Review... The Rings That Bind - Michelle Smart

The Rings That Bind - Michelle Smart
Mills & Boon Modern
Harlequin UK, 2013
ISBN: 9780263900361












My rating

From the back cover

"On his terms only
The day Rosa agreed to wear Nicolai Baranski's ring she wasn't so foolish as to expect love. Yet nothing could have prepared her for the aching loneliness of her husband's constant indifference-an indifference that proved too much to bear.
Nico is furious- no on turns their back on a Baranski. Rosa has some nerve if she thinks he will just let her walk away. He'll use every sensual trick at this disposal to bring her back, begging for more. And once he's got her where he wants her he'll let her go. But only when he's ready."


*Readers of a more traditional romanace novel nature should pass this book by!*

Let's just get this out of the way first and foremost, shall we? This is not going to be a book for everyone. It pushes buttons, ones that for some people are a deal breaker when it comes to romance novels. Now, I like an ol' traditional style romance (you know the ones - shy untouched virgin heroine vs alpha/kind of a dick hero) as much as the next person. But I also love reading modern books, ones that deal with today's issues and has a voice that I can relate to a lot more. I also like my books to push boundaries, and I got everything I wanted from Michelle Smart here.

One fantastic thing about this book, and there are quite a few fantastic things, is that Michelle has used a really traditional trope - in this case Marriage of Convenience - but has brought it bang up to date and has managed to make this rather out dated idea fit into a modern ideal.

The hero and heroine are both broken characters, but they also seem like very different people. At times I actually did wonder how on earth they could ever find their HEA. But as the story progresses, all the outer layers of the hero and heroine's personalities are stripped away to reveal two very lonely people that really did need each other.

Rosa is a wonderful character; so strong yet so hurt. There is a scene towards the All Is Lost moment where Rosa breaks down and begs Nico to tell her what is wrong with her, why no one ever wants her, which is so emotional and intense it almost had me in tears and I felt this was when I truly learned why Rosa was what she was and did what she did.

There is so much drama in this book and the storytelling, in my opinion, is faultless. I wasn't just told about every high and low, I actually felt them.

The depth of this book surprised me, and I am so glad it did. It is packed full of passion, emotion, joy, and redemption, as well as all the other stuff that makes reading romance so wonderful!

Great stuff, Chellebell!

Xx

#ModernTempted Maid of Dishonour - Heidi Rice

Maid of Dishonour - Heidi Rice
Mills & Boon Modern Tempted
Harlequin UK, 2013
ISBN: 9780263910575












My rating

From the back cover:

"When she's very, very bad…
Gina Carrington knows exactly how to have fun! But when she sleeps with her friend's brother, the off-limits Carter, she quickly discovers she's overstepped the mark.
…life is so much more fun!
Years later, Gina sees Carter again to prepare for her friend's wedding, and she can't help but wonder what the harm would be in one more night…. He's available, gorgeous and behind that laid-back Southern charm there's a wild side even she can't tame! But Gina has secrets which she can't hide forever—will their chemistry be strong enough to keep Carter by her side when her secrets come to light?"

I rarely give 5 stars, what can I say? I guess I'm just one of those people that think there is always room for improvement. However, this book was five star worthy literally from the first page and maintained it to the very last! I couldn't find any fault with it at all.

Well, actually that is not necessarily true, the ending bit was a little cheesy for me but somehow Heidi Rice managed to pull it off. Even taking the Mickey out of it herself with the line "'Someone pinch me, I think I've been transported into a chick flick'"

Not only does Heidi write with the kind of wry, almost self deprecating, and quite British style, she also manages to include funny little references like Planet Zod, and a galaxy far, far away. And I better not even get started on the fact that this was one helluva sexy book. (Believe me, it is eye-poppingly so!).

And what is even better is that wrapped in that amazing package I have just waxed lyrical about is a really great story. The characters are perfect, especially the heroine. She is a very real character, with major flaws and is a totally modern-girl. Gina is the best crafted heroine I have read in a long while.
This is a brave plot, and the romance between these two characters as well as the style of this book might well push a lot of people's 'NO' button. I, personally, like reading something that is a little out-there.

Every single thing about this book works, I know I'm going on and on now. I'll stop soon I promise. I don't want to go into too much detail about the actual story, as you really need to read it for yourself. It is fun, flirty, romantic, at times tear-worthy, absorbing, and out-and-out outrageous!

In short, Fab-u-LOUS!

Xx

Review... Angel of Darkness - Lynne Graham

Angel of Darkness - Lynne Graham
Mills & Boon Romance
Mills & Boon, 1994
ISBN: 9780263786132












My rating

From the back cover:

"'I will never marry you... but I will make love to you as no man ever has before...'
Kelda had always clashed with her stepbrother Angelo and now he was interfering in her life again, ostensibly on their parents behalf  But they both knew there was more to it than that - there was unfinished business from that night five years ago, when Kelda's world had been turned upside-down. Now Angelo was threatening to make her his mistress. Would Kelda be able to resist him, or would his lethal attraction break her heart?"

