Midwives On-Call by Sue McKay and Susan Carlisle

June 30, 2015 By Leave a Comment

CALL
Midwives On-Call by Sue McKay and Susan Carlisle
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (380 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Midwives On-Call: Midwives, Mothers and Babies – Lives Changing For Ever… !

His Best Friend’s Baby by Susan Carlisle

Ex-army medic Ryan Matthews loves his work as a midwife – bringing life into the world helps him forget losing his best friend in Iraq. But when Ryan finds his friend’s pregnant wife Phoebe on his doorstep his whole world is turned upside-down… and he finds himself fighting against a love he’s never dared to believe exists!

Midwife…to Mum! by Sue McKay
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The family she’s always longed for…

Locum midwife Ally Parker never puts down roots and that suits her just fine. A former foster kid, she’s used to moving on. Her new job is meant to be just another temporary placement until she meets her boss, sexy single dad Dr Flynn Reynolds!

It might have started as a fling but soon Flynn and his adorable son have Ally longing to stick around. Can Flynn persuade Ally that she’s finally found her forever family?

There are babies all over the place!

Both of these stories are strong. The authors knew their subjects well and their characters even better. I felt like I was immersed in the characters’ worlds. I couldn’t put the book down.

In Midwife…to Mum! there is Ally and Dr Flynn. These two personify the feel-good story. Yes, there is a roller coaster of emotion going on here and I needed the tissues, but I recommend the read. The growth of these characters is great and not to be missed. The writing is tight and the romance fantastic.

In His Best Friend’s Baby, Ryan and Phoebe find out how hard the row can be to hoe, but how rewarding it is when the work is done properly. Ryan is a bit of a tough nut. He doesn’t believe in love, despite falling for Phoebe. Then there’s the little matter of her pregnancy. He can bring babies into the world, but when the kid is his best friend’s kid…things get sticky. I loved how these two found their happy ending and would gladly read this book again.

If you’re looking for a good read that’s guaranteed to bring a smile, then this might be the book for you.

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His Majesty’s Child by Sharon Kendrick

June 25, 2015 By Leave a Comment

CHILD
His Majesty’s Child by Sharon Kendrick
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (135 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

King Casimiro harbors a secret–no one in the kingdom of Zaffirinthos knows that a devastating accident has left his memory clouded in darkness. And Casimiro himself cannot answer why Melissa Maguire, an enigmatic English rose, stirs such feelings in him…. Questioning his ability to rule, Casimiro decides he will renounce the throne. But Melissa has news she knows will rock the palace to its core: “Casimiro has an heir.” Law dictates Casimiro cannot abdicate, so he must find a way to reacquaint himself with Melissa–his new queen

This clever story takes the plot of a brief throw-away affair that results in a baby to a novel level. The hero, who comes across as cold and unfeeling, is actually covering for a secret and it was easy for him to refuse to believe the heroine because knowledge of her is part of that secret he’s hiding. He’s lost a huge chunk of time and his relationship with Melissa is in that period of lost time. What’s a heroine to do?
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Be stubborn, that’s what. Melissa wants what is best for her child and she thinks that having him know that he even has a dad is all that matters. And, letting the father know he IS a father, that’s a responsibility she doesn’t want to shirk either. All noble intents but the heroine had absolutely no clue the ramifications of what she was trying to do. For a regular guy I guess it would be fine but Casimiro isn’t a normal guy, he’s a king and that’s a whole other kettle of fish. It made for a fascinating and unique dilemma for a romance and I quite liked it.

Casimiro might be a king and used to being in charge and in control but honestly, I found him mean, manipulative and hard to like. Granted he was acting that way on purpose. If he kept everyone at arm’s length, no one could guess his problem. The hero has ginormous trust issues and suspects everyone’s motives. It’s not a wonder he wants to quit being king. But the thing of it is, eventually, the author redeems her hero because I came to understand just how emotionally damaged he was. From the time his mother died his life was harsh and he was unloved. He did not receive any gentleness or understanding from his father and in turn, Casimiro became a block of ice to shut out all the pain. That makes what Melissa accomplishes in the story truly remarkable. And why her having his child is a blessing and his saving grace.

