What She Wants by Sheila Roberts

April 12, 2013 By 5 Comments

WHAT
What She Wants by Sheila Roberts
Publisher: Harlequin Mira
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (391 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

What do women want? Jonathan Templar and his poker buddies can’t figure it out. Take Jonathan, for instance. He’s been in love with Lissa Castle since they were kids but, geek that he is, she’s never seen him as her Mr. Perfect. He has one last shot—their high school reunion. Kyle Long is equally discouraged. The pretty receptionist at his office keeps passing him over for other guys who may be taller but are definitely not superior. And Adam Edwards might be the most successful of Jonathan’s friends, but he isn’t having any success on the home front. His wife’s kicked him out.

When Jonathan stumbles on a romance novel at the Icicle Falls library sale, he knows he’s found the love expert he’s been seeking—Vanessa Valentine, top-selling romance author. At first his buddies laugh at him for reading romance novels, but soon they, too, realize that these stories are the world’s best textbooks on love. Poker night becomes book club night…and when all is read and done, they’re going to be the kind of men women want!

Men are clueless. Men are pathetic. Men are like puppies that need to be trained. But, once they are trained and trained well? Women, watch out because those men become irresistible!

Seriously, think about how long it takes to get any cute animal to do tricks, even if it’s only to sit or beg. Although, begging seems to come naturally to both species. Ms. Roberts takes the time to really show a reader exactly how far from perfect the three men in this story are. They listen but do not hear, they interpret what they don’t understand and jump to conclusions because men know everything – at least, they think they’re supposed to. What Jonathan, the computer geek, Adam, the guy with the hots for a co-worker, and Kyle, the husband whose wife kicked him out, learn during the telling of this story is beautiful. The journey itself encompasses humor, sadness, joys, disappointments, setbacks, hopes, dreams and even more humor. The most impressive element of the whole book is that while the men are learning about wooing women, they’re learning about themselves and what it truly means to be a man.
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I thought the beginning of the book was slow. The author took a very detailed journey to express to me the foibles of each man who would eventually become a heroine’s hero in the story. At first I was annoyed that it was taking so long but my advice is to bear with the author. Watch for the clues and continue on. I later realized that without that background, what comes later wouldn’t have had the power to affect my emotions as strong as it did. Those were the warm-up laps like they do in racing. Once that flag comes down the storytelling picks up at a fast clip because each man gets hit with his shortcomings. They’re in shock! They’re desperate! They’ll do anything to win the hearts of the girls they love. And I do mean ‘anything’. That’s where the humor comes in, and a reader gets to see why they’re eventually going to be wonderful heroes. If a man can humble himself to dance with another guy to understand how to dance, if he’s willing to go out on a limb and read something he would never touch with a ten mile pole, and if he’s willing to finally listen to the mushy sappy romantic that he’s buried way down deep inside himself, all for the serious pursuit of a woman, then he’s a keeper. There is hope and a happily ever after is a reachable goal.

Truly, What She Wants is a wonderful, heartwarming story told from the male point of view. When I said earlier that men were clueless, Ms. Roberts showed me just how much in hilarious detail. Their thought processes are different, their ways of dealing with unpleasant things are different and their approach to tackle problems are as opposite from women as night from day. That perspective is what initially interested me in the story but I never would have guessed as to the surprises the author had in store for me. They weren’t all funny. Some were sad and were an effective emotional hook. But there was one element that made this book top notch and that was the identity of a certain person. I never guessed, never suspected the turn this tale took. It was a stroke of genius and I laughed out loud when it was revealed. That twist was awesome. I’m giggling in remembrance.

One scene comes to mind that embodies the journey these three men take. It happens at the poker table. Watch how things progress. Momentous ideas and plans come to fruition during those games. For these men, the poker table is the place where all the significant conversations take place. The poker game was like a snapshot – appearing when the author wanted to illustrate the dramatic growth of each man as he progressed. It was an effective technique and I liked it.

