The changing of narrative style between each heroine is an interesting tool, at first it felt a little jarring, but once I got used to it it really helped to keep each story separate in my mind.

I really enjoy reading 'journey' stories and that is certainly what these three women go on. Both together and individually.

This is a lovely book, I liked it.

Xx

Book Review... The Forbidden Ferrara - Sarah Morgan

The Forbidden Ferrara - Sarah Morgan
Mills & Boon Modern
Harlequin UK, 2012
ISBN: 9780263890785











My rating

From the back cover:

"A Ferrara should never share a bed with a Baracchi-however high the stakes! 
 Dark-hearted Santino Ferrara has always remembered how long-legged, hot-tempered Fia Baracchi felt in his arms-much to his frustration. Then a million-dollar business deal throws them together, and keeping his distance is no longer an option. 
But Fia is living a lie. If it's ever discovered that her precious little son is Santino's heir, she'll be disowned-their families' feud is legendary! But her real fear? That she can't forget the scorching memories of her one night with the enemy-and that she still craves more..."


I have been waiting for this book to finally land in my hands for ages! I loved the first book in this duet by Sarah Morgan (Once a Ferrara Wife...), so I was pretty excited about this one.

I have to be honest and say that I was a little disappointed with this one. I'm not saying this is a bad book, it most definitely is not! I just felt it wasn't quite there.

I usually love a 'secret baby' book but there has to be a good reason for the baby being kept secret - in this book I don't really think there was.

The heroine was beautifully written and my heart broke for everything she'd been through but this didn't really make up for not telling the hero about his son.

I simply loved the hero! He was so accepting, and open as well as really committed to building a good life with the heroine and their child. He didn't act irrationally when he found out nor was he cruel! These are major pluses in the book.

I loved the whole family feud, forbidden love thing! It was written fantastically.

The writing is flawless, full of passion and emotion, with plenty of angst. Very enjoyable.

Xx

Book Review... Tempted by Her Innocent Kiss - Maya Banks

Tempted by Her Innocent Kiss - Maya Banks
Harlequin Desire
Harlequin, 2011
ISBN: 9780373731565









My rating

From the back cover:

"Devon Carter was her first; now newly wed Ashley wants their passion to last. But her dreams of true love are crushed by the discovery that their marriage is another of Daddy's business deals. Her strategy: act the part of perfect wife and make Devon love her.
But Devon misses the bubbly, no-holds-barred woman his wife used to be. Who is this Ashley with the steely demeanor of a society wife? And will he find a way to rekindle the fire in her eyes…especially now that she's pregnant?"


I was looking forward to reading this book, I really enjoyed the first two books in Maya Bank's Pregnancy & Passion Mini Series (Enticed by His Forgotten Lover & Wanted by Her Lost Love).

I have to be honest and say that I didn't enjoy this one as much as the previous two, but this is still very much an enjoyable book.

I particularly liked that the author didn't shy away from making the hero behave badly, and he knew it as well. The heroine is fun, flighty, and spirited, she is definitely different to a lot of romance heroines.

There is plenty of passion that sizzles on the pages and suits the hero and heroines relationship perfectly.

It was interesting to read how the heroine tried to change herself, to become more like what she thought the hero wanted, only to begin to lose what it was that made her likeable. I think this is quite honest, and true of some difficult relationships.

Overall, very enjoyable.

Xx

365 books in 365 days Challenge ... Book #336

Stranded, Seduced... Pregnant - Kim Lawrence
Mills & Boon Modern
Harlequin Mills & Boon, 2010
ISBN: 9780263878653











My rating

From the back cover:

"From pure - to pregnant! 
Lovely Neve Macleod's life is shrouded by scandal. The tabloids delight in branding her a scarlet widow, but in reality her marriage was for convenience. She's still a virgin, and a caring single stepmother - but no one wants to hear the truth...
That is until she finds herself stranded and snowbound with brooding tycoon Severo Constanza - an unlikely saviour. As the magnificent Italian comes to her rescue he knows nothing of her salacious past - just that she's pure at present!"


I bought this one, along with a few other Modern's, recently as they were on sale in the Kindle store.

The heroine Neve is trying to build a relationship with her teenage stepdaughter and ignore all the public scandal about her and her late husband's marriage. But her stepdaughter seems determined to hate her, and she ends up running off in the middle of a blizzard taking Neve's car with here. Neve impulsively jumps in the nearest car to go after her, and that turns out to be the hero Severo's car. Severo and Neve end up being stranded due to the snow and take shelter in a nearby empty house. Even though Severo thinks that Neve's actions were stupid and irresponsible, he can't help but be drawn to her seemingly innocent nature. While they are stranded, Neve and Severo end up acting on the desire between them but after they are rescues and Severo finds out exactly who Neve is he thinks she is a gold digger and wants nothing else to do with her. Neve goes back to her life and tries to forget all about Severo, their brief affair, and her humiliation but when she discovers she is pregnant she had to work up the courage to see him again.