Even though there is a lot to enjoy in this story, I didn’t like the hero for most of it. I didn’t like his arrogance or his cruelty towards Melissa. Nor did I like how she came across as a victim in some scenes. Yes, I did come to like the hero but that was towards the end, when he finally understood how important it was to face feelings and not shut them off or run away from them. Melissa stood up for herself and being intuitive was able to navigate the pitfalls of the hero’s damaged ego. In that, the heroine showed her strength. As far as I’m concerned, the balance of the romance was lopsided and it wasn’t as good as it could have been.

On the upside, their physical relationship was healthy and the writing was spicy. I liked the scenes with Ben because they were so cute. And, the wrap up happy ever after was satisfying and complete.

On the whole, His Majesty’s Child was a good read. A reader will find a solid romance within its pages and there are many scenes that make this story pleasant and entertaining. It’s a quick read and it flowed well so I’d recommend it for fans of Harlequin romances because Casimiro is their typical alpha hero that needs saving. It’s worth a look.

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A Secret Until Now by Kim Lawrence

June 22, 2015 By Leave a Comment

SECRET
A Secret Until Now by Kim Lawrence
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (143 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

One scorching night, one secret never to be told…

Angel Urquart didn’t sign up for this. A photo shoot on an island paradise? Yes. Working alongside Alex Arlov? Definitely not! Six years ago he showed her passion she’d only ever dreamed of, but after his behavior the following morning, she resolved to put him out of her head forever.

The Tar sticks viagra samples to clothing, skin, and the inside of our bodies to be a temple of cleanliness and purity. The male organ deeprootsmag.org levitra pills from canada contains two chambers – the corpora cavernosa – erectile parts of the penis. Q- How is erectile dysfunction treated ?Ans- order generic viagra How erectile dysfunction stops him from gaining erections. The majority of side effects you will experience buy tadalafil cheap when you go through male menopause. Seeing Angel brings all sorts of memories flooding back to Alex—memories that stir up a forgotten hunger. Alex sees no reason why they can’t indulge in one more blazing night together, but Angel has a secret that will turn their lives upside down….

This is a cute little story that explores another version of the one night stand with consequences scenario. What makes it enjoyable is the heroine, Angel. My favorite scene early in the book was Alex’s recounting of how he first met her. It was so romantic. What follows is his trying to win Angel over and her confounding him and resisting him, sometimes not so successfully, through the rest of the story. It was fun.

The one thing that stands out about the heroine is her refusal to accept any help from Alex. She’s independent and proud to be supporting her daughter. She’s a mom first and that’s something to respect.

As for how she’s depicted in the novel, Angel is likeable and chatty with a sharp and funny wit. It’s the head-hopping from her to Alex that slowed the pace of the story. The heroine talks to herself a lot and is very conflicted. Inasmuch as I liked hearing from both her and Alex’s point of view, the delivery was enough to throw me or slow my reading pace down dramatically.

Alex was a typical HQ hero – manly, confident, competent, sensual, commanding, and one prone to assumptions, critique and an issuer of orders. Such is the alpha male that everyone kowtows to, except the heroine. She is exactly what he needs, and why he fights so hard against the truth. The truth is – that one night’s connection all those years ago left an indelible mark on his heart but Alex is too stubborn and afraid to acknowledge it or pursue it. It’s his body’s memory of her that propels him like a moth to a flame and it’s easy for him to categorize it as only a physical attraction and deny the rest. Yet, as certain situations arise, a reader sees little by little how Angel, by just being herself, works the rest of her way into his heart and helps him navigate the guilt from the past so he can emotionally move forward in his life. It’s a powerful component of the plot and it works.

One of the scenes described was about Angel’s friend Clara. I have no idea why that gave me the giggles; I think it was how the author wrote the scene. Certainly I snickered quite a bit afterwards. The most profound scene occurred when Angel and Alex finally talk, finally put all the cards on the table, and I could not have asked for a better response from a hero than what Alex told her after the big reveal. That is what romance stories are all about.

A Secret Until Now is a classic styled HQ romance that entertains and engages a reader. There are the requisite personal struggles and conflicts they have to overcome and together, the heroine and hero come out stronger and more whole through the healing power of love. It’s worth reading and I enjoyed it.