Wow... this is an example of Lynne Graham at her finest. IMO her older M&Bs just can't be beaten for sure inventiveness and stories that are packed with the most blistering passion and intensity. Her older books also have the feeling that they are treading the fine line between taboo and PC, and this book has that in spades.

The whole stepbrother idea had me immediately on edge, to me it felt like it might be a bit, well, ick! But somehow Lynne Graham made it work, in fact this element of the story far from being a put-off only added to the overall angsty mood of the whole book.

I hated and loved this book in equal measures, and that is what makes it so damn good! Angelo as a hero is someone I wanted to throttle for the way he treated the heroine, but oh-man he is alpha to the core and by the time I was near the end I was almost desperate for him to fess up to his actual feelings. His initial treatment of the heroine suddenly made sense... love it when and author turns your opinion on a character totally on it's head. My only complaint... I wanted his POV included so bad!

The heroine is far from perfect herself; on occasions she acts like a bit of a harpy and really needs to open her eyes to what's going on in front of her eyes. But she is also fun and independent so I couldn't help but like her.

The story is weaved perfectly and is very powerful, it is certainly not an easy read but very worth it. The feelings between the hero and heroine are amazingly written; angsty, emotional, a little bit naughty even and they fight every single one of those feelings from page one so by the time they get to their HEA it felt like a fraught journey. And I loved every minute of it!

If you like the older style M&B's then this is definitely one not to be missed.

Xx

Book Review... Lost in Love - Michelle Reid

Lost in Love - Michelle Reid
Mills & Boon Romance
Mills & Boon, 1994
ISBN: 9780263783520












My rating

From the back cover:

"Four years ago, Guy Frabosa had hurt Marnie so deeply that she vowed never to set eyes on him again and had divorced him in a blaze of pain and anger. He fought her, but she'd had a trump card and had been desperate enough to use it. 

Now Guy held all the cards - Marnie needed his financial help and had little choice but to play by her ex-husband's rules. He demanded her body and soul, but the thought of returning to his side as his wife filled her with a raging hatred - made all the more consuming by her utterly wanton desire for his lovemaking."

This is another one of those urban legend Michelle Reid books that so many people say how good it is. And it is worthy of every piece of that praise. This is such a wonderful, beautiful story.

Both the hero and heroine suffer greatly throughout. Their story is fraught with confusion, bitterness, hurt, passion... you name it. But through it all, I could tell these two characters loved each other deeply. The writing is so powerful, Michelle Reid is truly a master at this.

Guy has to be one of my favourite ever heroes; He isn't afraid to own up to his mistakes, yet also not willing to ever give up on the love he and the heroine had. Sigh!

This book is so romantic, as well as heart breaking. So much has happened between the hero and heroine that it would have been easy for the story to get lost under everything, but Michelle Reid manages to keep the focus on the most important part - the love the still, despite everything, have for one another.

And, the result, is a pretty much perfect story.

Xx

Review... The Husband She Never Knew - Kate Hewitt

The Husband She Never Knew - Kate Hewitt
Mills & Boon Modern
Harlequin UK, 2012
ISBN: 9780263891126












My rating

From the back cover:


"What he wants, he takes! 

Cruelly discarded on her wedding night, Noelle Ducasse buries the shame of being an untouched bride – creating a new, glamorous life to mask the relentless ache of loneliness. Until Ammar returns… 

The image of Noelle’s guileless eyes lingers with Ammar still. Noelle can refuse him all she likes, but this time the ruthless Ammar will not be denied. He’ll spend each moment of each night proving that – no matter how much her mind denies it – she will melt under her husband’s exquisite touch… "

I simply adored Kate Hewitt's 'The Darkest of Secrets' so I was really pleased to discover this book is linked (The two heroes are estranged brothers). I was expecting a dark and emotional read, and that is exactly what I got.

The hero of this book made me ache; everything about him is so gut-wrenchingly sad and he had done things that should make him unforgivable yet I was able too as Kate Hewitt takes us on his journey of redemption. He is the most flawed hero I think I have ever read, and it works.

The hero and heroine are perfect together, they so desperately wanted and needed to be with one another. There is no doubt these are two very damaged characters who had to fight their demons and actually work at being together. 

The story is sad, powerful and emotional. It's different and more slow boiling than a lot of other books, it's not easy to read but that makes it even more gratifying. 

Kate Hewitt pens wonderfully emotional books that touch you deep down. I loved it, good stuff!

Xx

Book Review... The Price of Retribution - Sara Craven

The Price of Retribution - Sara Craven
Mills & Boon Modern
Harlequin UK, 2012
ISBN: 9780263891096












My rating

From the back cover:

"Hell hath no fury...

To Tarn Desmond family is everything. So when merciless tycoon Caspar Brandon all but destroys her sweet sister, Tarn is determined to make this notorious playboy pay...

