The Boys by Ron Howard & Clint Howard

March 15, 2022 By Leave a Comment


The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family by Ron Howard & Clint Howard
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Historical, Non-Fiction, Memoir
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Happy Days, The Andy Griffith Show, Gentle Ben—these shows captivated millions of TV viewers in the ’60s and ’70s. Join award-winning filmmaker Ron Howard and audience-favorite actor Clint Howard as they frankly and fondly share their unusual family story of navigating and surviving life as sibling child actors.

“What was it like to grow up on TV?” Ron Howard has been asked this question throughout his adult life. in The Boys, he and his younger brother, Clint, examine their childhoods in detail for the first time. For Ron, playing Opie on The Andy Griffith Show and Richie Cunningham on Happy Days offered fame, joy, and opportunity—but also invited stress and bullying. For Clint, a fast start on such programs as Gentle Ben and Star Trek petered out in adolescence, with some tough consequences and lessons.

With the perspective of time and success—Ron as a filmmaker, producer, and Hollywood A-lister, Clint as a busy character actor—the Howard brothers delve deep into an upbringing that seemed normal to them yet was anything but. Their Midwestern parents, Rance and Jean, moved to California to pursue their own showbiz dreams. But it was their young sons who found steady employment as actors. Rance put aside his ego and ambition to become Ron and Clint’s teacher, sage, and moral compass. Jean became their loving protector—sometimes over-protector—from the snares and traps of Hollywood.

By turns confessional, nostalgic, heartwarming, and harrowing, THE BOYS is a dual narrative that lifts the lid on the Howard brothers’ closely held lives. It’s the journey of a tight four-person family unit that held fast in an unforgiving business and of two brothers who survived “child-actor syndrome” to become fulfilled adults.

Two brothers, one journey few can understand and a lifetime of memories.

I love to read biographies and autobiographies. When I saw this one about little Ronny Howard, I had to read it. I’m glad I did. There’s a whole lot more to Ron Howard than you might think. First, he’s not only a gifted filmmaker, but also a gifted writer. This was like reading a conversation between friends. Truly. His brother, Clint, writes half of this book and he’s more complicated than I ever thought.

Ron Howard is more than just Opie from the Andy Griffith show. I had no idea how hard worked to get ready for that part and how he had to work to BE Opie. I had no idea he had no concept of how to sign autographs while playing the role of Opie. He didn’t have the easiest life and it’s interesting to read about his transition from Opie to Ritchie Cunningham on Happy Days, then his move to directing. I liked how he’s so honest in his retelling of this era and his tendency to wish his father had his success, rather than having it for himself. It shows his humbleness.

Then there’s Clint. I knew this was his brother, but I didn’t know much about him. This book obviously changed that. He didn’t have quite the same experiences as Ron, even though he grew up in the same household. That’s not to say he wasn’t treated well. He was, but he had different experiences. There’s the unfortunate incidence with the buzzard during the filming of The Red Pony. If you’re upset by indignities to animals, then this might be the portion to skip. I never realized he had such drug problems or had become such a character actor. I have a new respect for Clint Howard.

All in all, this is a wonderful Hollywood autobiography and one that shouldn’t be missed. Recommended.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Forever Young by Hayley Mills

March 11, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Forever Young by Hayley Mills
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Historical, Non-Fiction, Memoir, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Iconic actress Hayley Mills shares personal memories from her storied childhood, growing up in a famous acting family and becoming a Disney child star, trying to grow up in a world that wanted her to stay forever young.

The daughter of acclaimed British actor Sir John Mills was still a preteen when she began her acting career and was quickly thrust into the spotlight. Under the wing of Walt Disney himself, Hayley Mills was transformed into one of the biggest child starlets of the 1960s through her iconic roles in Pollyanna, The Parent Trap, and many more. She became one of only twelve actors in history to be bestowed with the Academy Juvenile Award, presented at the Oscars by its first recipient, Shirley Temple, and went on to win a number of awards including a Golden Globe, multiple BAFTAs, and a Disney Legacy Award.