I had a difficult time deciding what to rate this book; I liked it, but there are certain elements of it that I found quite frustrating. The plot itself is interesting and kept me reading. But the heroine at times acts childish and whines, a lot. Plus she lets the overly dominant hero boss her around so much - I really don't like heroines like this.

However, I did like the story. It's an OK read.

Xx

365 books in 365 days Challenge ... Book #331

Special Agent's Perfect Cover - Marie Ferrarella
Harlequin Romantic Suspense
Harlequin, 2011
ISBN: 9780373277582

N.B. This is a North American release.









My rating

From the back cover:

"'What have they done to you?' 
Cold Plains, Wyoming, should be a ghost town. Then why are its once-decaying streets gleaming? And why are there only beautiful, smiling Stepford-like wives in those streets? Hawk Bledsoe wants to know…because the woman who broke his heart seems to be one of them. 
Carly Finn is stunned to see Hawk return to town as an FBI agent tracking a serial killer. Hawk doesn't know why she once ended their romance so cruelly—or how much Carly sacrificed for him. But now the two must risk their lives to expose the town's monstrous secret. And danger only revives the desire both try their hardest to resist…."


I have read a lot of Marie Ferrarella's books in the past, but not in this challenge, and I like her style so I thought I would give this one a go.

The hero Hawk is assigned to investigate the murders of five women who all have the small Wyoming town of Cold Plains in common. Unfortunately for Hawk he is also originally from there, and hasn't been back since he left ten years ago. When he arrives, he is shocked to see the town completely changed, with it's inhabitants seemingly brainwashed. Even more surprising for Hawk is that Carly, the heroine, is still living there and seems to be one of the brainwashed. Carly is just as shocked to see Hawk back in town, she has never forgotten him and the love they used to share, or her heartbreak when she had to end their relationship. Carly is desperate to get out of town, she knows that is has been taken over by a cult-like group, but she can't leave her sister, whom has become totally involved. As Hawk investigates, not that he gets anywhere, he also keeps an eye on Carly and pretty soon he has worked out that she is pretending to be involved and they are acting on the passion and love that still between them, despite the fact that this puts both of them in even more danger.

This is the first book in the mini-series 'Perfect, Wyoming' about a town taken over by a cult called the 'Devotees' (think 'The Movementarians' from the Simpsons episode Joy of Sect!). I love cult story lines, so when I found these books I immediately bought them!
Uh, overall this isn't a bad story, and it is a nice introduction to the series. The hero and heroine work well together, and the UST between them plus the issues from their past relationship are both portrayed well and adds to the overall tense moments. The scene where the heroine removes a bullet from the hero is just really stupid, and annoyed me somewhat to be honest! What bothered me most about this book is that the hero didn't seem to actually do much investigating, or it wasn't 'shown' anyway, and this left the story feeling a little hollow.

But, I enjoyed this book. There is some good suspense parts, and the relationship is well written and believable.

Xx

365 books in 365 days Challenge ... Book #317

Trouble in a Pinstripe Suit - Kelly Hunter
Harlequin Presents Extra
Harlequin, 2012
ISBN: 9780373528582

N.B. This is a North American release - UK and Aus/NZ title is 'Sleeping Partner'.








My rating

From the back cover:

"Restoring a dilapidated hotel doesn't come cheap, but Mia Fletcher doesn't want to accept financial help from Ethan Hamilton. This dangerously sexy businessman isn't someone who takes no for an answer, however, and soon their flirting turns into something more.… 
Mia knows Ethan isn't a forever kind of guy, but she cannot resist taking what he has to offer by getting him out of his immaculate suit and into bed! Surely their explosive affair will burn itself out—unless Mia can tame his untouchable heart.… "

I bought this book recently with a bunch of other Harlequin Presents. I love this title!

The heroine Mia arrives on the island of Penang after learning that she has inherited a hotel from the mother she thought had died many years before. When she finds the rather dilapidated hotel, she is met by the hero Ethan, whom she discovers is the son of the man her mother had left her father, and her, for. Ethan knows that it is hard for Mia to find out the truth about her mother, and he wants to help her through it, but Mia refuses. Mia decides to try and renovate the hotel, and during the process learns a lot about the mother she never got the chance to know. And as much as she tries to ignore him, Mia can't deny the affect that Ethan has on her. She wants to hate him but the more time they spend together the more she falls for him. Ethan also realises that his feelings for Mia run deeper, especially seeing her strength as she comes to terms with everything, but he doesn't know if he can ever give her more.