Caz is intrigued by the pure beauty of the new girl in his office - no one has ever said no to him before, and if anything that's just doubled his ruthless desire for her! 

As Tarn sinks deeper into her deception her resolve falters under Caz's sensual onslaught. She hasn't banked on revenge costing her the ultimate price: her heart...and her body!"


I love the revenge trope… and I love Sara Craven books. This book only needed pages and I was pretty sure I would like it! Add in the fact that this is a reverse revenge plot (heroine wanting revenge against the hero) makes it even better. What a book this is.

The prologue being ‘now’ and the story then recapping what had happened is a neat little trick to really hook you in right from the start.

Sara Craven weaves a tale that is full of emotion, mystery, passion and betrayal. The POV is a little random in places, it had a bit from the hero at the beginning but that dropped off eventually. It didn’t make the story any less enjoyable though.

I was desperate to find out the real story behind what the heroine believed had happened, I couldn’t stop reading and it kept you guessing throughout.

Oh. The love story between the hero and heroine is simply awesome – real, emotional, strained amd the conflict is simply spectacular.

A brilliant, dramatic book… a great example of why Sara Craven is still one of the best Modern/Presents authors out there.

Loved it.

Xx

Book Review... One Night With The Enemy - Abby Green

One Night With The Enemy - Abby Green
Mills & Boon Modern 
Harlequin UK, 2012
ISBN: 9780263891010











My rating

From the back cover:

"In Argentina’s breathtaking vineyards… 

Nicolás de Rojas and Madalena Vasquez had a stolen affair amongst the Mendozan vineyards – until Maddie discovered a devastating secret about Nic, and left without another word. 

He will have her once again! 

Now Maddie is back, having inherited her family’s struggling vineyard, and she’s at Nic’s mercy – right where he wants her. He’s one of Argentina’s most successful vintners, and Maddie desperately needs Nic’s help. But will she agree to his condition? One exquisite night with him … to finish what they started eight years ago …"


Abby Green’s books are always fraught with tension and passion and that is exactly the kind of story you get here!

The depth of feeling between the hero and heroine is incredible; intense, emotional, a little dark and sad. Abby has written this book with the perfect blend of love and hate, and I couldn’t get enough of it. She does a brilliant job of weaving in the backstory without distracting from the present, in fact it makes the whole story even more rich.

The Romeo & Juliet theme is done with relish and with the revenge theme added in just makes this even more wonderful. The story keeps you guessing, and hooked throughout.

With eye-popping passion and edge-of-seat tension, this is not to be missed. Exactly the kind of Modern/Presents I like best.

Loved it!


Xx

Book Review... Honey Trap - Julie Cohen

Honey Trap - Julie Cohen
Little Black Dress, 2008
Headline
ISBN: 9780755341375












My rating

From the back cover:

"Sophie Tennant is used to sticky situations… because Sophie used to be a private investigator, setting honey traps for husbands and giving wives grounds for divorce. But these days she's an aromatherapist – an aromatherapist who's going on tour with a rock band, baby! Which is all good, until she recognises the band's bassist, Dominick Steele: her first honey trap, and the man who taught her she has a dangerous attraction to bad boys. But her attraction's not half as lethal as the vengeful spouse who suddenly seems to be following her!"

Once again, Julie Cohen has blown me away with an awesome story!

What a start to a story, with the heroine being slap-bang in the middle of one of her honey traps. A honey trap that goes slightly awry causing her to rethink her entire life. And then to have her reunited with one of her past honey traps - one that she has never been able to forget - is simply brilliant.

A change for other Julie Cohen books, this one actually included the hero's POV, which worked perfectly; he is such a complex character, I couldn't get enough of him.

I loved every second of the rock and roll background described - it was done with relish and a little touch of cliché that made it really stand out.

The heroine is a wonderful character, really well developed with real issues and emotions. She changed and grew as the story progressed. Very satisfying to read.

The story flows easily, and is sexy and fun with a little bit of mystery thrown in for good measure. I couldn't put it down.

Brilliant! Recommended.

Xx

Review... Girl From Mars - Julie Cohen

Girl From Mars - Julie Cohen
Little Black Dress, 2011
Headline
ISBN: 9780755341399












My rating

From the back cover:



"I, Philomena Desdemona Brown, do solemnly swear to forsake all romantic relationships...
It's not like the vow, made by Fil and her three nerdy male best friends, seemed much of a big deal at the time. Frankly, Fil wouldn't know romance if it hit her in the face, and with her real love being her artist job at Girl from Mars, the comic whose heroine has never had a love interest, she doesn't exactly mind being relationship-free anyway. Until her world is rocked to its core when one of her long-standing quartet and Girl from Mars herself both unexpectedly fall in love. Is it time to give in to temptation and finally fall in love?"

Oh, what a wonderful book! Just what I needed to distract myself on a day when I had the house full of builders making lots of noise!