Secondary characters abounded and they were effective in showing off the men’s weaknesses, their strengths and lending a hand when needed. They were personable, affable and made the book read like I was visiting family. Dot was a hoot. Then there were other characters that were not so nice. There were no spies or intrigue in this book. The external conflict comes from real people and the personal politics that can haunt a person long after they’ve graduated high school. For many people bullying can leave lasting emotional scars. The author touched on that too. Ms. Roberts was respectful and in a way helpful in letting people know that some bullies can change, wrongs can be righted or at least healed by reaching out and facing the past. That was another nice touch that made this book so special and emotional.

What She Wants reads like a snapshot of a small town community where the pursuit of love and happiness is just as powerful, poignant and special as one would expect in an exotic location. Anytime people are falling in love is exotic, because no two experiences are the same and there are always elements of the unknown. Reading about falling in love 100% from a man’s perspective was an amazing and interesting experience that I highly recommend. Get to know Adam, Kyle and Jonathan, and a reader will be rewarded with a wonderfully well-written and love-filled romance. Every happy ever after is unique and in this book a reader is blessed with three. I’m very glad I read this book.


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Let The Dead Sleep by Heather Graham

April 11, 2013 By Leave a Comment

SLEEP
Let The Dead Sleep by Heather Graham
Publisher: Harlequin Mira
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (331)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Jasmine

It was stolen from a New Orleans grave – the centuries-old bust of an evil man, a demonic man. It’s an object desired by collectors – and by those with wickedness in their hearts.

One day, its current owner shows up at Danni Cafferty’s antiques shop on Royal Street, the shop she inherited from her father. But before Danni can buy the statue, it disappears, the owner is found dead…and Danni discovers that she’s inherited much more than she realized. In the store is a book filled with secret writing: instructions for defeating evil entities. She’d dismissed it as a curiosity…until the arrival of this statue, with its long history of evil and even longer trail of death.

Michael Quinn, former cop and now private investigator, is a man with an unusual past. He believes that doing the right thing isn’t a job – it’s a way of life. And the right thing to do is find and destroy this object weighted with malevolent powers. He and Danni are drawn together in their search for the missing statue, following it through sultry New Orleans nights to hidden places in the French Quarter and secret ceremonies on abandoned plantations.

Cafferty and Quinn already know that trust in others can be misplaced, that love can be temporary. And yet their connection is primal. Mesmerizing. They also know that their story won’t end when this case is closed and the dead rest in peace once again.

New Orleans is in my top five on my list of cities to visit in America. After reading ‘Let the Dead Sleep’, I feel like I’ve already visited – and got to have a crazy adventure while I was there!
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Danielle “Danni” Cafferty is an artist that suddenly finds herself in possession of her father’s antique and curio shop after his death. Of course, this being New Orleans, nothing is ever as it seems and apparently her father collected things a bit more odd than normal old antiques and collectibles. And Danni inherited a bit more than just the store. Danni seems to be the type to approach things with thought, caution and logic. She likes to think things through and find explanations. Unfortunately, she is going to have to learn to accept that things aren’t always logical and some things defy explanation. Danni’s father was a player in the eternal struggle of good versus evil, and now Danni has to fill his role.

Michael Quinn is excellent in his role of tall, dark, handsome and mysterious. He is sexy, protective and all sorts of contradictions but we never entirely get to know him. Even once it seems like his true character is revealed, there is still an air of mystery around him. He is definitely on the side of good, though, and a firm ally of Danni’s. Quinn’s dog, Wolf, was charming and adorable, and I wanted him to leap out of the pages and take up a spot at my feet with my other dogs.

The tension between Quinn and Danni builds throughout the book, but Danni is just not sure who he is or what he’s about. We learn to trust Quinn as Danni does. We also learn, along with Danni, how hot he is. I think Danni finally comes to the conclusion that some packages are best when they are unwrapped slowly. With Quinn, I agree.

The other secondary characters are very well written. Even though they don’t get a lot of page time, we get distinctive characters with each one we meet. That’s not always easily or well done in such a short amount of time but Ms. Graham does a great job. For a book that moves at such a quick pace and introduces so many people, it’s important to do it well.