This is a really fascinating book, and I enjoyed it. It has a nice blend of emotion and charm, and the writing is full of passion. The exotic setting is vividly portrayed and very evocative, but I got a little bored with all the myths and ghost stories after a while. The relationship between the hero and heroine felt very natural and full of spark, but I didn't quite understand the fact that the hero was the one who did most of the chasing, then changed his mind about what he wanted from the heroine - it came off as a little shallow.
The plot around the heroine's mother choosing a different life was emotional, and handled well by the author - it was written with a refreshing honesty that I really responded to.

Overall, an enjoyable book.

Xx

365 books in 365 days Challenge ... Book #309

Back in her Husband's Bed - Melanie Milburne
Mills & Boon Modern
In 'Reclaiming His Wife' Mills & Boon By Request
Harlequin Mills & Boon, 2009
ISBN: 9780263871296

My rating

From the back cover:

"He wants her back - but on his terms! 
By agreeing to a meeting with Xavier Knightly, her handsome ex-husband, Carli realizes that the passion is still there. Three months later, she has some shocking news for him! 
But Xavier isn't considered one of the best lawyers in Sydney for nothing: here's a golden opportunity to blackmail his wife back into his bed. However, he also wants her to love him again like she used to, and that's where he'll face the biggest trial of his life..."


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

The heroine Carli and the hero Xavier end up spending a very passionate night together, after being stuck in a broken down elevator for some time. Although that night should never have happened, as all the issues around their divorce five years ago are stirred up. Carli has changed significantly from the shy, weak girl she was when married to Xavier and she is now a strong and successful lawyer. But that doesn't make her any less nervous about having to tell Xavier that she is pregnant. Xavier recognises the changes in Carli, and finds them very appealing, but he also realises that Carli is still very drawn to him even though she tries to hide it, and uses their shared desire for one another to convince her to come back into his life. Xavier knows that first time around he didn't treat Carli right and he tries to make it up to her, but they are both determined not to back down and this causes friction, as well as desire, in their very tentative reconciliation.

I'm a big fan of Melanie Milburne's book, but this is not one of her best. In my opinion, anyway. I enjoyed the sort-of battle of wills surrounding the hero and heroine's reconciliation, and I think that the journey of the two of them learning to compromise and work as a couple, rather than as obstinate individuals, was written really well. There is plenty of chemistry between the hero and heroine, this really moves the story along.
The hero is a bit of a jerk at times, and I really hate that in so many reconciliation stories authors use the 'hero-has-spent-the-whole-time-apart-sleeping-with-as-many-women-as-possible-and-then-brags-to-the-heroine-about-it' trope, it is a little off putting. Also, the almost constant arguing between the hero and heroine became a little grating after a while.

Overall though, I did enjoy reading this one.

Xx

365 books in 365 days Challenge ... Book #304

Claimed by a Cowboy - Tanya Michaels
Harlequin American Romance
Harlequin, 2012
ISBN: 9780373753925












My rating

From the back cover:

"Sam Travis doesn't like to be tied down. He's used to picking up work all around the Hill Country, including odd jobs for Wanda Keller, an older woman who treats him as a son. When Wanda suddenly dies, her estranged daughter shows up…and Lorelei Keller turns out to be more than he bargained for. 
Polished—some might say uptight—Lorelei left Fredericksburg in the dust years ago. Coming home for her mom's funeral sends her into a tailspin of regrets. But that's nothing compared to the shock of learning that Sam has inherited her mother's B and B. Did the sexy cowboy manipulate his way into her mother's heart? Lorelei is determined to clean up this mess, and then get the heck out of Texas. For good this time. 
Because there's nothing to keep her there now…except maybe Sam?"


Back to another trusty cowboy story, I am a little obsessed with them at the moment!

The heroine Lorelei is pulled away from her comfortable corporate/city life when she hears that her mother has passed away. She travels back to her small Texas home town rather reluctantly, not wanting to be reminded of her unhappy childhood and her very difficult relationship with her mother. When she gets there she is surprised to find Sam, the hero, at her mother's home. Sam had built a strong friendship with Lorelei's mother and saw her as the mother he never had. But no one is more surprised than he when it turns out Lorelei's mother has left everything, including her inn, to Sam. Lorelei, though, is more than a little annoyed. Sam knows that he doesn't have space in his life for running an inn, but also doesn't want Lorelei to just sell it. He also knows how much her mother adored Lorelei, so he asks her to stay until after the town's annual festival, as a sort-of tribute to her mother, and then he will give her the inn. While Lorelei stays she and Sam spend a lot of time together and become very close, she also begins to realise that her life is not as perfect as she thinks, but neither she or Sam are willing to give up anything to have a future together.

