Law of Attraction by Darlene Fredette

November 25, 2014 By Leave a Comment

LAW
Law of Attraction by Darlene Fredette
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (215 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

Lawyer Christina Crawford has a successful career and stable financial future, but is it enough? Her world is disrupted when a routine divorce case means working with a man she never expected—or wanted—to see again. During their first meeting, she can’t deny a connection still exists. Her head warns her to run, but her heart yearns to stay.

Steven Mitchell is ruthless in the courtroom, but outside those doors, his easy charm, good looks, and unlimited stream of female companions gives him an unscrupulous reputation. Six years ago, Christina saw beyond his façade, but the emotions she evoked scared him and he pushed her away. Now he wants a second chance and he is determined to get her back…even if he has to play dirty.

Jealousy is a devastating force for almost too long in Law of Attraction.

Professionally Christina Crawford survives Steven Mitchell’s actions that were prompted by his jealousy. But emotionally she still has a wound that has never healed even after five years.

Driven to prove herself, Christina excels as a lawyer. But stress from an overload of cases that she works on relentlessly to win and usually does, has taken its toll. When a long overdue vacation finally comes at the same time as her sister’s wedding, Christina looks forward to a rest and fun.

However, a pressing, supposedly straight forward, divorce case stalls her departure. The opposing lawyer is none other than the high-powered criminal lawyer Steven Mitchell. Why is he handling a divorce case? Emotional upheaval plus new, damning evidence against her client, have Christina multitasking as she works to find a solution for her client’s problems, takes part in her sister’s pre-wedding events, and copes with feelings for Steven Mitchell that refuse to die.

Darlene Fredette keeps tension at a fever pitch, engaging the reader’s full attention.

Steven Mitchell’s plan to win Christina back and his continued jealous antics work against each other again and again, but he preservers. His connection with Christina’s sister’s in-laws creates a new level of emotional conflict that neither he nor Christina handles very well. The couple in the divorce and how they settle their difference become the catalyst for change in Christina’s and Steven’s relationship.

Ms. Fredette’s vivid descriptions give the reader a strong of place. Her ability to use secondary characters to up the anxiety and stress is remarkable and keeps the tension high throughout the story. However, the hero’s jealousy, ruling his actions for so long, made this reader wonder: Can a leopard change its spots?

How Ms. Fredette works out the hurts relieves some of the doubt, but best of all, Christina and Steven’s love that forgives all things finally creates a hard-won happy-ever-after.

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

The Wrong Cowboy by Lauri Robinson

November 24, 2014 By Leave a Comment

COWBOY
The Wrong Cowboy by Lauri Robinson
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length(281 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

All the rigorous training in the world could not have prepared nursemaid Marie Hall for trailing the wilds of Dakota with six orphans. Especially when her ingenious plan—to pose as the mail-order bride of the children’s next of kin—leads Marie to the wrong cowboy!

Proud and stubborn, Stafford Burleson is everything Marie’s been taught to avoid. But with her fate and that of the children in his capable hands, Marie soon feels there’s something incredibly right about this rugged rancher and his brooding charm….

Lauri Robinson, as usual, serves up a delightful, compelling romance and adventure that sweeps the reader into the actions and emotions from page one. The Wrong Cowboy bubbles with life, love, and conflict—both personal and public.

Marie Hall may not have been blessed with a family or name, but she’s blessed with determination and intelligence aplenty. She needs all her innate abilities and her training to be sure the six orphaned Meeker children are not separated nor are they ever hungry or feel unsafe.

When things do not turn out as planned, she figures them out as she goes along. She soon finds her training to be a nursemaid had not covered a LOT of things she needs to know in order to cope with her and the children’s situation and with the rather overpowering Stafford Burleson. In her figuring out how to solve her lack-of-knowledge problem, she brings Gertrude Baker into their lives, who educates, nurtures, and adds to their quality of life.

Stafford Burleson, a hardworking rancher/business man, thinks he has his life set up just the way he wants it. A modern quote from Steve Jobs: “people don’t know what they want until you show it to them” fits Stafford so well. Stafford has authorization to handle his partner Mick Wagner’s business while Mick is on a cattle buying trip. Stafford never dreamed he’d have to cope with a “haughty” nursemaid and six children. My goodness, how his world does change! Problems, humor and emotional upheaval abound.

Lauri Robinson develops the characters so well. The personality of each of the six children shines. Each is distinctly his or her own person. Moreover, even the minor characters seem to come to life. Of course, the antagonist is really memorable.

The energy, determination, and bustle of building a solid community in the late nineteenth century in a settled but still raw frontier, the excitement of the railroad bringing prosperity, and the dedication of people, all come alive in The Wrong Cowboy right along with a beautiful love story that makes the heart happy. GOOD READING!

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End of Normal by S.C. Arscott

November 24, 2014 By Leave a Comment

End Of Normal
End of Normal by S.C. Arscott
Publisher: Champagne Books
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (216 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3 Stars
Review by: Astilbe

Sixteen-year-old Olivia Richards’ last day of normal is just that, normal. She worries about impressing Sawyer Rising, the hottest guy in school, and argues with her mother. Everything seems fine except for that strange, glowing plant in the yard and her dad lying to her and deaf twin brother Charlie, which is the weirdest thing of all because their parents do not lie to them. Ever.