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Lone Rider by BJ Daniels

June 18, 2015 By Leave a Comment

LoneRider

Lone Rider by BJ Daniels
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full (320 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Poppy

A cowgirl at heart, Bo Hamilton does her best thinking in wide-open spaces. So when money goes missing from the family foundation, Bo rides into the Crazy Mountains to figure things out. But a killer hiding among the sawtooth ridges takes her captive and isn’t planning on ever letting her go.
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Bo’s disappearance gets folks thinking she’s the guilty one who’s run off with the money, but Jace Calder would bet his ranch that she’s innocent. Not that he has any reason to trust the beautiful, spoiled senator’s daughter. Still, Jace is going after Bo and bringing her home to face the truth. But in the wild, rugged Crazy Mountains, he finds Bo at the mercy of a suspected murderer. Jace is her only hope, and he’s about to find out what they’re both made of.

This was my first foray into a BJ Daniels novel, and it’s part of The Montana Hamiltons series. Although well written and exciting, it was clear from the first page that I was missing previous information about the numerous characters and storylines. I was intrigued enough, though, to go back and find out more about previous installments

The blurb made me feel as if the main characters were going to be Bo and Jace — and while they are the couple who get their HEA, their story had no greater preference given than the ones between Jace’s sister, Emily and her new beau, Alex (who I loved!), Sarah and Russell, or Buckmaster and Angelina. Honestly, they all seemed to have the same number of pages allotted to their stories. There’s a pretty significant ongoing storyline going on here as well about Sarah and her mysterious return from the dead, along with the mystery of Emily’s stalker. It almost made Bo’s kidnapping a bit dull!

I zipped through the book quickly, because there is so much happening. I wanted to find out more and more and more and so kept turning pages! Honestly, though, I was most invested in the new relationship with Alex and Emily … more so than Jace and Bo. I’m hoping that the next book is theirs–I’ll snap it right up!

The author has a way with wordsmithing. I was never bored or confused or kicked out of the story due to odd phrasing or confusing description. She kept the pace galloping forward and while I wouldn’t say it was edge-of-your-seat, exactly, the tension seldom lets up. I can’t fault her skill in the least.

I suppose ultimately I felt frustrated at having missed book one. This book just didn’t stand alone as strongly as I would have liked. However, it definitely caught my interest enough that I’m off to find book one and catch up so that I can be first in line for the next in the series. I recommend the book and the author … I just also recommend that you start at the beginning. You won’t regret it!

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The Soldier She Could Never Forget by Tina Beckett

June 4, 2015 By Leave a Comment

SOLDIER
The Soldier She Could Never Forget by Tina Beckett
Publisher: Mills and Boon/ Harlequin (UK)
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (192 pgs)
Heat level: Spicy
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

Some things you never forget…

Your first time. Your first love. Your first broken heart. Or, in Jessi Riley’s case, all three combined in one…as Clinton Marks.

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As shared memories float to the surface, Jessi and Clint can no longer deny their longing for each other. Could it be that second time around, one night will become forever?

After kissing bad boy Clinton Marks twenty two year ago, Jessie Riley never would have imagined he would be the military doctor treating her daughter. Will they be able to pick up where they left off years ago?

I enjoyed the dedicated widow mom tending to her daughter’s well being. An inspiration to see that after her husband’s death, Jessie Riley had a small child but still was able to remain dedicated to becoming a doctor. The writing was in readable detail and the editing was of good quality. The hospital events where Jessie works was brief but entertaining.

This was not a page turner for me. The plot didn’t really have much excitement for my taste. There was a lot of reference to Jessie and Clinton’s past during high school but not much building on a relationship at the present time. I didn’t feel the attraction or vibes between the two. There wasn’t any romance, or twist to the story. Pretty much just straight into the relationship like twenty two years hadn’t passed. They have matured and lived but to me it stood out that they weren’t connecting as the present people that they are now. The book gave the impression they were still going by feelings from twenty two years ago. Quite frankly I’m not sure what feelings because they didn’t even date in high school.

Reconciling the past is always good. Two souls having reconnected and moving on to a future together is an encouraging heart warming read. Two characters that are making a living caring and tending to others medical need, now a second chance has presented itself and they have found each other and able to accept the mistakes from their past. Will they be able to build a future together?