Julie Cohen is a brilliant storyteller and she really shows it in this book. She captures the thoughts and feelings of her heroine perfectly, and takes her on a journey that had me absorbed right from the start.

The descriptions of the comic book art, and how the heroine creates it, are described with such rich and vividness, I could really visualise it.   

The characters are normal people, as well as slight oddballs, and very relatable in a story that is more than believable.

The love-story is, sigh, built up beautifully and full of ups and downs. The heroine is shy, awkward, and into things most people would find geeky and weird, which makes the book even more endearing, and the author seems to relish writing her.

So many different emotions are explored in the story and it ends up feeling magical. I simply adored it!

Xx

Book Review... Unsticky - Sarra Manning

Unsticky - Sarra Manning
Headline Review, 2009
ISBN: 9780755347353













My rating

From the back cover:

"High fashion, high art, high expectations – this is Pretty Woman for the twenty-first century 
Money makes the world go round – that's what twenty-something Grace Reeves is learning. Stuck in a grind where everyone’s ahead apart from her, she’s partied out, disillusioned, and massively in debt. If she’s dumped by another rock-band wannabe, squashed by anyone else at her cut-throat fashion job, or chased by any more bailiffs, Grace suspects she’ll fall apart... 
So when older, sexy and above all, wealthy art-dealer Vaughn appears, she's intrigued against her will. Could she handle being a sugar daddy’s arm candy? 
Soon Grace is thrown into a world of money and privilege, at Vaughn’s beck and call in return for thousands of pounds in luxurious gifts, priceless clothes – and cash. She’s out of her depth. Where's the line between acting the trophy girlfriend, and selling yourself for money? And, more importantly: whatever happened to love?"


After reading 'You Don't Have To Say You Love Me' I knew I had to read this one - I adored that book, and loved the authors style...

And this is a brilliant book! I was hooked all the way through, literally - ask my husband, I barely spoke for the two days I spent reading it.

Sarra Manning has, in Grace, created a heroine who is both hard to like and easy to love. She seems shallow at first, but it's clear that she also some deep emotional scars that make her act that way. It makes you want to keep reading to find out why, and they are so worth it.

The premise of the relationship between Grace and Vaughan is interesting, I didn't know what to think about it at first but the author managers to draw you into a fascinating world that is oddly believable.

The book deals with a lot of issues too - abandonment, addiction, debt, etc - all of which are handled well and balanced out with some wonderful fun moments.

This is 'Chick-Lit' at it's finest, flirty and fun, as well as emotional and at times very dark.

Recommended.

Xx

Book Review... Please Don't Stop The Music - Jane Lovering

Please Don't Stop The Music - Jane Lovering
Choc Lit, 2011
ISBN: 9781906931278












My rating

From the back cover:

"How much can you hide? Jemima Hutton is determined to build a successful new life and keep her past a dark secret. Trouble is, her jewellery business looks set to fail - until enigmatic Ben Davies offers to stock her handmade belt buckles in his guitar shop and things start looking up, on all fronts. But Ben has secrets too. When Jemima finds out he used to be the front man of hugely successful Indie rock band Willow Down, she wants to know more. Why did he desert the band on their US tour? Why is he now a semi-recluse? And the curiosity is mutual - which means that her own secret is no longer safe ..."


Wow... Just wow! I am almost speechless about how much I loved this book.

I have to admit that I was rather sceptical at first, but since it won the RNA Romantic Novel of the Year award I wanted to give it a go. By the time I was 20 pages in I was 100% hooked!

There is so much abut this book that is simply brilliant - the honest and hilariously funny dialogue, a brilliant cast of characters, and the hints to the secrets were weaved throughout the story like a master.

Oh, the hero's story is so heartbreaking. I guessed pretty early on in the book what might be his secret but it didn't make it any less emotional and I found myself very choked up when it was finally revealed.

The author handles these two characters, and their lives, like a dream. I adored the heroine right from the start.

This has a lot of 'funny' moments, but don't be fooled into thinking it is a light-hearted romantic comedy. It is not. This isn't always an easy book to read, at time it is very dark, but it is certainly a book that will stay with you and leave you with tears and a sigh.

Reading this book is worth it, believe me! I can't recommend it enough.

The only thing I don't like about this book is the cover. The image of the girl on the front looks a bit like an afterthought, kind of out of place, and she seems very young - I thought this was a YA book when I first saw on Amazon! But, lesson learned, never judge a book... etc!

Xx

Book Review... You Don't Have to Say You Love Me - Sarra Manning

You Don't Have to Say You Love Me - Sarra Manning
Corgi, 2011
ISBN: 9780552165402













My rating

From the back cover:

"Sweet, bookish Neve Slater always plays by the rules. 
And the rule is that good-natured fat girls like her don't get guys like gorgeous William, heir to Neve's heart since university. But William's been in LA for three years, and Neve's been slimming down and reinventing herself so that when he returns, he'll fall head over heels in love with the new, improved her. 
So she's not that interested in other men. Until her sister Celia points out that if Neve wants William to think she's an experienced love-goddess and not the fumbling, awkward girl he left behind, then she'd better get some, well, experience. 
What Neve needs is someone to show her the ropes, someone like Celia's colleague Max. Wicked, shallow, sexy Max. And since he's such a man-slut, and so not Neve's type, she certainly won't fall for him. Because William is the man for her... right?"