I quite enjoyed this book, there is a nice 'real' feels to the story, and it is written really well. However, that's not to say it didn't get on my nerves a little as it did! I didn't really understand why the heroine has such a problem with her mother, it wasn't really explained enough and the impression I did get seemed a little shallow. The hero makes this book; he is perfect in every way - complex, yet open, and very romantic.
The relationship that develops between them is nicely portrayed, it managed to be both tender and steamy, and makes the eventual HEA worth it.

Enjoyable.

Xx

365 books in 365 days Challenge ... Book #290

 

Pregnant: Father Needed - Barbara McMahon
Mills & Boon Tender Romance
In 'His Pregnant Bride' Mills & Boon By Request
Harlequin Mills & Boon, 2009
ISBN: 9780263871333


My rating

From the back cover:

"Seeing that unmistakably blue line staring up at her from a pregnancy test should have been the happiest day of Amber Woodworth's life. But it was also the same day she discovered she was a widow.... 
Now Amber is making a new life for herself, as an independent, single mom-to-be. Her new neighbor, Adam Carruthers, is a sexy fireman who's devoted his life to rescuing people. Amber's determined not to get involved again - especially with a man who puts his life on the line - every day...."


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

The heroine Amber is trying to come to terms with the fact that she is newly widowed and pregnant. The highlight of her rather worry filled days is seeing the very sexy man out running during her daily walks. The hero Adam has also noticed Amber and decides to approach her. Amber doesn't know what to make of Adam's approach, she admits that she is attracted to him but she is still grieving plus her pregnancy, she knows nothing can ever come of their meeting. However, surprising them both they begin to bond and form a solid friendship that Amber begins to rely on more and more. Adam is confused by his feelings for Amber, he certainly isn't ready for commitment but there is something about her that he finds irresistible. He slowly begins to accept that he wants more with Amber and her baby, but Amber doesn't want to risk her heart on another man, especially one with a dangerous occupation, and she often pushes him away.

I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. It is a really lovely story. So real and relatable, and the storytelling is flawless. I loved the way the hero and heroine first see and meet each other, it is so fun yet romantic. The friendship that grows between the two of them is very heart warming, and the eventual romance is made even more sweet. The conflict is written well, and is believable.

Simply put, this is a really nice read. I liked it.

Xx

365 books in 365 days Challenge ... Book #278

One For The Road - Crystal Green
Mills & Boon Blaze
Originally published - Harlequin, 2008
Reissue - Harlequin Mills & Boon, 2010
eISBN: 9781408932452

N.B The above eISBN relates to the Mills & Boon Blaze backlist reissue (UK). The cover image is from the original publication.





My rating

From the back cover:

"A dull job, boring relationships. 
Life was a yawn when Lucy Christie decided to hit the road with her best friend. But she didn't know just how much her dream vacation - a drive down Route 66 in search of no-questions-asked, guilt-free sexual encounters - would shake things up. Her first conquest was Joshua, a cowboy with fancy boots and hips made for sin, a man who filled in every gap in her previously limited sexual education. 
In fact, he was so good, Lucy regretted having to give him up. But when she tried moving on to the next 'drive-by seduction' her demanding lover tagged along...intent on seducing her stop after stop!"


I saw this cheap in the Kindle store and really liked the sound of the blurb!

The heroine Lucy and her friend set out on a road trip in order to get away from their boring lives and have a bit of fun. Although Lucy's idea of fun means a meticulously planned out trip. One thing she was not counting on though is meeting sexy-as-sin Joshua, the hero. Joshua is taking some time out after a few disappointments in his life recently. As soon as he sees Lucy he is captivated by her and when they, accidentally, meet up at the same motel later they end up having a very passionate encounter. Joshua is surprised by how much he is drawn to Lucy, and convinces her to spend more time with him over the course of his trip. But he finds it frustrating that Lucy seems unwilling to open up to him. Once Lucy let's go of her need for planning she realises she actually likes the freedom. Fearing another crappy relationship she tries really hard to keep her feelings for Joshua on a strictly fun basis.

I enjoyed this book, and the idea of the road trip part is great fun. The blurb is a little misleading though, so it didn't turn out quite as I expected. I liked both characters; they were nicely written and had some great chemistry. The love scenes lacked emotion and felt a little gratuitous at times, but they were very steamy - as you would expect from a Blaze.
There is a subplot of the heroine's friend meeting someone, which I found a little boring and it took much needed focus away from the main relationship.

I did like the blend of sadness and fun the author used in this book, and it is an enjoyable read.

Xx