Now, in her charming and forthright memoir, she provides a unique window into when Hollywood was still ‘Tinseltown’ and the great Walt Disney was at his zenith, ruling over what was (at least in his own head) still a family business. This behind-the-scenes look at the drama of having a sky-rocketing career as a young teen in an esteemed acting family will offer both her childhood impressions of the wild and glamorous world she was swept into, and the wisdom and broader knowledge that time has given her. Hayley will delve intimately into her relationship with Walt Disney, as well as the emotional challenges of being bound to a wholesome, youthful public image as she grew into her later teen years, and how that impacted her and her choices–including marrying a producer over 30 years her senior when she was 20! With her regrets, her joys, her difficulties, and her triumphs, this is a compelling read for any fan of classic Disney films and an inside look at a piece of real Hollywood history.

You may not have heard the name Hayley Mills in a while, but you certainly will know her name after reading this.

I grew up with the films of Hayley Mills. I’d seen The Parent Trap what seems like a few hundred times and knew the songs by heart. I’d seen That Darn Cat a zillion times, too. But I never knew the person who played those iconic roles. Now I do.

Hayley Mills is somewhat stereotypical in that she got roles, got guidance from an older man and had an eating disorder. I can’t imagine being in Hollywood and being told at size 2 you’re still too fat. She also managed to balance the dating/marrying a much older man thing for quite a while, too. I had no idea she was even married, so this was news to me. I had no idea her mother wrote a movie or that her father was an actor. Honestly, I just knew her as the girl in That Darn Cat!

Yes, this book provides a peek behind the curtain. It also lets the reader see what Hayley Mills was thinking when she took on those roles. I liked her stories and bit of name dropping, too. She worked in the film industry and met famous people! Crazy.

If you want to know more about this actress and want an easy read–the writing flows quite well and is like reading a conversation between friends–then this might be the book for you. It was for me.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Lyrics by Paul McCartney

March 10, 2022 By Leave a Comment


The Lyrics by Paul McCartney
Publisher: Liveright
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Non-Fiction, Music
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

A work of unparalleled candor and splendorous beauty, The Lyrics celebrates the creative life and the musical genius of Paul McCartney through 154 of his most meaningful songs.
From his early Liverpool days, through the historic decade of The Beatles, to Wings and his long solo career, The Lyrics pairs the definitive texts of 154 Paul McCartney songs with first-person commentaries on his life and music. Spanning two alphabetically arranged volumes, these commentaries reveal how the songs came to be and the people who inspired them: his devoted parents, Mary and Jim; his songwriting partner, John Lennon; his “Golden Earth Girl,” Linda Eastman; his wife, Nancy McCartney; and even Queen Elizabeth, among many others. Here are the origins of “Let It Be,” “Lovely Rita,” “Yesterday,” and “Mull of Kintyre,” as well as McCartney’s literary influences, including Shakespeare, Lewis Carroll, and Alan Durband, his high-school English teacher.

With images from McCartney’s personal archives—handwritten texts, paintings, and photographs, hundreds previously unseen—The Lyrics, spanning sixty-four years, becomes the definitive literary and visual record of one of the greatest songwriters of all time.

The lyrics and then some…this book is truly packed.

I picked up this pair of books because I wanted to know more about the stories behind the songs of Paul McCartney. Now, I have to add the caveat that there are Lennon-McCartney songs as well, which is a nice bonus. Anything anyone wants to know about those songs, at least from Paul McCartney’s point of view is there. Stories, tales and even some tidbits. It’s quite nice because there’s no glazing over. He tells the stories. There are wonderful photographs as well and many illustrate the song through what he was doing at the time. I rather liked it. He has many of his own solo songs there as well. A few of the ones I would’ve liked to have known about were missing, but that’s okay. Can’t please everyone and there is enough here to please a lot!

This is a big set of books and will take some time to go through, but if you’re a Beatles fan, a McCartney fan or just want to know the stories behind some great songs, then this is the set of books for you.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths

March 10, 2022 By Leave a Comment


The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths
Publisher: Quercus (Hatchette UK company)
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

It’s been only a few months since archaeologist Ruth Galloway found herself entangled in a missing persons case, barely escaping with her life. But when construction workers demolishing a large old house in Norwich uncover the bones of a child beneath a doorway—minus its skull—Ruth is once again called upon to investigate. Is it a Roman-era ritual sacrifice, or is the killer closer at hand?