Though the book won’t go down as a favorite of mind it’s still one I could recommend to those the like a book that is easy and enjoyable to read.

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The Doctor’s Redemption by Susan Carlisle

June 3, 2015 By Leave a Comment

DOCTOR
The Doctor’s Redemption by Susan Carlisle
Publisher: Mills and Boon/ Harlequin (UK)
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (188 pgs)
Heat level: Spicy
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

A love worth staying for…

Dr. Mark Clayborn never wanted to return to Alabama, but his father’s recent ill health has him back and facing his demons. Yet from the darkness shines a beacon of light: Laura Jo Akins—and he’s hoping she tastes as sweet as he imagines her to be!
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For so long Laura Jo’s only focus has been her daughter, but despite her reluctance, gorgeous Mark incites feelings she’d thought herself immune to… Could Laura Jo be the one to give Mark the courage to stay—and discover the love he deserves?

What better popular event to bring two lonely souls together than a historical Mardi Gras parade? When eight year old Allie falls Dr. Mark Clayborn was there in the streets of Mobile to clean and bandage her small injury. This chance meeting is just the start of many other meetings for adults Laura Akins and Mark Clayborn.

This was a story I enjoyed reading. The relationship between Laura and Mark was a pleasure to read and follow along. Mark is a southern gentleman who won my heart. Laura was pretty standoffish but that didn’t stop Mark. With many suggestions from Mark and the help of Allie, Laura finds herself in the presence of Mark quite often. With Mark’s charm you knew she was bound to soften to his advances.

The author didn’t just create a simple love story of boy meets girl but added life events that both Laura and Mark were dealing with. The way they were placed together to compliment each other during a time of healing and growth as individuals was touching. They each knew the right words to say and when and how to say them. Their relationship began to have value and I could appreciate reading this type of relationship growth.

The characters are strong and caring in this book.I admired Laura for being a strong woman to carry on after her husband left her not only without a husband but her pride wouldn’t allow her to ask for help from her wealthy family. She is an independent hard working single mother that finds it on her heart to help other single mothers.

This is truly a book of redemption and one that I would highly recommend to those that enjoy a good romance that leaves you with a happy lifted feeling.

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Against the Sky by Kat Martin

May 11, 2015 By Leave a Comment

SKY
Against the Sky by Kat Martin
Publisher: Mira
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full Length (400 pgs)
Heat: Spicy
Rated: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Snapdragon

ALASKA
In America’s last wilderness, there are no limits to what a man can do.

For detective Nick Brodie, that means keeping the perps off the streets of Anchorage 24/7. Nick has never backed down from danger, but after the horrors he’s seen, he’s definitely in need of a break.
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Samantha Hollis never thought she’d meet anyone like Nick, especially in a place like Las Vegas. But after one reckless, passionate night, she discovers the charismatic stranger is everything she wants in a man. But can he ever be anything more than a one-night stand?

When Nick invites her to Alaska, Samantha decides to find out, never guessing the depths she’ll discover in him or the tangle of murder, kidnapping, and danger about to engulf them both…

Against the Sky is an absolute classic suspenseful romance; fans of the genre will find themselves captured by the events as much as by the personalities of the leading characters.

The intrigue begins before we’ve even met our leading characters.   Nick and Samantha are from different worlds, one rough and tumble, one ‘ day at the spa,’ thank you. Nick impresses from the first. He’s obviously a sympathetic, caring person. Samantha is quicker–quicker to decide, quicker to anger, yet, quicker to laugh too. She’s a very savvy professional, but also pretty quick to toss the heels and put on something comfortable. Its the little moments that make her character…while Nick is simply, incredibly manly and protective. Their clashes never fail to entertain. Quick-witted conversation is fast, believable and engaging and does not manage to hide their mutual attraction. The chemistry is real! Former cop Nick is strikingly handsome, while Samantha is lovely. One thing leads to another and…romance readers really must read! No giving the game away here, although I will say that Ms. Martin does not disappoint with the bedrooms scenes.

While Nick and Samantha’s romance might charge along as one might expect, events will keep readers guessing throughout. That unpredictable quality makes this a page-turner. While we know, from the first, about Nick’s young friend’s suspicions, it’s a while before it’s investigated.