I'm on a run of really good books at the moment!

I picked this one up from the library and, to be honest, I wasn't expecting much. The blurb sounds okay, I thought it would be interesting but same-old same-old.

How wrong I was, this book simply blew me away.

Not only is this a surprisingly sexy read, but it is also full of emotion, wit, intelligence, and plenty of fun.

I applaud the author for writing such a brilliant heroine - Neve is a wonderfully crafted character. When I read the blurb the bit about the heroine being a 'fat girl' I thought, 'oh hear we go... another 'chick lit' book with a perfectly normal size 12 girl banging on and on about how she's so fat, etc'. But again the author surprised me - not only is the heroine a size 14 and struggling to get out of the overweight bracket, but she was once 26st - very brave of the author and very honest.

Sarra Manning doesn't hold anything back about her heroine's struggles with her weight and food issues - both physical and emotional - and I for one appreciated the sincerity of this. I have since found out that Sarra Manning herself has gone through the same experience as her heroine, so she clearly writes with plenty of knowledge and experience on the subject, and this shows.

The journey that the heroine, and the hero, go on is beautiful. The characters feel like real people, often something you don't find in the chick-lit area. Once I started reading I couldn't stop, I wanted to know everything about these characters, and the author doesn't disappoint.

This book has it all and it will make you laugh, cry, and sigh in equal measures.

The wonderfully complex love story weaved into this book is the cherry on top of this brilliant book.

Xx

Book Review... One Night Stand - Julie Cohen

One Night Stand - Julie Cohen
Little Black Dress, 2007
Headline
ISBN: 9780755334834












My rating

From the back cover:

"Eleanor Connor has written lots of steamy novels, but sadly her own life is more mundane. In fact, the nearest she's come to passion for ages is having to listen through the thin walls of her house as friend and neighbour Hugh seduces an endless stream of women. 
But then Eleanor has a one-night fling of her own, waking up alone, repentant, and as she later realises, pregnant. Desperate to find her missing lover, if only to tell him he's going to be a father, she enlists Hugh to help her search. But should she be looking closer to home to find what she really needs?"


I think I am in love with Julie Cohen's writing. This is another great book of hers, which literally had me at hello!

I read a lot of romance novels (you have probably realised that by now!) so the whole one-night-stand-leads-to-pregnancy theme is nothing new. However this one is a slightly different take on it, and I applaud Julie Cohen for exploring the difficult and darker side of this aspect of life.

I'm sure we all know [of] someone who has been in this situation, and not knowing who, or where, the father is does happen. And that is what the heroine is going through.

This whole book is written with a refreshing honesty, and a touch of brutal reality, plus there is also plenty of humour to balance it out.

The characters are normal people living normal lives, but also lives that have enough secrets and forks-in-the-road to keep you interested.

The love-story between the hero and heroine plays out beautifully. I knew the two of them belonged together and I was desperate for them to realise it for themselves!

A wonderful book.

Oh, and there is a nice little nod back to this book in Julie Cohen's latest 'The Summer of Living Dangerously', it's nice when author's  do this, it makes their work feel very unique to them!

Xx

Book Review... P.S. I'm Pregnant - Heidi Rice

P.S. I'm Pregnant - Heidi Rice
Mills & Boon Special Releases
Harlequin UK, 2012
ISBN: 9780263907788












My rating

From the back cover:

"New York, Hollywood…Pregnant? 
If her landlady’s cat hadn’t gone missing and Connor Brody had bothered to return her messages asking for help in the search, Daisy Dean wouldn’t have been sneaking around his garden at night – and he would never have caught her in her underwear! 
But Connor’s quite pleased with his scantily clad intruder. His business deal is about to fall through because the trophy wife of a potential US investor fancies him – maybe Daisy could make it up to him by accompanying him to NYC? 
Sharing a Portobello Road market stall with Daisy, Juno’s been hearing all about Connor’s brother Mac. A Hollywood actor with a shocking reputation. So when he turns up unexpectedly at a wedding, Juno plans to act all aloof. But the best laid plans often go awry! Suddenly she’s front page news and the only place to hide out is Mac’s LA pad. 
What’s the worst that could happen?"


The uber-fabulous Heidi Rice contacted me asking if I would like to review this, her latest release. Naturally I said yes! And Heidi, as always, many thanks.

This is actually a newly packaged re-issue of two of Heidi's previous books - 'Hot-Shot Tycoon, Indecent Proposal' & 'Public Affair, Secretly Expecting' AKA 'Walk of Fame'. I had previously read both of these titles but, believe me, it was no hardship to re-read them! Public Affair, Secretly Expecting was actually the first book of Heidi's I read, I loved it so much that I went on to read all of her new and old books!