Ruth and Detective Harry Nelson would like to find out—and fast. When they realize the house was once a children’s home, they track down the Catholic priest who served as its operator. Father Hennessey reports that two children did go missing from the home forty years before—a boy and a girl. They were never found. When carbon dating proves that the child’s bones predate the home and relate to a time when the house was privately owned, Ruth is drawn ever more deeply into the case. But as spring turns into summer it becomes clear that someone is trying very hard to put her off the trail by frightening her, and her unborn child, half to death.

It’s been three months since Dr Ruth Galloway and DCI Harry Nelson worked together to solve a gripping crime. Ruth has returned to her normal life as head of the forensic archaeology department and DCI Nelson always has a desk full of other murders to solve. Only this time it’s Ruth who calls in Harry when the skeletal remains of a small child appear to have been buried under the doorway of what used to be a children’s home. Things quickly get out of hand and all too soon events are not a matter of what happened in the past, but what is occurring right now in the present.

I really enjoyed this second book in the Dr Ruth Galloway series – but admit I am glad it’s been a number of months since I read the first book. Overall, I feel it’s a very atmospheric, slightly gothic, murder mystery with a bunch of well-drawn and interesting characters and a gripping plot that moves along at a fast pace. I felt a little odd that the tense the book was written in sometimes jumped from first person to third – I felt this was a little jarring and disjointed but have to admit broadly speaking it actually added to the atmosphere of the book which in itself was a little gothic and tension riddled and jarring. I can’t tell if this was something the author did on purpose or if it just happened to work well, but it’s quite different from books I usually read so became quite noteworthy to me.

I was particularly pleased that most of the book should be perfectly logical to a reader who happens to pick this one up without having read the previous book. While Ruth and Harry do share something of a past it is fairly recent and – more importantly – only superficially linked to this new case and the plotline of this story itself. I feel readers should be able to enjoy and understand everything that occurs in this book without having read the previous one, but I expect in the third or fourth book that will start to become more difficult as Ruth and Harry will (I expect) continue to have more to do with each other and this separation or “stand alone” aspect to each book will become increasingly difficult.

The plot itself was something I found interesting and at times gripping. While I could see some similarities between this book and the previous one, I feel it’s more to do with the archaeology/police sort of cross over than anything lacking in the storyline itself. Speaking personally, I really enjoyed this mixture of science with police work and expect I’ll enjoy it for many books to come. Readers looking for something unique and startlingly different might not find that here. I also feel that should a reader binge the entire series and read a number of these books back-to-back the plot (and perhaps writing style itself) might become repetitive – but I also feel that is true of any author and series, no matter how exceptional.

I feel readers looking for a different style of police procedural book – and in particular one with an interesting archaeology cross over – with vibrant and a good range of characters and a well-paced plot should find this book really fits the bill for them. I greatly enjoyed this book.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Let It Melt by Margot Johnson

March 9, 2022 By 2 Comments


Let It Melt by Margot Johnson
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

How on earth did Jill, a single divorcee, land on a romantic Valentine’s Sweetheart Tour for couples? Worse, she’s paired with Jack, her daughter’s brash father-in-law, and everyone thinks he’s her valentine. Stranded in a Canadian prairie blizzard, how soon can she kiss this awkward evening goodbye?

Long divorced, Jack would love to charm Jill with his toned body and dynamic personality, but his wisecracks and obsession with fitness get in the way—especially when he nabs a post at the same school where she teaches.

Even the most romantic month of the year can’t melt their differences and sweeten Jill’s feelings….or can it?

Romance is in the air.

Jill and Jack were both well-rounded and memorable characters. One of my favorite things about both of them was that they sometimes stumbled over their words or accidentally said things that came out the wrong way and were interpreted as a little harsh instead of the playful banter they were shooting for. These missteps endeared me to them because those generally aren’t flaws that most writers choose for their protagonists. There’s something to be said for characters who can be a bit rough around the edges like that, especially once I got to know them well enough to be sure that they would soon correct themselves with what they actually meant to say.

