Cherry Red by Darlene Fredette

September 23, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Cherry Red by Darlene Fredette
One Scoop or Two series
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

This summer, ice cream entrepreneur Carly Redd’s only focus is expanding her business—until she’s coerced into attending her ex’s engagement party. Showing up without a date is unthinkable. She reluctantly agrees to be escorted by her brother’s co-worker, although doing so breaks her rule of not dating firefighters.

The daughter of the town’s fire chief should wear a Do Not Touch sign, but firefighter Noah Harding’s interest blazed the moment he saw Carly. Agreeing to be her fake boyfriend is a no-brainer, but convincing Carly to trust him with her heart is harder than extinguishing a fire.

Overstepping the platonic-only rule is as dangerous as fire and ice swirling into a tempting combustion.

Romance isn’t strictly necessary for a good life, but it can certainly make everything sweeter!

Carly was a well-rounded and fascinating protagonist. I was thrilled by the fact that she’d created such a fulfilling life for herself. She was a content, happy human being long before her love interest showed up which is always something I love seeing in romance novels. There’s nothing like meeting a main character who already has plenty going on for herself and knows exactly what she wants.

I did notice a few inconsistencies in Carly and Noah’s communication skills. They did a much better job sharing their thoughts and expressing their needs in the beginning than they did later on in the storyline. As much as I enjoyed the storyline in general, I was a little puzzled by why the communication between them weakened at such a pivotal part of the plot. It seemed like something they could have sorted out much earlier. With that being said, this was a minor criticism of something I’d otherwise heartily recommend.

The romance was handled beautifully. I appreciated the fact that Carly and Noah were given so much time to get to know each other before anything romantic happened between them. That was an excellent choice due to their personalities and backstories that showed why both of them needed to move slowly with any new love interest. It also gave this reader ample opportunity to imagine what it might be like when they crossed the line between a platonic relationship and a romantic one.

This is part of the One Scoop or Two series. It can be read as a standalone work.

Cherry Red was a satisfying and enjoyable read.

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The Reluctant Earl by Joan Wolf

September 21, 2021 By Leave a Comment


The Reluctant Earl by Joan Wolf
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

The Reluctant Earl is the story of Claire and Simon, who desperately want to get married, despite all the obstacles that stand in their way. Their biggest hurdle is the fact that Simon is the son and heir of the Earl of Welbourne, while Claire is the daughter of the earl’s Irish horse trainer. The youngsters are keenly aware that their parents would violently oppose such an unequal union—which is precisely why they never confide in those parents.

Then there is Simon’s father, who, for reasons Simon has never understood, clearly hates his son. Then there is the mystery of Simon’s mother’s death, and the fact that he has never met a single member of her family. Then a miracle happens—Simon learns about a trust fund left to him in his mother’s marriage settlement.

Once the money is in his pocket, Simon and Claire decide to elope…and the simmering pot that is Welbourne Abbey and its inhabitants explodes.

The Reluctant Earl’s synopsis sparked my interest and the prologue further engaged me to want to read more. I enjoyed the writing style with the time jumps such as two hours later, one year later, and the epilogue, ten years later. Talk about keeping the pace flowing at a steady momentum! It was splendid having a plot with twists and turns mixed with a well-developed cast of characters that were mostly relatable. This was the perfect recipe for an entertaining romance book with all the plot threads tied nicely into a pretty bow.

The romance between Simon, the hero, and Claire, the heroine, was young and sweet. I was reminded of the movie “Pretty in Pink”. I was cheering them on the entire time, hoping they’d reach their happy ever after. Simon’s dad and his wife were stinks. They deserved what came their way. On the other hand, Claire’s parents were the ideal parents. I don’t want to give any spoilers but I was happy when Simon’s uncle, Richard Jarvis, came on the scene.

If you are looking for a fun, sweet historical romance then this one fits the bill. Happy reading!

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Taming the Hot Shot Doc by Susan Carlisle

September 15, 2021 By 1 Comment


Taming the Hot Shot Doc by Susan Carlisle
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

He’s lost everything…
Dare he risk his heart?
When renowned Chicago surgeon Matt Chapman agreed to testify against a notorious crime family, he lost his family, his fiancée and his career. Now he hopes to start again in an idyllic Mississippi town. But his efforts to keep to himself are threatened by his new boss, Dr. Shay Lunsford, who seems just as alone as he is. Dare Matt get closer to Shay and risk his heart again?