The prologue does well pulling double duty. Not only does it draw you in and make you want to know what the heck is really going on, but it gives you some insight into Danni, not only as a person but also her relationship with her father and some of her background. At the same time, for me, it was a bit misleading in some of the elements I kept expecting to pop up in this book.

With bad guys, cops, romps through graveyards, voodoo shops and mysterious evil objects, the action is fast paced, with several spooky moments. I was never bored with this book and had a great time with my visit to New Orleans through the pages. I’ve read that this may be the first book in a series. If that’s true, I look forward to reading more about Danni and Quinn’s future adventures. I will definitely be recommending this book to friends.

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The Last De Burgh by Deborah Simmons

March 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment

LAST

The Last De Burgh by Deborah Simmons
Publisher: Harlequin Historical
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (283 pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Peppermint

Destined for the convent, Emery Montbard disguises herself as a boy and enlists the help of chivalrous knight Nicholas de Burgh.

Taking the medicine under recommended instructions is very important for people to take best measurements on time so generic purchase viagra that his night long romance can achieve the best pleasure. Sometimes, it has to do with women’s hope and expectancies, and whether or not they think the intervention will have a good effect on them. free sample of cialis You get purchase cialis online big brands at convenient rates. Smoking and consumption of alcohol are other lifestyle hazards that cause great harm to the female reproductive system. prices levitra From a proud, dynastic family, Nicholas has a strong code of honor—which is challenged when he notices the provocative curves of his mysterious companion. Doesn’t she realize that she gives away her true identity every time she moves? But Nicholas also hides a secret—one that lies at the very heart of him and can never be revealed….

With Nicholas, Emery had some wonderfully stable times even amongst the chaos that seem to lurk around every corner. The troubling times help to bring these unlikely companions together, but the thing that brought them together may also be the one thing that can tear them apart.

Nicholas is everything you would want in a knight of his time. He is strong, cunning, and stubborn in his resolve. Most of all he is a man of his word and when he makes a vow no matter the size he intends to see it through the end even at the risk of his life. These characteristics would make any woman swoon in his presence. Though, for a while I had to question if he was dim witted since he seemed to have difficulty seeing Emery for who and what she truly was, even when his squire Guy was so quick to pick on the subtleties. I quickly learned that he was not dim witted, but instead like many, he could not see past what he wanted to see to learn the truth about what was in front of him. While this may seem like something negative to another, I appreciated that it showed that he may not be as perfect as others perceived the De Burgh family members to be.

Emery’s resolve to help her brother no matter the cost is extremely noble. It is clear from the very beginning that the love for her brother has been her driving force in many instances. While the love for a sibling may be what made her start her journey, it may not necessarily be the driving force in the end. Another enduring quality of Emery’s is her ability to keep up with the boys, yet display her femininity depending on what the situation calls for. At some times I found myself forgetting the woman underneath the cloths and the boy everyone else seen where one and the same. It also made me want to learn more about her both past and present.

This story was truly a incomparable experience for me. Historical romance is a genre which is fairly new to me and, in order to engage my interest really need to have some unique aspect to pique my interest.  What attracted me first to this was that the author incorporated the Templar knights in the story. While the involvement of the Templar’s may have been what made me start the story I can honestly say that the author’s dynamic plotlines and entertaining characters are what drove me to finish the story. The various twist and turns the characters must face both from external factors as well as their own personal journeys kept  me reading well into the late night hours, and had me opening my eyes in the morning to read more. It was a delight to able to experience this other world and I could actually picture these historical characters wandering the world we once lived in.

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A SEAL’s Seduction by Tawny Weber

March 1, 2013 By Leave a Comment

SEAL

A SEAL’s Seduction by Tawny Weber
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (224 pgs)
Heat Level: spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Subject: Navy SEAL Lieutenant Blake Landon

Current Status: Two weeks of enforced leave

Mission: Distract himself in any way possible

Obstacle: A woman who tempts him to break the rules…including his own!