I only have one small criticism of this story, and it has to do with Jill’s beliefs about dating again that she shared in one of the first scenes. She had recently been divorced by a man who broke her heart. Her emotions were still so raw from that experience that she didn’t give me any indication she was ready to dip into the dating pool again. I adored this character and thought her potential love interest would be perfect for her. My only hesitation had to do with the timing of their romance. It would have been helpful to have clearer indications that she was emotionally ready for such an experience as I wanted them to have the best possible chances of ending up together forever.

Some of my favorite scenes were the ones that described Jill’s struggles with her weight and body image as she attempted to create healthier habits for herself. These were topics she could be sensitive about at times, but she was also determined to make the changes she needed to in order to improve her health. It was delightful for me to discover how Jack’s own history with fitness and nutrition could be compared to hers. The author did a wonderful job of tying their backstories together and showing me how two people with such wildly different personalities could be the perfect match.

This series does not have to be read in chronological order, but I would definitely recommend going back and checking out Let it Snowball as well to anyone who enjoys this tale.

Let It Melt was a heartwarming Valentine’s Day novella.

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

I Don’t Want to Wake Up by Chelle de Notte

March 9, 2022 By Leave a Comment


I Don’t Want to Wake Up by Chelle de Notte
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Dicentra

He’s a hot firefighter…

Between the demands of his job and his own work ethic, it takes a lot to get Lieutenant Mike Devierse to loosen up and relax. One woman managed it, and Kat’s at his firehouse’s Thanksgiving dinner.

She’s a beautiful masseuse…

In Kat Kominsky’s work at a spa, all the people she meets and massages tend to blur together. There are some standouts, though, and she’s excited to see Mike outside a professional capacity.

As Kat and Mike grow closer, their time together is right out of a fantasy. But will they be able to handle the moment when the reality of each other’s jobs sets in?

Chelle de Notte’s I Don’t Want to Wake Up is a fun and steamy read – a perfect choice for those looking for something quick that’s easy to finish in one sitting. Our hero, Mike fights fires on a daily basis in his job. But will he be able to handle the heat that comes with the budding relationship he has with beautiful masseuse Kat? Only time will tell…

One thing I appreciated in this book (and other romance books of this length) is when the author sets up some off-page event that establishes the relationship and the chemistry. Books that are less than 100 pages often suffer when there’s too much on-page relationship establishment as it takes away time from the action and the meat of the story. This book thankfully avoided that issue. I’m happy to say that there was minimal downtime between the start of the book and when Mike and Kat give into their feelings. Once they stopped fighting it and gave into the tension, it was so much fun to read. I think I have a thing for firefighter romances now after reading this book, but I’m not mad about it.

While Mike’s job as a firefighter does play a big role in this book, I was quite pleasantly surprised to see how the author incorporated Kat’s job as a masseuse into their relationship (and some of the conflicts therein). As Mike puts it, Kat’s job involves “rubbing down scantily clad people of all sexes for hours at a time.” This unsurprisingly inspires some feelings of jealousy in Mike, and while it’s not the first thing you would think of after reading the blurb it worked well with the rest of the plot. I was especially amused when Kat and Mike had conversations with their coworkers (Jason and Kelsey respectively) about how to deal with the other person’s job and the worries that come with it; I think Jason and Kelsey were quite amused too.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I hope readers will enjoy Chelle de Notte’s I Don’t Want to Wake Up as much as I did. If you’re looking for a short and entertaining erotic romance read that’s complete with a happily ever after ending, you’ve come to the right place. I look forward to checking out the other Romance on the Go titles in the future!

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

Death’s Requiem by David J. Gatward

March 8, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Death’s Requiem by David J. Gatward
Publisher: Weirdstone Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Music can be murder.

When the body of internationally-renowned vocalist Gareth Jones is found hanging in the tower of a church, the walls daubed in occult symbols, the world of classical music, and the local dales community in which he grew up, is shaken to its core.

With the worst winter in years sweeping through Wensleydale, the spectre of a friend’s death haunting one of his team, and a killer driven by forces darker than he could ever imagine, Grimm and his team are up against the creator of not just a masterpiece, but a symphony of pain.