I think M&B have done a nice job of the new packaging and branding of this book, it looks lovely. On a side note, I am really looking forward to the Mills & Boon RIVA relaunch, can't wait to see what the new covers are like and what the new injection of authors will come up with!

The two stories are linked, with the heroines Daisy and Juno being best friends and the sexy Irish heroes, Connor and Mac being estranged and rather tortured brothers.

Both stories start with a bang, in the way only Heidi Rice can do... Daisy gets caught sneaking in to Connor's back garden, sans bra, by the surly and ill Connor and she nurses him through his fever resulting in a very passionate encounter. Whereas Juno surprises and confronts Hollywood heartthrob Mac at the airport, and in an effort to stop her drawing unwanted attention to him, Mac does the only thing he can think of and kisses her. From there, we are taken on two very compelling journeys, with plenty of ups and downs, and chock full of charm.

All four of the characters have painful pasts that influence the way they are in the present, and the author weaves this in with aplomb and manages to create two very emotional stories while still keeping her fun and flirty voice evident throughout.

Both stories stand alone as captivating and witty books, but as a pair they sparkle.

Not to be missed, especially if your are new to Heidi Rice's work.

Xx

Book Review... The Summer of Living Dangerously - Julie Cohen

The Summer of Living Dangerously - Julie Cohen
Headline Review, 2012
ISBN: 9780755350650












My rating

From the back cover:

"Alice Woodstock has been running away. 
Well, not literally. She spends most of her time glued to her desk, writing about grommets and model aeroplanes. No, Alice is avoiding the real world because there’s something—someone—in her past that she’s desperate to forget. So when she’s commissioned to write about life in stately home Eversley Hall, she jumps at the chance to escape into Regency England, even if it does mean swapping her comfy T-shirt for an itchy corset. Perhaps she’ll meet her own Mr Darcy… 
But when her past resurfaces in the shape of Leo Allingham, Alice is brought down to earth with a bump. Reckless, unpredictable Leo reminds Alice of the painful price of following her heart. And the new Alice doesn’t live dangerously. 
Or does she?"


I got this book on a recommendation and after reading Julie Cohen's 'Getting Away With It' I was champing at the bit to read this one. But I have to be honest and say that reading the blurb, I thought that I wouldn't like it going on the fact that the whole historical/regency/period drama thing is not my cup of tea.

How wrong I was. I simply loved this book, it's utterly brilliant!

Julie Cohen's heroine was so engaging, and beautifully portrayed, I couldn't stop reading needing to find out just what it was that was causing her so much pain (which, by the way, is heartbreaking). And, I loved that there were two contenders for the hero, it kept me guessing all the way through.

Not only is this a fun filled and charming book, it is also sad and emotional, you will be reduced to tears moments after laughing.

Julie Cohen does a fantastic job of weaving together the real and pretend lives, I was one hundred percent involved with the heroine's journey - both in her real, modern life and her pretend, historical story. The parallels between the two 'lives' of the heroine are subtly done, but work wonderfully.

Simply brilliant, it made this history-averse girl actually interested in life in a regency home! A must read.

Xx

Book Review... Getting Away With It - Julie Cohen

Getting Away With It - Julie Cohen
Headline Review, 2010
ISBN: 9780755350612













My rating

From the back cover:

"Liza Haven couldn’t wait to escape the small village where she grew up with her perfect identical twin sister, Lee. Her life in LA as a stunt woman is reckless, fast and free – and that’s just the way she likes it. But when a near-fatal mistake drives her home, she finds Lee gone and everyone in the village mistaking her for her twin sister. Liza has to deal with her ailing mother, the family ice cream business, and Lee’s dangerously attractive boyfriend. Liza’s always been the bad twin, but as she struggles to keep up the masquerade and puzzle out where her sister has gone, she realises it’s not so simple. She’s spent her whole life getting away with it – is it finally time to face up to who she really is and where she really belongs?"

I have read a few of Julie Cohen's Mills & Boon books in the past, but not any of her more mainstream stuff.  I was recommended to read her latest 'The Summer of Living Dangerously' and I saw this one at the same time so I thought I would give it a go.

Let me tell you... This will definitely not be my last of hers, I loved it!

I was really intrigued by how the author would make the whole 'twin-switch' idea work, it had potential to be very cliché ridden, but it wasn't at all. Instead this was a slick, fun, and emotional read.

What I particularly liked about this book is that the heroine isn't very loveable, or in fact likeable, especially at the beginning. She is ballsy, prickly and brittle, but also vulnerable and she has rare moments of showing that she does care.

Julie Cohen doesn't hold anything back; her characters behave badly, the fishbowl-ness that is village life is captured perfectly, and the difficulties of caring for a relative are also explored all in glorious and honest detail that is woven into a compelling story.