Navy SEAL Blake Landon (a.k.a. “Boy Scout”) knows the rule book inside and out. Checked. Rechecked. But when a mission ends badly, his entire team is ordered on leave. And that’s when Blake sees the tall redhead whose dark eyes suggest that the rules— especially those in bed—are made to be broken.

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And where one rule is broken, more are sure to follow….

Sex can be used to express an intense, passionate attraction but sometimes, it’s the only thing offering an escape from an emotional traumatic event. But when it happens between two people that click, that connect on an unexpectedly deeper emotional level they weren’t prepared for, then things get complicated very fast.

Ms. Weber had me meeting the hero after the death of one of his best friends and teammate. That pretty much set up the major part of the hero’s internal conflict and it was effective in getting me to care for him. Add to that the heroine’s emotionally distant and ice-berg impersonation of a father and I was treated to a shallow and dysfunctional family whose surface was all ‘perfect family’ for the public. Not a very sympathetic family life by any means. Cold waters run deep in this book, which means the heroine’s character was someone I could easily root for as well.

The author had Blake and Alexia meet with an explosion of hot passion and no holds barred beach frolicking. It wasn’t supposed to amount to much, on either side. What happens next is the stuff of messy romances between two people who have a lot of issues to wade through. I liked how the author chose the progression of their relationship. Sure, it’s rocky with a lot of tug and pulls, surprises, both pleasant and unpleasant, and an unconventional reconciliation, but Ms. Weber kept my interest hostage throughout with very clever and tight writing.

As if the hero and heroine didn’t have enough on their hands with their own internal angsts, which thankfully did not overshadow the romance, Ms. Weber tossed in a firecracker of an outside conflict. That one event, although very suspenseful and exciting, broke the dam of silence and propelled Blake and Alexia into facing their own fears head-on with surprising and delightful revelations helping them out.

My one area of letdown would be Alexia’s dad. I’m thinking just one or two more paragraphs could have addressed my need of feeling that he truly would end up happy with his daughter’s eventual choices. I realize that the author felt that his character was so ingrained with reserve that he would have a hard time letting go beyond what he did, but that didn’t stop me from wanting more. Heck, I would have been happy if all it was would have been a secret smile, perhaps shared with his wife, as he watched Alexia from a window as she made the final momentous choice. Just that little bit would have been the cherry on my romance sundae.

When all is said and done, the happily ever after is the goal and it’s satisfactorily reached.

A SEAL’s Seduction is an exciting and hard-to-put-down book with action and tumultuous and adventurous sexy explorations that make this novel fun to read. It’s hard to go wrong with a story about a skilled Navy SEAL whose expertise is topnotch both in and out of bed. Try it; I think you’ll like it!

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Nanny for the Millionaire’s Twins by Susan Meier

February 27, 2013 By Leave a Comment

NANNY

Nanny for the Millionaire’s Twins by Susan Meier
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (138 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

She can handle twin babies, but can she handle the boss? As the new nanny for Chance Montgomery, Tory Bingham is looking after his adorable twins. But although she’s taking diaper-changing and sleepless nights in her stride, nothing can prepare Tory for being around the twins’ breathtakingly handsome daddy….

Five years ago, Tory’s dreams were stolen from her in a horrific accident, but as she becomes a part of Chance’s family she faces a heart-wrenching decision-dare she let go of the past and start to hope she can be happy again…?

This is a delightfully sweet romance with heart, goodness and a story of two people meeting at the best and worst times of their lives.

I guess Chance Montgomery might be a familiar character with readers who have been following the First Time Dads! series, but this is my first book. I can easily say that this is a standalone read. I never felt lost or thought there were background pieces missing. It’s as perfect a story as one could wish with an interesting beginning, an emotional exploration in the middle and a sweet and tender ending that is sure to please romance fans.
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Chance is a father of twin babies who is completely out of his depth and floundering. It helps that his mom is wealthy, and the hero is well off in his own right but money cannot change dirty diapers, get little cherubs to sleep through the night or tell a parent when something is wrong with one of them. Only a person can do that. Money might get a nanny but it doesn’t guarantee that the person is going to be right for their family dynamic in all ways that matter. That is where family connections come in.