And it’s up to Harry to make sure that when the curtain comes down, there’s no chance of an encore…

DCI Harry Grimm and his brother Ben are really beginning to settle down into life in Wensleydale. With the people from the small town welcoming and for the most part friendly and the beautiful scenery, it’s hard for them not to both start feeling at home. Bad things still happen in small towns though, and Harry all too soon is finding himself wrestling with both a strange murder in the local church and a surprisingly professional group of animal smugglers.

I really enjoyed this next book in the DCI Grimm series. While I feel the reader would enjoy it more having read the previous installments, this book can absolutely be picked up and read as a standalone. The two main plot threads are very well explained and handled in this book – and even though the animal smuggling/kidnapping has been very loosely alluded to in previous books it was more of a throw-away sort of comment, the actual plot aspect and in-depth investigation is completely contained in this book. The murder begins and concludes in this book, and I feel adds an excellent counterpart to the animal/farming based plot and the two bounce very well off each other.

I am also very pleased to see the further development of a number of the main characters. Jim in particular I feel is coming along very well, from the very young and rather inexperienced police officer in the first book to now being heavily invested in his work and really learning and growing. I also was really pleased to finally see a bit more of Ben’s character – Harry’s brother. While the cast of characters could be seen as on the small side, I really feel they are each well drawn, individual to each other and there’s enough characters to feel like a good unit without there being too few or too many. The fact we can spend time with them all and watch them develop is an integral part to the story being really well rounded and enjoyable to my mind.

The occult/paranormal aspect to this story is very, very lightly handled – I really wasn’t sure to even give it a “paranormal” tag, but there is a “spell” cast in the past by a bunch of the local kids and with the fresh murder some symbols were left so I really felt while light and not a strong part of the plot it was present enough that it needed mentioning. Readers looking for a spiritual/occult/paranormal mystery should definitely not consider this a strong or heavily invested story – and equally readers looking to avoid a paranormal tale shouldn’t shy away from this. The small country town, the characters and the two mysteries are definitely the focus of this story – not the occult/paranormal themes.

Readers looking for a good bunch of characters, a small country town setting and two interesting, concurrent police procedural style investigations should be really satisfied with this book. I found it to be another excellent addition to this series I am really looking forward to the next one.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Corpse Princess by Jayce Carter

March 8, 2022 By Leave a Comment


The Corpse Princess by Jayce Carter
Publisher: Totally Bound
Genre: Contemporary, Erotica
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Moonflower

Karma is a bitch—but then again, so am I.

Ten years ago, a group of men murdered my mother and thought they had killed me. I’ve spent every day since planning revenge against the man behind the attack—my father. As the head of a powerful crime family, he won’t be an easy target, but nothing matters more than making him pay for what he’s done.

Now, I return in disguise, only to end up on the radar of The Quad—the four most dangerous men in the city, men I’ve been desperately in love with since I was a teen. I have no idea if they were in on the plan to have me killed, but I can’t stop myself from craving their taste, their bodies and their rough, domineering touches. Even though I know the risks, I keep falling deeper into our twisted relationship.

My plan is simple—find and get rid of the people who carried out the attack, kill my father…and don’t fall in love with the men who might have betrayed me.

This world already killed me once—let it try again.

Kelsey’s life ended when she was seventeen years old. Now twenty-seven, Nem is determined to put right those who did her and her mother wrong. If she can just accomplish that without her old bodyguards figuring out who she is, that would be great.

As the story moves along, we find out more about Nem’s past and her relationship with the Quad. Their role in what happened is not answered, but it doesn’t look like they had anything to do with it. How they got played when they’re supposed to be the best, I don’t yet know. I’m hoping it will say in the next book.

The four men are all very different and there is never any confusion over which one is speaking or thinking. Their ways of dealing with Nem, however, are pretty much the same, so expect some heat.

The one thing that got me throughout is her eyes. It is mentioned how different they are; how only her father shares them with her. And yet, even though they were like family, no one in the Quad has noticed Nem’s eyes. Don’t get me wrong – I know people can change in ten years, and she’s dyed her hair, etc., but you can’t change your eyes without putting in contacts, of which there is no mention.

