365 books in 365 days Challenge ... Book #310

The Prodigal Wife - Susan Fox
Mills & Boon Tender Romance
In 'Reclaiming His Wife' Mills & Boon By Request
Harlequin Mills & Boon, 2009
ISBN: 9780263871296


My rating

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

The heroine Lainey has been married to the hero Gabe for nearly five years, but in those five years she has refused to see or have anything to do with him. Lainey had left him on their wedding day after her mother told her that Gabe married her purely for her late father's ranch. But after her mother's recent death, Lainey had discovered evidence that her mother had been lying to her all these years. When Gabe sees Lainey arrive at his home, he knows she has come for a divorce. And she had, but she also wants to apologise to Gabe for her appalling behaviour. Gabe is initially distrustful of Lainey's motivations, and he also doesn't want a divorce. He asks her to stay, to both keep an eye on her and also in the hope that they can become a family. Lainey is surprised that Gabe wants to be with her after all she has done, but knows in her heart that Gabe is a good man. A man that she gradually begins to fall in love with.

I did not expect to like this, but I really did. If I had to pick one word to describe this book, it would be "beautiful"! The hero and heroine's relationship is built up so gradually, and honestly, that it feels totally natural and is very heart warming to read. There isn't a big 'black moment' in this story, and that is a pleasant surprise. The whole story flows brilliantly. The hero is, sigh, so nice - there is nothing cruel of manipulating about him. Both character's are mature about learning from their mistakes.

I was absorbed in this from start to finish, it is a very satisfying read.

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 #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 #9

A Whirlwind Engagement - Jessica Hart

Mills and Boon Tender Romance

Single title-

Harlequin Mills and Boon, 2003

ISBN: 9780236833966

Reprint-

Convenient Engagements By Request

Harlequin Mills and Boon, 2011

ISBN: 9780263884319

My rating

From the back cover:

"Josh and Bella have been friends for years, but suddenly Bella is starting to see 'her Josh' in a very different light. She's falling in love! It's confusing enough but, worse, Josh has just asked her to be his pretend fiancée.

Josh needs a stand-in fiancée to clinch a business deal. Bella finally agrees to play the part but after they spend a week on an exotic island pretending to be head over heels in love, the tension becomes almost unbearable!

Especially when Josh starts to wonder if his best friend is pretending at all."

OK, so this is the third and final book in the 'City brides' mini-series by Jessica Hart, and once again a really enjoyable book! Having only read one Jessica Hart book previous to this mini-series, I can now honestly say that I'm a fan! This is great end to the saga!

So, the story is set around Bella and Josh, who consider themselves best friends, they have known each other over 10 years and never once had any romantic feelings towards one another. The story begins with Bella feeling lonely and emotional, not only have her two best (girl) friends recently got married leaving her alone in the house once they all once shared, she has also realised that her latest relationship is going nowhere, and Josh is in a relationship with a woman Bella can't stand! As the story progresses, Josh gets engaged to his current girlfriend, just as Bella realises that she is in love with Josh. Josh doesn't really love his new fiancée, he just seems to have been swept along with everything. After his fiancée leaves him for her previous boyfriend he and Bella decide to pretend to be engaged for a business trip to the Seychelles he needs to take. Once there, Josh realises that he is also in love with Bella (and always has been) but neither of them have enough courage to admit this to one another!

This book was a lot more emotional than the previous two in the series, don't get me wrong, Bella is once again a fantastic female character of Jessica Hart's, but this is a much deeper romance. The moments where Bella is heartbroken over Josh's engagement is really emotional, also the misunderstandings between each other also add to both the tension and the romance. I really liked that the story focuses on two people who have been so close for so long realising that they are meant to be, in my opinion one of the most important parts of a relationship is a very strong friendship! You would think that it would be frustrating waiting for the characters to come to their senses but it was actually very sweet, and once again Jessica Hart has written two very good characters!

These books can be read as stand alone novels, but I definitely recommend reading all three, grab the By Request book (details above) to have them all together!