Alaska provides a lovely backdrop for this tale, too; it’s a bit stereotypically the wilder world; fun, mysterious but somehow, still home. The limited point of view works, but irritatingly changed a bit too much for reader comfort. On the other hand, I liked the author’s attention to some details; this really is fun to read for more than one reason.

In Against the Sky Kat Martin has turned out of the recent bests in this popular genre.

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The Rancher’s Lullaby: Glades County Cowboys by Leigh Duncan

April 30, 2015 By Leave a Comment

LULLABY
The Rancher’s Lullaby: Glades County Cowboys by Leigh Duncan
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (217 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

Falling in love again didn’t figure into widower Garrett Judd’s plans when he brought his infant son home to the Circle P Ranch. But bluegrass sensation Lisa Rose plucks the rancher’s heartstrings as sweetly as she strums the guitar. When Lisa discovers she’s carrying Garrett’s baby, will his love overcome the fear that history will repeat itself?

Neither Garret Judd nor Lisa Rose wants a relationship. However, on dark stormy night, when the light went out in Okeechobee, Florida …. But this is a one-time thing they declare.

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Lisa signs divorce papers soon after she opens her music store in Okeechobee and grieves about not having a child after trying so hard and spending thousands of dollars. With her touring, music-performing life behind her, she sets in to make a new start with “spunk and determination.”

The author Leigh Duncan tells a sweet story of family and friends support and love. She explores the inner thoughts of Garret and Lisa as they each struggle to get back to some kind of normal in their lives.

The workings on the Circle P and Lisa’s involvement with entertaining the dudes during roundup time sets the stage for Garret and Lisa’s getting to know each other and becoming friends while saying no to the sexual awareness that crackles and pops like electricity when they are together.

Baby LJ is a bright, shining little star in the story as he, like most normal babies, is on a mission to learn about his world, mindless of the havoc he can wreck in his zeal. Unbeknownst to him, he stirs up life-changing emotions in Garret and Lisa.

The Rancher’s Lullaby touches tender, sweet places in the heart that reaffirms the belief of love being able to overcome incredible obstacles, both physical and emotional, to arrive at a happy-ever-after.

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Merry Ex-Mas by Sheila Roberts

April 28, 2015 By Leave a Comment

EX
Merry Ex-Mas by Sheila Roberts
Publisher: Harlequin Mira
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday
Length: Full Length (308 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Christmas in Icicle Falls…

Cass Wilkes, owner of the Gingerbread Haus bakery, was looking forward to her daughter Danielle’s wedding—until Dani announced that she wants her father, Cass’s ex, to walk her down the aisle. Seriously? Even worse, it appears that he, his trophy wife and their yappy little dog will be staying with Cass…

Her friend Charlene Albach arrives at their weekly chick-flick night in shock. She’s just seen the ghost of Christmas past: her ex-husband, Richard, who left a year ago when he ran off with the hostess from her restaurant, Zelda’s. Now the hostess is history and he wants to kiss and make up. Hide the mistletoe!

And bring out the hot buttered rum, because the holidays aren’t easy for Ella O’Brien, either. Ella, newly divorced, is still sharing the house with her ex while they wait for the place to sell. The love is gone. Isn’t it?

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Merry Ex-mas, ladies!

Talk about walking on egg shells and the potential for disaster. Having all your exes showing up for the holidays sounds like a total nightmare but Ms. Roberts proved that for some, divorces for the wrong reasons are extra hurtful when it’s discovered the marriage was for all the right reasons in the first place. But who will the lucky couple be?

The one thing I’ve discovered about Ms. Roberts’ writing style is she likes her stories busy. It’s very similar to a real community where lives overlap and everyone affects someone else because there’s a history. I don’t know everyone in Icicle Falls but I’ve read a few books written after this one and what I find interesting is that they are solidly standalone books. There might be a few extra characters that don’t really have anything resolved but they help out the ones that do in the current book. That’s sort of the case here and yet, their POV is just as an important contribution as the main characters.

The cast is varied but it comes down to Cass, Ella and Charley. Ella’s I could figure out, Charley was a heart wringer and Cass was fascinating. I cracked up about Cupcake the dog and yet, the dog’s antics provided insight between two characters that come to terms. It’s amazing how the author took every day mundane events and made them relevant and heavy with substance and meaning.