He’s a fish out of water, but he’s determined to swim.
I have to admit right off that I love the works of Susan Carlisle. I’ve enjoyed every one of her books and this one is no different. No, I take that back. This one is a little different because I loved Matt. I’m pretty sure he’s my new book boyfriend.

This story moves along at a great clip and the romance is fantastic. I felt like I was right there with the characters and honestly, I couldn’t put this book down.

I liked Shay and Matt together. They have chemistry even when they disagree. I mentioned, too, that Matt was my new book boyfriend. He’s sweet, kind and a little lost. He’s relatable. I liked seeing him grow and change through the story.

If you’re looking for a solid romance that satisfies, then this is the one for you. Packed with heart and humanity, this is a great read and you should nab a copy today.

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The Show Girl by Nicola Harrison

September 13, 2021 By Leave a Comment


The Show Girl by Nicola Harrison
Publisher: St Martin’s Press
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Nicola Harrison’s The Show Girl gives a glimpse of the glamorous world of the Ziegfeld Follies, through the eyes of a young midwestern woman who comes to New York City to find her destiny as a Ziegfeld Follies star.

It’s 1927 when Olive McCormick moves from Minneapolis to New York City determined to become a star in the Ziegfeld Follies. Extremely talented as a singer and dancer, it takes every bit of perseverance to finally make it on stage. And once she does, all the glamour and excitement is everything she imagined and more—even worth all the sacrifices she has had to make along the way.

Then she meets Archie Carmichael. Handsome, wealthy—the only man she’s ever met who seems to accept her modern ways—her independent nature and passion for success. But once she accepts his proposal of marriage he starts to change his tune, and Olive must decide if she is willing to reveal a devastating secret and sacrifice the life she loves for the man she loves.

She knows what she wants and she’s not afraid to get it–within reason.

Olive is a complicated girl and she’s living in a fantastical time. Nicola Harrison has written an interesting story. I like tales from the 1920s and I knew I had to snap this one up when I saw it. The writing flowed well and I was swept up in the excitement of the time. There were moments when I really did feel like I was there at the theater with her and could see the world around Olive. I had to keep reading to find out what would happen next. It kept me in my seat needing to know about Olive.

I have to admit there were times when I didn’t like Olive. I didn’t like her because of her naivete and some of her choices. That said, there were times she didn’t seem to like herself. That made her more relatable. I wanted to see her succeed and get her dreams.

This story moved along at a great clip and while there were times it wasn’t so much fun–good grief they drank a lot–I liked the struggle within Olive to be the good girl while also following her dreams.

If you’re looking for a fun story that has some heavy spots and will keep you entertained, then this is a great step into the 1920s story. Pick it up!

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The Casanova by T L Swan

September 10, 2021 By Leave a Comment


* The Casanova by T L Swan
Publisher: Montlake
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Larkspur

My favorite hobby is infuriating Elliot Miles. Just the sight of my boss’s handsome face triggers my sarcasm. God knows how he earns his Casanova reputation—if a million women want him with his personality, what the heck am I doing wrong?

Disgusted with my love life, I join a dating app under a fake name. I start chatting to a man named Edgar. He’s not my type and lives on the other side of the world, but we hit off a friendship, laugh and confide in each other.

But lately things are getting weird at work. Elliot’s being…attentive. His eyes linger a little longer than they should, and there’s a heat behind them that I haven’t felt before. And then, in the shock of all shocks, he tells me that my vulnerability is appealing. But when was I vulnerable?

Horror dawns…Has my boss been reading my emails to Edgar?

Damn it, why did I use my work email?

Oh no, does he know what I really think of him? I’d rather die than ever admit it.

Or, even worse: is it possible that the man I loathe in real life is the man I’m falling for online?

At first, Elliott and Kathryn love to hate each other. Elliott and Kathryn work together and there is a lot of animosity flowing between them but over time, their hatred turns into sizzling hot chemistry.