Xx

365 books in 365 days Challenge ... book #8

The Blind-Date Proposal - Jessica Hart

Mills and Boon Tender Romance

Single title -

Harlequin Mills and Boon, 2003

ISBN: 9780263833843

Reprint

Convenient Engagements By Request

Harlequin Mills and Boon, 2011

ISBN: 9780263884319

My rating

From the back cover:

"Kate Savage has landed herself with the boss from hell - he may be gorgeous, in a brooding sort of way, but he's on her case 24-7! Kate's friends try cheering her up by arranging for her to go on a blind date with an eligible widower. Only when Kate arrives for her date she's horrified to discover that her mystery man is Finn McBride - her boss!

Finn has a very interesting proposition for Kate - not only does he need a live-in nanny, he also wants her to pretend to be his fiancée. Kate's ready to take on a challenge - but she hadn't bargained on a blind-date proposal!"

This is the second book in the 'City brides' mini-series, I read this directly after reading the first, and once again another fab book from Jessica Hart. This was a great book.

The story is this: Kate, the female character, is temping for a boss she just can't get on with, and the feelings mutual. She's also a little fragile at the moment after recently being dumped and fired on the same day! Kate is a nice person, who is always rescuing stray animals, and has a desire to be a 'city girl' but deep down longs for a simple life domesticity and children, she's also a little eccentric! Finn, the male character, is a widower with a daughter, he is very serious and organised and clashes with Kate all the time. They are set up on a blind date by mutual friends, to hilarious consequences, after which their relationship begins to develop to the point of Finn asking Kate to move in and pretend to be his fiancée in order to keep his meddling sister off his back.

Remember when I mentioned that the blind date had hilarious consequences, well it does! Both of them pretend they haven't met before, the awkwardness combined with the digs they keep taking at each other is so funny that I was both cringing and giggling! I loved that the character of Kate was written so honestly, she's not perfect i.e. she doesn't really have any high-flying career ambitions, she would love to just be a housewife but isn't the tidiest of people (something I relate to very much, just ask my husband!!), she's also not the thinnest or most beautiful of women! I can't enthuse enough how refreshing it was to have a character that is simply 'normal'! Once again the banter and wit of Jessica Hart's characters is fantastic! The only thing I found disappointing about this book (and its a very tiny thing) is that its written entirely from Kate's point of view, I would have liked to have been able to have an insight into Finn's thoughts/feelings!

Definitely a great read!

Xx

365 books in 365 days Challenge ... book #7

Fiancé Wanted Fast! - Jessica Hart

Mills and Boon Tender Romance

Single title-

Harlequin Mills and Boon, 2003

ISBN: 9780263833720

Reprint -

Convenient Engements By Request

Harlequin Mills and Boon, 201
ISBN: 9780263884319

My Rating

From the back cover:

"Husband in a hurry...

Phoebe is stuck: she has to go to her ex-fiancé's wedding, put on a brave face and pretend her life is just perfect. So her best friends devise a plan to help her out: she can hire their gorgeous new flat-mate Gib to pose as her doting new fiancé! It sounds like a perfect plan - except Gib's not all he seems... He's actually in disguise, to prove that he can be friends with a woman without getting involved!

Easy, Gib thought - but that was before he met Phoebe..."

This is the first book in the 'City Brides' mini-series by Jessica Hart (if you pick up the By Request version, as I did, then this will have all three of them together). I have only read one previous Jessica Hart book ('Juggling Briefcase & Baby' in the RIVA line) and was impressed with her writing style, so I was excited to start reading this! It's definately worth it!

The female character, Phoebe, is still heartbroken after her long term fiancé left her for someone else, said former fiancé is now getting married and Pheobe is expected to go to the wedding. To make matters worse, her and her ex's families are very close and it will be very akward for all involved. Her enthusiastic friends convince her to ask their new (male) flatmate to pose as her new boyfriend and go with her to the wedding. The new flatmate, Gib, is staying with the girls after his friend challenged him to just be friends with women. Gib hides both this and his actual career from the girls but as time progresses both he and Phoebe start to develop feelings for one another.

I really loved this book, and I thought the characters were fantastic. Jessica Hart has the ability to write fantastic 'bridget jones-esq' female characters, hopeless romantics and with the habit of finding themselves in odd situations, they also have this fantastic innate British quality about them! This book has some genuine funny moments and witty banter! The chemistry between the two characters is great, I especially loved Phoebe's exasperation from Gib's habit of embellishing on the 'rules'! This is by no means a passionate romance, but rather a slow paced sweet development of their love, which left me with a smile!

Xx