Enter Tory, a woman in need of rejoining the living. Her mom and Chance’s mom are friends and that provides the very believable set up that gets the hero and heroine together initially. It’s what comes after that has everything to do with the kind of people Chance and Tory are because their choices are the main conflict in this tale.

There is a lot of respect in this novel. I was impressed with the level of admiration the author had Chance feeling for Tory. I enjoyed watching his growing esteem of the heroine as she slowly reveals all her secrets, her trials and most of all, her steadfast loyalty and dedication to one person. It also caused no end of frustration for the hero because he was free to love, and Tory wasn’t.

Another item that I appreciated was the handling of the children. Sam and Cindy were adorable babies and the author did a wonderful job in conveying how important a role they played in this story. They were integral to the plot conflict as well. Even saying that, and although it’s the truth that they were written about in a clearly loving and dedicated fashion, they were too cute and bubbly. Twins can be especially challenging if they both have colic at the same time or have diapers filled with mega-poo, but Sam and Cindy were almost unbelievably angelic and accommodating. I would have preferred a few moments of a frazzled daddy and a not so perfect nanny to balance the sugar of it, but on the whole, it did make for stress free reading.

The romance is a restrained and careful dance between two people who have to balance a lot of emotional angst, past hurts and feelings of loss and emptiness. Their falling in love was a slow sensual exploration of the mind and heart with only a few passionate kisses to illustrate their physical attraction. Nanny for the Millionaire’s Twins is more about being seduced into love by words, looks and actions versus any passionate out of control clinches. It’s a perfect book for those that prefer more substance and character to love a story than sheet aerobics.

I’d recommend Nanny for the Millionaire’s Twins to anyone who enjoys a romance that focuses on two people and what they bring to a relationship. Chance and Tory could be anyone because their trials and tribulations come from caring too much and being real. It’s a good book to spend time with and feel good about especially with such a wonderful and complete wrap up in the epilogue. I enjoyed my reading experience.

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Nice & Naughty by Tawny Weber

January 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment

NICE

Nice & Naughty by Tawny Weber
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday
Length: Full Length (220 pgs)
Heat Level: spicy
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Christmas scandal is comin’ to town…

He’d better watch out.
Because she’s not at all shy.
She’s looking for a bad boy
And he’s just the guy!

She’s making a list
Because her life needs some spice
And he’s gonna show her
How being naughty is nice…

It’s almost Christmas, and fashion-obsessive librarian Jade Carson is stuck. Stuck with her family, stuck in the town of Diablo Glen and stuck in her lousy life. Then superhot bad-boy detective Diego Sandoval roars into town, looking for a criminal known as “the panty thief.” And Jade decides—right then and there—that the only panties he’ll be touching are hers….

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I get the biggest kick out of a story that takes a strong, take charge and goal oriented man and pairs him with a woman who doesn’t fit any mold of any female he’s ever come across. Watching a sexy guy turn into Pavlov’s dog whenever Jade turns her ‘green-eyed pixie’ gaze on him was very entertaining. Realizing that Diego had a horrid childhood and is emotionally starved ended up being a strong lure to keep on reading through to the end. He’s a person who has to control everything, is driven to succeed and will do anything to solve a case. As the hero falls in love for the first time in his life, he finds that solving the case isn’t as engrossing or the top priority as it once was. But is it a good thing or a bad thing? It takes a while for him to figure that out.

Jade is adorable. In the beginning she seems all Suzy Sunshine. As with the sun, the clouds have to come by eventually and dampen the mood. That’s a good way to describe getting to know the heroine. She’s genuine and sweet but she has a few regrets, some unmet dreams and feels smothered by responsibility. What I liked was the volatile chemistry between Jade and Diego. It is the catalyst that brings Jade to life and it inspires her willingness to let go, to explore and spread her wings. It was great to watch.