This is not a romance in the typically used meaning of the word. It’s about sex, ownership, and vengeance. So, if you are expecting fluffy kittens and rainbows, this is not for you. If you want a raw, gritty, steamy, and action-packed story then I have no hesitation in recommending it to you.

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

A Flame Among the Stars by Thea Landen

March 7, 2022 By Leave a Comment


A Flame Among the Stars by Thea Landen
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Genre: LGBTQ, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Moonflower

The kingdom of Dardrith is under attack from hordes of juvenile dragons. When the king offers marriage to his daughter as a reward to whoever can discover the source of the dragons and prevent future infestations, Meg’s best friend, Ronan, convinces her to help him win the ultimate prize and save their families from a lifetime of poverty. Despite her initial reluctance, they also enlist the aid of Ronan’s sister, the village blacksmith, and a stranger Meg meets in the local marketplace.

The band of aspiring heroes doesn’t travel far before the identity of the stranger is exposed; she is none other than the king’s daughter herself, Princess Celendra. Aside from being the heir to the throne, Celendra is keeping some other secrets. During a battle with a group of dragons, she reveals she has magical powers, the ability to conjure and manipulate elements such as fire and water. Furthermore, she confesses that, like Meg, she would prefer to pursue romantic relationships with other women, which she hasn’t told her father.

As they journey throughout the land, Meg and Celendra embark on a passionate fling, though Meg tries not to form any deep emotional attachment to the princess due to their respective social classes. Following revelations about the dragon attacks and her family history, Celendra must choose between doing what’s expected of her or taking charge of her own destiny. The future of Dardrith is at stake. Can Meg and Celendra find a way to remain together while protecting the people and home they love?

Princesses that don’t want to be married off, dragons that aren’t what they seem, and a bunch of ‘peasants’ who want a bit of excitement in their lives. That’s how I would describe this book in a nutshell.

It is a fast-paced story that concentrates on the main characters, to the detriment of the side ones. They seem to be brilliant, capable additions, and yet we don’t know much about them, even by the end of the story. To be fair though, there isn’t much backstory to the main characters, but at least you scrape the surface with them.

There are also some steamy F/F scenes that are completely fitting for the book.

Our bunch of misfits go on a quest and find out more about themselves along the way. There were parts that just didn’t seem to mesh with other parts, but on the whole, this was a good piece of fantasy that held my attention. If you are looking for fantasy that doesn’t delve too deeply, or last too long, then this is probably right up your street. Recommended by me.

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

I Want You to Want Me by Shana Galen

March 4, 2022 By Leave a Comment


I Want You to Want Me by Shana Galen
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

A cruel twist of fate…

Nicholas St. Clare, youngest son of the Marquess of Averstow, was an avid horseman until his legs were crushed on the battlefield. The injury sent him home to England a broken man. Ashamed of his injury, he’s become a virtual recluse on his country estate until his mother, the dowager marchioness, insists he marry. Nicholas doesn’t want a bride who would be shackled to his broken body and privately despise him for being a cripple. He hates his weakness and doesn’t believe anyone can see past it.

A stroke of good luck…

Amelia Blackstock has always followed her family motto: A Blackstock doesn’t run from trouble. It runs from us. Unfortunately, trouble caught up with her, and when the world finds out, she’ll be ruined. When Lord Nicholas stumbles upon her sobbing, he tries to comfort her. His kindness backfires when they are discovered alone together, and Amelia faces even more scandal. Nicholas offers to marry her, but only if she’ll agree to a separate bed chambers.

A happily ever after in jeopardy.

Amelia concedes to a platonic marriage, but as her feelings for Lord Nicholas grow, she wants more. Nicholas is drawn to Amelia as well, but he fears risking it all by revealing the ugly truth of his injury. When Nicholas’s brothers-in-arms arrive for a house party, it seems everything that can go wrong, does. Between a lost pet pig, a fugitive wanted for treason, and a night of drinking gone awry, Nicholas and Amelia grow further apart. Nicholas is the last of the Survivors. Will he be the only one without a happily ever after?

What a wonderful way to wrap up The Survivors series. All tied up in a pretty bow with a happy ever after that is satisfying and complete, I Want You to Want Me is an amazing journey of two unlikely people who fall in love.