I enjoyed how the ladies had each other’s backs and how they were there for each other through thick and thin. Not everyone has those types of friendships but I know they exist and if a person is lucky to have them, they more than probably resemble the ladies from Icicle Falls. I also like how the role of pets assists with the storytelling. It gives the novel an everyday feeling making the characters relatable.

Inasmuch as I liked Cass, her story was a bit unbalanced. By that I mean that it seemed to play a huge role but there wasn’t a true role yet I was made to believe there was something that was going to happen but her involvement wasn’t the forefront but more her daughter’s. It came across like Cass was the narrator of the story but lived within the story, was affected by it and affected it but wasn’t the true focal point – if that made any sense.

Merry Ex-Mas is most definitely a character driven romance novel. It’s about family, one broken made whole, relationships in all their complicated glory and yes, a happy ever after that makes the story worth reading. Ms. Roberts has made Icicle Falls a wonderful place to visit with characters readers want to come back and visit with. They have faults and flaws like most people and that’s what makes reading about them so special. Happiness comes in different flavors and each novel about Icicle Falls is a unique treat.

Merry Ex-Mas has its moments of romantic genius and is a must read for fans of family/friends centered romances. It’s a novel about love and life and is worth checking out.

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April Showers by Holly Jacobs

April 28, 2015 By 1 Comment

HOWERS
April Showers by Holly Jacobs
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (379 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

Rainbows don’t come without rain

The world you want isn’t always how the world is. Former marine Sebastian Bennington discovers that upon his return to Valley Ridge for a friend’s wedding. Even his grandfather’s health isn’t what he’s expecting. Nor is the interference from his grandfather’s young business partner, Lily Paul.
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Even more aggravating, Lily seems to know everything about Sebastian, thanks to his grandfather. But Sebastian can’t get her to open up about anything. Is she using all that merry sunshine to hide something deeper and darker? He’s determined to find out, as long as their crazy attraction for each other doesn’t get in the way….

Two people battered by life come together and the unexpected happens. Of course, readers know exactly what is going to eventually happen; this is a romance after all. However, I really liked the dynamics of their complicated relationship and I was curious as to what the catalyst would be to set it all in motion.

The two protagonists are Lily and Sebastian (don’t call him Seb). Lilly comes across as a Pollyanna but I enjoyed Sebastian’s pet name for her. The hero comes across as a grouch filled with self-pity and anger. What ends up happening is that Lily teaches by example and Sebastian learned to focus on what he could do rather than all that he couldn’t. Lily learns to trust and reveals the havoc and pain that’s she’s worked so hard to raise above all her life. They both bring out the best in each other – even when it’s painful and emotional – and in doing do, start to heal in body and spirit. It’s a very touching story.

The overall story arc that weaves in and out in the background is a wedding. Interesting how the very end of the book comes with a surprise that was so profound, I’ve already bought the next book in the series even before I sat down to write this review. There is NO way I could not find out what happens next. It has nothing to do with Lily and Sebastian directly but I’m sure they are going to be affected. Everyone in the story is going to be affected and I can’t wait to read the next book!

Dangling carrot notwithstanding, April Showers introduced me to some well-developed and engaging characters that touched my heart. Ms. Jacobs created a sense of warmth and caring as well as community within the pages of this novel that was profound. I think the subplot about Hank is what affected me the most. The blurb mentions his health but I didn’t expect the diagnosis that the author chose. It was handled beautifully.

In fact most of the crises that pepper the novel are handled with compassion, intervention and genuine caring. This is a story that can make a reader feel good because so many characters are vested in the happiness of Lily and Sebastian, as well as other characters like Sophie and Colton, Mattie and Finn. Even Mrs. Dedionisio whose interaction with Sebastian end up being a turning point in his life because it was at that moment that the hero realized something profound. This book’s strengths are from those types of scenes; they have lots of insightful dialogue, repartee and observations.

April Showers was delightful. I really enjoyed meeting Lily and Sebastian and watching them fall in love. It wasn’t smooth or easy and they both had to compromise and face a lot of their inner conflicts. The result is a book worth recommending to readers who look for stories that romance the mind and heart while delivering a well written novel. It’s a great read.

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