The cat, Persephone, is the key. Imagining the antics that Jade’s cat gets into around Christmastime and what it does to hapless decorations is one of the cutest and giggle-worthy elements in the whole book. It was a terrific touch and I thought the interactions between the kitty and Diego were wonderful. If there needed to be a little conflict and mayhem, Persephone was more than up to the task. What the cat did do was showcase the best points about both Diego and Jade in their reactions to caring for, chasing or rescuing said kitty.

There were wonderful human secondary characters too, like Mayor Applebaum. He sort of turned into the kind of father figure Diego probably wished he’d had but thought they really didn’t exist. Then again there was that nasty woman at the library that’s more in line with the city rat race that he was used to. Ms. Weber did an effective job in creating a character that I didn’t like. How? That woman didn’t like Persephone and one sentence she uttered was downright cruel. Boo Hiss.

Nice & Naughty has some quality hot-cha-cha going on between the sheets and anywhere else Diego can convince Jade to have a little fun. Because a lot of their coming together was spontaneous and combustible, I never knew when it was going to happen, but due to the strong writing skills that Ms. Weber employs, every scene was steamy, effective and fun.

Although the tug of war between his job/her job, his dreams/her dreams is a typical ploy, and the ‘how’ of the opportunity to fix it all was a bit anti-climactic and predictable, those techniques didn’t detract from this being an enjoyable read and worth spending time with. There were too many smiles and giggles and sweet and funny characters worth reading about to make me not mind.

Most of the story is internal conflict and personality issues between Diego and Jade. However, that’s not all that lurks in the shadows. The author added in a surprise villainy that I never suspected. I enjoy a bit of suspense and drama because it heightens the emotions of both the main characters, and if done right, the reader too. Ms. Weber succeeded and it made the story that much better.

Nice & Naughty is a fun, enthusiastic romance between two characters that brought out the best in each other. It’s not dark and dismal but bright, quirky and adorable except when the author wanted to shock a reader with the extent of the antagonist’s treachery and criminal actions. Ms. Weber dropped clues here and there and only after the big reveal did I remember what I read and put the pieces together. Part of the answer was there all along but the biggest surprise came at the end. That was an amazing round up.

I recommend Nice & Naughty to any reader who is looking for a story that can make them feel happy, a bit flustered in a good way, and who likes a book peppered with good humor and witty dialogue. This novel delivers it all.

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Holiday With a Vampire 4 by Susan Krinard, Theresa Meyers and Linda Thomas-Sundstrom

December 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment

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Holiday With a Vampire 4 by Susan Krinard, Theresa Meyers and Linda Thomas-Sundstrom
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Holiday, Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (357 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Don’t be afraid to snuggle up with these sexy, immortal heroes. They will weave their way into your fantasies and spice up your cold winter nights.

Halfway to Dawn by Susan Krinard

Amid a supernatural war between the races, can Fiona, captain of the human special forces, and Kane, a compelling fugitive from the vampire army, risk working together to attain peace on earth?

The Gift by Theresa Meyers

All Cullen McCormack wants for Christmas is the missing locket that holds the key to his immortality. But will Angelica, the woman who now flaunts it about her exquisite neck, also claim his vampire heart?

Bright Star by Linda Thomas-Sundstrom

Immortal Dylan McCay has vowed to protect the secret origins of his species at all costs—until he meets Savannah, a passionate astronomer on the brink of discovering the elusive Christmas Star….

Three stories guaranteed to warm up the holidays!!

Each author writes with a smooth flair that kept me in my seat. I couldn’t put the books down because I had to know what would happen. Although the three stories aren’t connected, I had no problems losing myself in their worlds and zipping through this anthology in a couple of hours.

Halfway to Dawn poses the human-vampire conflict trope, but it’s written in a fresh way. Fiona and Kane might be on the opposite sides of the war, but I couldn’t help but want them to get together. I could understand where both were coming from. Kane wants to be his own man–no longer under the rule of the vampires. Fiona wants the war to be over. Hey, who can argue? And when they come together for the holiday and spicy hot scenes, it’s totally worth it.