The story opens up with Nicholas St. Clare’s mom harassing him about getting married. I really felt for the guy. On one hand she’s pushing him to do what is expected of him, marry, while at the same time undermining it all by her treatment of his injury and disability. Her see-sawing emotions made me dizzy. I can’t figure out Nicholas’s brother. I want to dislike him but later in the story he acts more normal, then he gets a stick up his arse again until another scene redeems him and he’s not so bad, mostly. All I can say is, I’m so happy this book is about Nicholas.

I like how the hero meets the heroine for the first time. Talk about making an impression! She even has a guard pig everyone is afraid to go near. Except the hero. Pigs are good judges of character, I think. Amelia Blackstock’s downfall comes from a pig who loves his food and will do just about anything to get it, including a little B & E.

A little help comes from an unlikely source, Rafe Beaumont, the hero of An Affair with a Spare. He’s not supposed to be in the country – he’s a wanted man. His character is one that likes to poke the bear. The ‘bear’ in this instance is Nicholas and the results are unorthodox, clever and it showcases that there’s a caring heart and a brain inside this womanizer turned devoted husband of Colette. She stays in America nice and safe while Rafe is in a not-so-clever disguise, planning a devious scheme. I’d say he’s the mover and shaker of the plot. He’s funny too.

The conflict is character based – Nicholas is so turned inside himself, in his mind his injury overtakes the man. He’s in a surly rut and is convinced that life will never get better because he will never get better. Amelia isn’t of the same mind. That’s another conflict. The hero simply can’t believe that Amelia won’t turn out like everyone else. There’s plenty of clues that say otherwise but he’s blind to them all. Hence, the wisdom of Rafe.

I think there’ll be a lot of fans of the series that will rave about this book and give it a higher rating than I have. There’s plenty to be excited about. It’s a fun, well-paced and entertaining read that has a lot going for it. For me, not enough. There’s comes a big event that brings together all of the Survivors from all the previous books in the series – the heroes, their wives and for those that have them, their kids too. It sounds grand and it is. But I wanted more. I wanted a little insight into each of the past heroes and heroines on how they’re doing, are they truly happy and I kind of wanted the spark to be rekindled, to remind me of why I fell in book-love with each hero in the first place. I understand, truly I do, that the author was being very careful not to overshadow Nicholas and Amelia’s story and romance, especially since every man is strong and commanding in his own right. I wanted something to touch me, to make me feel like there was a family gathering, that I was a part of that tight knit community that I’ve been a part of in each and every book of the series. I didn’t experience that no matter how glad I was to see everyone. It felt flat to me and that disappointed and saddened me a little. I guess I can’t have everything I want and the most important thing I should want, a happy ever after for Amelia and Nicholas, the author delivered. There is no doubt that this novel did the series justice and provided readers with a wonderful, complete ending.

There’s no doubt that Amelia’s character was perfect for Nicholas. He needed a stubborn woman who remained true to herself, and to her commitments. She needed some motherly advice here and there. Speaking of which, I was worried about her mother too. I thought for sure I knew what the lady was turning to in her grief. I’m glad I was wrong. I’m also glad that there’s a positive turn towards the end of the book. Like I said, Ms. Galen succeeded in tying up all emotional loose ends and made I Want You to Want Me a story worth recommending to fans of the series. And, because it focuses solely on Nicholas a/k/a Nickers, and Amelia, this can even be read as a standalone. Rafe kind of plays a comedic foil and is far removed from the story he appeared in initially. So, yes, this book can be read out of order and a reader will still find enjoyment and fun within its pages.

Wrapping up, I’d say it’s a toss up between the funniest scenes, of Sweetie the pig, or when the guys imbibed too much. Although that caused a decent plot wrinkle too because drunk men don’t always think before they speak. Okay, they probably do, but what comes out doesn’t have the effect they think it will. Hence, plot consternation.

I Want You to Want Me is a must read for many reasons. It’s a great romance and Nicholas more than deserved his happy ever after. Amelia is the perfect heroine to provide it. Pick up your own copy and see for yourself. It’ll be an afternoon well spent.

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