A wonderful read from start to finish.

Xx

Book Review... The Darkest of Secrets - Kate Hewitt

The Darkest of Secrets - Kate Hewitt
Mills & Boon Modern
Harlequin UK, 2012
ISBN: 9780263890723












My rating

From the back cover:

"The high price of buried secrets
Khalis Tannous has spent years ruthlessly eradicating every hint of corruption and scandal from his life – even shunning his own family.When Grace Turner arrives at Khalis’s private Mediterranean island to view his family’s stolen collection of priceless art, even he isn’t blind to her beauty. 
Yet he recognises the shadows in her eyes – she too has her secrets. Grace can foresee the cost of giving in to temptation, but is helpless to resist Khalis’s slow, determined seduction. But will she risk everything she has for a night in his bed?"


I almost didn't read this book... but I am so glad I did as this book is simply brilliant.

The hero has to be one of the best heroes I have read in a very long time! He is so open and loving towards the heroine, and not at all cruel and domineering. I can't tell you how great it is to read a hero who is not just interested in some casual brief fling with the heroine (or any other woman that croses his path!).

This is certainly a risky book, some readers probably won't like the heroines past actions, but I applaud Kate Hewitt for doing something different. I liked that she didn't resort to having her heroine make excuses for her behaviour, instead she owned up to her faults and accepted the consequences.

I tire of reading about lily-white heroines, we're none of us perfect, so for me this book was very refreshing.

This book is packed full of angst and emotion, centred around a beautiful and engaging love story that almost had me in tears, of both joy and sadness.

The writing is flawless and evocative, I was especially drawn to the depth to which the author describes the heroine relating to the myth of 'Leda and the Swan'. This book sucks you in wholly and doesn't rush towards and unnecessarily 'perfect' ending.

I loved it.

Xx

365 books in 365 days Challenge ... Book #355

Playing the Greek's Game - Sharon Kendrick
Mills & Boon Modern
Harlequin UK, 2012
ISBN: 9780263890686











My rating

From the back cover:

"In trouble with the boss...

Few dare to defy global hotel magnate Zac Constantinides - he's the boss and everyone knows it! So when his London interior designer turns out to have dug her gold-digging claws into his brother; Zac's solution is to transfer her... to New York!

Emma may have more skeletons in her closet than most, but Zac's brother isn't one of them. The temptation to take her impossibly arrogant boss down a peg or three is too much to resist! So whilst she's with him in New York she'll play the role he's given her - and be every bit as bad as he thinks she is..."

This is Sharon Kendrick's latest. The guy on this cover kinda scares me... his eyes follow you around and he also slightly reminds me of Pete Campbell from MadMen!  

The hero Zak is under the impression that the heroine Emma and his brother are in a relationship, he doesn't want his brother to be at the mercy of an uncrupulous woman and after looking into Emma's past he decides to take action. Emma is upset that not only had Zak dredged up her unhappy past as the widow of a rock star, but he is also accusing her of being a gold digger. Zak transfers Emma to New York with the hope of removing her from his brother's temptation and finds himself inexplicably drawn the free-spirited woman she appears to be. But even as the mutual desire between them increases, he holds himself away thinking that she is forbidden to him. When Emma finally tells him he was wrong about her and his brother's relationship, there is no stopping them from finally giving in to the passion . Only the passion quickly becomes much deeper and while Emma can't help but hope for a future, Zak knows he has to end it. 

What a scorcher of a book! I really loved this from start to finish. Everything about this book has a very twenty-first century edge to it and this makes the whole story feel very fresh. It's a little bit different but still contains all those traditional Modern/Presents elements you would want. The dialogue between the hero and heroine is snappy and drenched with chemistry, it made this book sparkle. 

As expected from Sharon Kendrick, the storytelling is wonderful and hooks you straight in. I loved the contrast between the traditional hero and the free-spirited heroine - it really works. 

Plenty of unpredictability, sizzling chemistry, and brilliant characters. Oh, plus with a vegetarian heroine this book is immediately in my good books (pun intended).

One teeny moan - and this doesn't affect the overall enjoyment of the story - there are a few editing/spelling/typo mistakes in the book, I didn't make a note of all of them as I am not that pedantic but two that stick in my mind are; Saks Fifth Avenue is spelt as "Sacs" (my dirty mind gives that a totally different meaning!) and the hero's name is spelt as "Zac" on the back cover blurb but it is actually "Zak". There are a few others but nothing major, as you can see, but could have been easily rectified. 

Recommended. 