In The Gift, the locket’s the thing. Okay, so Cullen’s soul is stuck in a locket. To get free, the woman who owns said locket must choose him as her true love. Sounds easy, but it’s not. He’s on his fifth go-round. I felt for Cullen. The guy wants a break and if it means being Angelica’s, then so be it. The note from Angelica’s mother was a tad strange, but then, I suppose if someone told me there was a strange man attached to a locket, I might fear him, too. But I liked the story and I loved how Ms Meyers wove in the Christmas spirit. Definitely a keeper.

Bright Star was my favorite. I love the work of Ms Thomas-Sundstrom and this story didn’t disappoint. Savannah wants the man of her dreams for Christmas. She also happens to be looking for the elusive Christmas star. Finding both would be beyond her wildest dreams, but why not be wild? Dylan doesn’t want her to find the star. If she finds it, she’ll open up a whole new can of worms. I love how these two come together and how Dylan struggles with his mission over his feelings. It’s a white hot read that you won’t want to miss.

If you’re looking for a paranormal twist on the holidays, then this might be the book for you!

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

Bella’s Impossible Boss by Michelle Douglas

December 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment

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Bella’s Impossible Boss by Michelle Douglas
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises Limited
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday
Length: Full Length (192 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Iris

From the wrong side of the tracks, Dominic Wright is fiercely proud of his successful career—and his latest project is his gateway to the big time! The downside? Dominic is expected to babysit the boss’s spoiled daughter.

Bella Maldini knows hotshot Dominic by reputation, and where women are concerned it’s a bad one! Still, if Bella wants this project to succeed she must work closely with Dominic. If only he weren’t so impossible—cynical, complicated, controlled—and, worst of all, sexier than any man she’s ever met!

Even if I had not read the front of the book, I would have known this was a Harlequin Romance. It had a solid plot and characters and a standard crisis. In this case, our characters are Bella and Dominic.

Bella, presents as the “flighty” daughter of the business owner. She is out to please her dad and prove once and for all that she is worthy of his love and a place in his company. Dominic is the young executive. He is hard working, and making a positive impression on his boss, Bella’s dad. Because he is a trusted employee, and gets results, he is entrusted with the project on which Dad places Bella. Because Dominic is determined “not to become his father”, he is very firm with Bella and refuses to see her creative side as an asset to the project.

As with all good Harlequins, they are thrown together. In this case, the company only has one apartment available to house the both of them during the project. This means they need to learn to work together. Oh, yes – there is also the addition of a cat.

They become accustomed to living and working together, each finding some good in each other until the crisis occurs, and changes the nature of the business and the working relationship.

As the crisis resolves, a new relationship occurs and we find the characters working towards the happily ever after.

Even though the story is basically laid out above, the beauty is in the details. For those of us with wanderlust, the story is set in Australia. But even with that, the story did not seem foreign. The aforementioned cat adds an interesting twist. Bella and Dominic aren’t all that they seem.

Speaking of Bella and Dominic. . . Bella, although she is constantly trying to get her father to approve of her, is an intelligent young woman. She knows what she wants to do, even though it isn’t necessarily something of which she feels Dad will approve.

Dominic, on the other hand, is fairer than he first appears. He never becomes the wishy-washy hero that has fallen in love, but again, does not remain the tough-as-nails boss who never shows his feelings until the very end. In that respect, he seems more real to this reader.

There is also a fair amount of humor added throughout. It added humanity to the characters and allows the reader to continue on!

In all, this story was exactly as promised – an enjoyable read. No twists and turns, but enough individuality in the characters to make the reading worthwhile.

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

Rancher’s Son by Leigh Duncan

November 28, 2012 By Leave a Comment

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Rancher’s Son by Leigh Duncan
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (218 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Poppy

Sarah Magarity just broke the first rule of social work: don’t get personally involved. But how can she ignore the orphaned tyke who shows up in her office on Christmas Eve? The chance to make a difference is awfully tempting.So’s the rancher with the sexy smile who might be the boy’s father. Still, Sarah has to be nuts to let Ty Parker sweet-talk her into a cattle drive across rugged Florida wilderness.