Elliott Miles and his brothers are rich and successful and own Miles Media, the company Kathryn works for as head of the IT department.

I easily connected with Elliott and Kathryn and I liked both of them, but I loved them together. They are layered characters and each of them is carrying baggage from their pasts. Together they have explosive chemistry and when they finally decide to give into their desires, they burn up the sheets. I was fanning myself with all the heat these two created when they were together. I enjoyed all of the scorching looks Elliott and Kathryn shared when they thought no one was looking.

This captivating story takes place in London and it has intricate plot weaving and perfect pacing. The characters and the story drew me in and I quickly turned the pages because I needed to know what would happen next. The ending has a twist I was not expecting and I love it when I think I have the plot figured out and I am surprised.

Elliott isn’t perfect and he can be grouchy and controlling but he has a soft romantic side too and once he falls in love, he is all in. Kathryn has never met anyone like Elliott. He scares her and enthralled her and she is hesitant to give him her heart. It is entertaining as these two fall in love and make mistakes and the wrong assumptions about each other. There is also an interesting cast of secondary characters added to the mix. The beginning of this story is a little slow but don’t let that stop you from reading this gem. This beautiful and romantic story held me spellbound.

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Lover’s Leap by Kimberly Keyes

September 9, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Lover’s Leap by Kimberly Keyes
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Hibiscus

After finding her fiancé in bed with another woman, Candace, a twenty-something, up-and-coming romance novelist with a deadline, takes off for a friend’s vacation home in Tahoe. The good news? She’ll share the place with fellow house guest, Logan, her best friend Eric’s latest lover. Except…Logan, the nearly-irresistible-to-women, burned out photographer, isn’t Eric’s lover. Not now, not ever. He’s hiding out licking personal wounds, and before he’s allowed anywhere near Candace, he’s sworn off her. No problem. Except…

There’s something about Candace. She’s not simply beautiful and enticingly off-limits. It’s in the way she doesn’t flirt with him. In the way she treats him like he isn’t a shallow pleasure-seeker. In the way, somehow, she brings peace to his world-weary soul.

Too bad she thinks he’s gay. But even if he can clear that hurdle, can he really entrust Candace’s heart to his own haphazard keeping?

It is usually a book’s blurb that attracts me to it. In this case, it was how the main characters were described. Candace is an author, which intrigued me. As for Logan, the blurb mentions that he is a photographer. I would like to be a photographer, so that grabbed my attention as well.

Logan’s chivalrous side, and love, began to show when Candace started getting hate mail. He was such a wonderful man, and that type of behavior always adds to the my rating. The story had some neat twists to their slowly coming together.  I completely enjoyed their interactions. This story, through the talent of author Kimberly Keyes, made me want to take more leaps of faith.

The writing, the plot, the characters — all of that goodness came together to make a book I completely enjoyed.

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A Double Deception by Joan Wolf

September 6, 2021 By Leave a Comment


A Double Deception by Joan Wolf
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

ONE BETRAYAL SHOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH

Enchantingly lovely Laura Dalwood was little more than a girl when she was given in marriage to a man whose glittering wealth concealed a dark secret revealed to her only on her wedding night.

Now her husband’s death had freed her from that odious union—and Laura vowed never to make so grievous an error again.

But how could she reject the handsome and brilliant Mark Cheney, Earl of Dartmouth, when his proposal was one that no young woman of sense or sensibility could rightly decline?

And what could she do when, as his bride, he carried her over the threshold to allow her to discover just how much she could love a man—and then, to her distress, just how much she could fear him…

The synopsis for A Double Deception was a great advertisement that piqued my interest enough to want to pick up and read this story.

My attention was absorbed while reading this sweet romance between the hero, Mark, and the heroine, Laura. I found it easy to connect with them through their developing relationship as they discovered how to trust and love one another despite all the rumors and secrets.

Mark was serious, intelligent and, I felt, mysterious. Laura was independent, strong and compassionate. Together they made a perfect family. There was a mild suspense plot thread woven throughout the story that kept me riveted to my seat and turning those pages. I was filled with worry over Laura’s safety and the impact of this plot conflict on their relationship.