Xx

365 books in 365 days Challenge ... Book #322

The Good, the Bad, and the Wild - Heidi Rice
Mills & Boon RIVA
Harlequin UK, 2012
ISBN: 9780263892963











My rating

From the back cover:

"One of the Good Guys? 
Nick Delisantro is famous – for scripts, for his looks, and above all for his ruthless bad-boy charm. Eva, on the other hand, has spent her life being an overlooked wallflower! Now she’s got to meet with Mr Tall, Dark and Brooding or her only chance of promotion is over… 
Nick can’t stop staring at the mysterious blushing girl who’s dressed like a vixen but frozen under his gaze like a rabbit in the headlights… He can’t wait to see what’s behind the innocent front! But Nick’s about to get far more than he’d bargained for – not only does Eva have the key to his secret past, but there’s nothing more dangerously addictive than a good girl going wild…"


The fabulous Heidi Rice kindly sent me a copy of this book - thank you so much, Heidi! I love the title of this book, and couldn't wait to read it...

The heroine Eva is nervously waiting for the hero Nick to arrive so she will finally be able to talk to him. Eva works for an ancestry research company, and has tracked down Nick as the grandson of a very important client. But as soon as Nick arrives and they see each other, all of Eva's planned introduction flies out of her head. Nick is more than a little intrigued by Eva, and they end up spending a very passionate night together. However, Nick throws her out the next morning after discovering the real reason she approached him. Eva is humiliated, heartbroken, and fired over her actions with Nick but a couple of weeks later learns that he has agreed to travel to Italy to meet his grandfather, providing she goes with him. Nick has no interest in actually getting to know his grandfather, or so he tries to tell himself, but he does want Eva, badly. Once in Italy though, Nick finds he is not so sure of himself and Eva notices, which quickly turns their red hot fling into much more.

I was really blown away by this book, it is amazing. There are so many different layers in this book that create such a maelstrom of moods. The hero and heroine fit together like, erm, well I can't think of a good analogy but you get the idea! For me this felt different from Heidi Rice's last couple of books, but it is just as brilliantly executed. There is less dialogue but this is replaced by brooding and angst that really works within the story. I felt the hero and heroine went on a journey - both individually and together - and that, for me, makes this such a riveting read.

This book sparkles with passion, emotion, and discovery. It has become my favourite of all Heidi's [fabulous] books!

A must-read!

Xx

365 books in 365 days Challenge ... book #216

Once a Ferrara Wife... - Sarah Morgan
Mills & Boon Modern
Harlequin UK, 2011
ISBN: 9780263887112





My rating




From the back cover:

"For better...or for bedding?
Laurel Ferrara wouldn’t know a happy ending if she fell over it – of course her whirlwind wedding was always going to end in disaster. But it wasn’t as simple as just walking away. From the moment she is summoned back to Sicily the shivers of unease set in...
The command comes from legendary billionaire Cristiano Ferrara, the husband she can’t forget – but it might as well have come from the devil himself. The outrageously gorgeous Cristiano’s power is a potent reminder of this Sicilian dynasty’s unbreakable rule: once a Ferrara wife, always a Ferrara wife..."


The wonderful Sarah Morgan sent me a copy of this book, which is so very kind. Thank you, Sarah!

The heroine Laurel arrives in Sicily a bag of nerves, to attend her best friend's wedding. She hasn't been back since she walked out on her marriage to Cristiano, the hero. Cristiano has never forgiven Laurel for giving up on them, and when they meet again he doesn't give her an inch. Laurel was deeply hurt by Cristiano's actions, or lack of, when she went through a very difficult experience. Laura grew up in care and having to look after herself, never wanting to be emotionally vulnerable to others. She had begun to trust Cristiano so she was very upset, but not really surprised, when he let her down. Cristiano struggles with his feelings when he and Laurel spend time together again, he both hates her for walking out without talking to him, and desires her so much he can't bear to let her go again. Cristiano's one wish is for Laurel to truly open up to him, but it never happens as Laurel is so used to bottling everything in. But after a fiery argument leads to them giving in to the passion between them, Laurel tells Cristian the truth. He is devastated but also determined to make Laurel love him again.

Oh, what can I say about this book... it really, really blew me away. Seriously. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Not only is this such a superbly written book with a wonderful love story between the hero and heroine, but Sarah Morgan has also taken so many romance novel conventions and flipped them on their heads. For once we have a hero who actually says 'I love you' before the closing pages and without it being forced out of him... Thank you, Sarah, thank you! Also, it is very refreshing to read about a heroine whom is the more emotionally stilted one in the relationship. Laurel's reasons for being like this and her background are heartbreaking, well thought out and not at all trivial. There is a scene about halfway through the book (the airport scene) that could easily have been the perfect romantic ending but no, Sarah had more and it is spectacular.
This book has so much passion, tension, heartbreak, and tenderness all wrapped up in one of the best stories I have read in a long time.

Simply perfect!


I really hope you have enjoyed reading this review, I have a spare copy of this book and since I know your all dying to read it now I'm giving you the chance to win it.
All you have to do is comment on this post, you can talk about anything you like, or tweet me (@RLAeverydaysame) about it by the end of next Friday 18th Novemeber 2011, and I'll pick someone's name out of a hat and announce it on here. Good Luck!

Oh, and I'm happy to post the book to anywhere in the world ;-)!

Xx