Ty can’t believe he might have a son to carry on his legacy. Still, until the DNA results come back, he isn’t making any plans. But a strange thing happens on the open road. Amid rattlesnake scares and cozy campfires, he’s growing closer to the boy…and to Sarah, the fiery redhead Ty can’t keep out of his arms. They could be a happy family, unless the truth tears them apart….

I can’t blame the heroine of this story for losing her heart to little Jimmy, because I did, too and right off the bat.

Sarah is a social worker who’s left with an orphaned boy on Christmas Eve. The father is potentially a man she knows, Ty Parker, but there’s no real proof. Ty is understandably shocked that he might be the father to the boy and asks for DNA tests. While they wait for those to come through, either little Jimmy has to go to the group home or stay with his “dad”…who happens to be about to leave on a cattle drive.

Of course we know what the choice is going to be, and that Sarah is required to go along with them. It’s a wonderful time for everyone to get to know each other, away from phones, computers and other distractions.

Ms. Duncan scores again with this heartwarming story. I sped through it, gobbling each chapter up in big gulps, completely engrossed in the story. The characters are all three-dimensional and completely believable, each with their own unique set of quirks and traits.

While I do admit finding it a little surprising that a seasoned social worker would take the word of clearly troubled boys over a respected rancher, thus creating the conflict for our couple (at least at the start), it didn’t ruin the story for me. I understand, I suppose, why it had to be that way and why our heroine had to start out by feeling dubious about Ty. If she hadn’t, everything else would have been too easy.

Jimmy might have been a bit too well-behaved, and I might have disagreed with some parenting choices that were made (particularly about how he was allowed to eat), but again, this wasn’t a deal breaker. Not when the rest of the story, and the secondary characters were so delightful (particularly Doris).

Why not take a trip on a cattle drive and get to know this group of folks? It’s a sweet, touching and very romantic story with an unexpected and lovely ending.

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

The Girl Nobody Wanted by Lynn Raye Harris

November 28, 2012 By Leave a Comment

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The Girl Nobody Wanted by Lynn Raye Harris
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (186 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Peppermint

stop the press: Jilted Bride Stranded with a Notorious Playboy!

Anna Constantinides, publicly humiliated when her long-time fiancee announced his engagement to someone else, might have thought things couldn’t get any worse…. Until her private jet crash-landed on an uninhabited island, leaving her stranded with billionaire hotel magnate Leo Jackson. Renowned playboy Leo’s reputation is legendary, and if the smoldering looks they were fighting to contain when rescued are anything to go by, there can only be one question on everybody’s lips: just how long did it take wickedly sexy Leo to undress buttoned-up heiress Anna?

It has been a while since I read a book that kept me up all throughout the hours of the night the way this one did. I just keep telling myself one more page, and I could not put it down.

Anna Constantinides is a sweet woman who thought she did everything perfectly to fulfill her destiny of becoming queen. Yet her fiancé still choose another woman to claim as his bride. With such a high profile relationship of course the breakup was just as high profile. So not only did she have to deal with a broken heart, but the scandal and constant media attention. My heart truly went out to her and it reminded me of what celebrities really go through. I could not imagine my personal life being anything but personal and private. It made me hope that she could get a brief moment of reprieve even if she found it on a island stranded with a hot stranger.

Leo has also lived his life in the media’s eye but he compensates with it differently. While Anna just hopes it will all disappear Leo seems to just ignore it and sometimes even play it up for amusement. This attitude is what made me realize immediately he was just what Anna needed to learn to let her hair down and just enjoy life. Whether it be for a few hours or the rest of her life.

The relationship development within this story is that slow burn you expect from traditional romance novels. At times I really appreciated the build-up of emotions, other times I just wished they would stop dancing around one another and put everything out on the table. This roller coaster of emotions really helped to keep me enthralled in the storyline. I’m not usually a fan of traditional romance but this story made me re-think my view on my mother’s old romance novels she cherishes. This is a story I can see any woman enjoying regardless of age, and that is why I would have no problem recommending it.

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