I have to be honest and confess that the first two chapters felt like information overload. I had to read the first two chapters twice to process the family history of the cast of characters that were introduced by Lady Maria. Lady Maria is actually Laura’s godmother and Mark’s aunt. It helped me to draw a family tree to visually see and help me to remember who was who. It was definitely worth persevering through the beginning of the book because when Mark and Laura did finally meet in chapter five it was if I had already knew them.

In conclusion, this was a very good book. My heartstrings were pulled, my funny bone was tickled, and my romance meter was raised. I’d definitely recommend picking this book up.

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Night Class by Hannah Crow

September 3, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Night Class by Hannah Crow
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Paranormal
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

All Rachel wants is to pass Professor Thane’s class and keep her scholarship. When the handsome head of the History Department calls her to his office long after everyone else has gone home, she fears the worst, but what Thane has in store is a surprise beyond her wildest fantasies and darkest nightmares.

Thane knows his history because he’s lived through most of it. He’s an ancient vampire, an immortal blood drinker whose supernatural allure has drawn Rachel like a moth to the flame. But Thane sees a ghost of his own distant past in Rachel, and soon he reveals his attraction for her.

With her life – and perhaps her soul – in the balance, will Rachel surrender to his unholy lusts?

She needs to pass and he needs her…will things work out?

This is a short story, but it’s got hot moments. He’s a vampire, she’s a student and they’re playing with fire. I liked the premise of this story, teacher-student relations. It’s hot.

This is a short story, though, so it’s a tad short on details and a little thin on story. Rachel goes to the professor because she’s not doing so hot and he’s happy she’s there because she’s hot. For sheer erotic reading, it’s got the heat.

That said, there are some quirks. It’s short, so there isn’t much to the story. It’s also a bit muddled. The story feels like it’s being told from Rachel’s point of view, but then seems to slip into omniscient pov. It jarred me, but might be fine for other readers. This story also straddles between erotic and hot. It would be fine if the author went right for hot or right for erotica, but the straddling might leave some readers wanting more.

If you’re interested in a hot read that will singe the screen for a half an hour’s worth of reading, then this is the one for you.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Child of the Sea by Faith Talbot

September 2, 2021 By 1 Comment


Child of the Sea by Faith Talbot
Mara’s Men, book 3
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Mara has a surprise for her men — she’s pregnant! But Aaron doesn’t seem as happy as he should be. In fact, he fears the baby’s life may be in danger depending on which of them is the father: Aaron, who was born to the ocean, or Chris, who was born half human.

Together, they visit the underwater city where Aaron’s people live to find out if his fears might be valid. With few answers, they await the arrival of their new family member, hoping the bond of their love will keep the baby safe as it enters a world above the sea.

Welcome back to the world of magic and hot fun! It’s about to get complicated.

I like this series and was thrilled to see there’s a third. This time, the triad will get a fourth, but it’s not in a romantic sense. They’re having a baby!

I zipped right through this story in no time because the writing was so crisp. This a fun series and there were twists I never saw coming. Mara has decided these men are hers and baby will make four.

I liked seeing the other beings of the sea in this story and the complications for these people. It made them more real to me.

If you’re looking for a quick read that’s satisfying, then this is the book for you.

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Mara’s Men by Faith Talbot

September 1, 2021 By 1 Comment


Mara’s Men by Faith Talbot
Mara’s Men, Book 2
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, LGBTQ, Erotic Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

In Cancun, Mara met Chris and Aaron, two mysterious men who spend most of their time under the ocean. They showed her a world she never could have imagined — and she chose to return to her normal life.

Now, months later, Mara returns to the Mexican beaches hoping to find what she left behind. But even if she does reunite with the two men who changed her world, how can she stay with them in their mysterious world under the sea?

This new normal is so hot and fun…under the sea!

I like this series as it’s unique. Mara has her men and she’s ready to come back to them. Is she ready to stay? Time will tell. The writing is crisp and I read this in one sitting. I needed to know more and was glad to see there’s another in the series. This doesn’t have to be read in order, but it helps. If one comes into the series in the middle, though, it’s not bad. I had no trouble keeping things straight.

This is a fun story and good for an afternoon read. If you like beings of the sea and romance, then pick this up!

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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