Normal ends as lights shoot out of the sky and turn into stinging drones, killing their parents. As he lay dying, their father gives them cryptic clues about coordinates and begs forgiveness before insisting they leave.

The twins join forces with Olivia’s boyfriend Axel, her best friend Clara, and heartthrob Sawyer. Together they go in search of answers only to find conspiracy, death, and an awful truth about their families.

Sometimes parents keep secrets from their kids, but most of them aren’t as dangerous as the one Olivia’s father has been keeping from her.

One of the things I appreciated the most about Olivia is how calm she stays in a crisis. She thinks through her options carefully before making a decision even when she’s in danger. This isn’t something that typically happens in this sort of tale, so it was a real treat to realize that the protagonist is such an intelligent and level-headed girl.

The pacing of this novel was disjointed. While the flashbacks to Olivia’s previous life were interesting, describing what her last few days of normalcy were like took up a disproportionate amount of space in the plot. These scenes would have made a good prequel, but they didn’t blend in very well with the fast-paced material that appears later on.

There are times when a book needs to be vivid and gross in order to get its point across. This isn’t normally the sort of thing I seek out in this genre, but it worked really well for this particular story. It’s hard to discuss it in detail without giving away spoilers, of course, but I was pleased to see how neatly the author tied everything together. Certain scenes would have been much less effective without these elements. I also thought I should mention it in my review because it’s something I would have preferred to know about ahead of time.

I’d recommend End of Normal to anyone in the mood for action-heavy science fiction.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Fairy Nuff by Jane Killick

November 21, 2014 By 1 Comment

FAIRY
Fairy Nuff by Jane Killick
Publisher: Windtree Press
Genre: Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (233 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

Wishing for everything…

…except what she really wants

Stuck in a fairy costume with magical powers, Julie “Nuff” Nuffield wishes for anything she wants. But when magic turns mischievous, a dishy doctor literally sweeps her off her feet — with a broom! — and a million pound coins trap her in her house, she must find a way out of the chaos. All while contemplating sleeping with her ex again. Sound unfair for a single woman battling through life? Or is it Fairy Nuff?

A fun story of one woman’s quest for love and search for the right wish to bring her happiness.

Julie can wish for anything she wants, but what does she really want?

I think that most people at one point in their lives have wished for magical powers of some sort, but no one expects it to actually happen. When Julie finds herself stuck in a fairy costume with magical powers, she’s understandably overwhelmed. At first she’s giddy with the knowledge of her newly discovered powers and is eager to test them out, but her excitement is short lived and it isn’t long before Julie simply wants to be rid of the costume and the powers. However, the costume seems to be stuck to her for a reason. Will Julie figure out the reason for her powers, or will she be a fairy forever?

I knew from the moment I read the title that Fairy Nuff was a book I had to read. I was in the mood for something funny and this tale certainly lived up to my expectations. Fairy Nuff is filled with laugh out loud moments. Ms. Killick managed to make the completely ridiculous predicaments Julie found herself in believable. While I was rolling with laughter for a good portion of the book, there were also some very touching and tender moments sprinkled throughout the story. The idea that being stuck in a magical fairy costume can teach a person some life lessons sounds outrageous, and yet it is completely true for Julie. I’m amazed at how much Julie’s life changed and how much she learned. Julie was forced to take a good look at her life and figure out what really mattered. I also think the costume protected Julie in a weird way. Before Julie became an unwilling fairy, she was headed down a path she would have ultimately regretted. Getting stuck in that costume might have been the best thing that ever happened to Julie.

I do think that the ending was a little abrupt. Throughout the book, Julie has some very promising and flirty encounters with a good looking guy. I would have liked to see even more interaction between Julie and the new man in her life. I think this would have made the ending more satisfying and left me with more hope for Julie’s romantic future.

I’m glad I was given the opportunity to read Fairy Nuff. Julie is a very likable character and her adventures provided me with a lot of laughs as I read. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a well written romantic comedy.

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

The Deepest Night by Kara Braden

November 20, 2014 By 1 Comment

NIGHT
The Deepest Night by Kara Braden
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (277 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

When everything you love is on the line…

The Isles of Scilly off the coast of England are remote, windswept and wild. They’re the perfect place for Ray Powell to recuperate after the toughest Afghanistan mission the military contractor has ever run. Except instead of the peace and quiet he so desperately needs, he’s faced with a beautiful American woman who instantly challenges his iron control.

It’s best to proceed with caution…

Seeking her own safe haven, Michelle Cole is intrigued and flustered by the intensely compelling and irresistible man.

As their cautious friendship slowly builds into simmering attraction, their hearts and souls are about to be broken open…if they’ll allow it.

The Deepest Night is a delightful “getting-to-know-you” romantic love story. Kara Braden lures the reader in to share this remarkable time with two mature adults who both have their doubts about commitment and true love. Day by day and night by night they inch along with uncertainty, but with desires that keep them disturbingly aware of each other in the supposedly closed Bed and Breakfast on the Isle of Scilly off the coast of England. Both Ray Powell and Michelle Cole are off their home territory. However, Ray has the advantage of having spent much of his childhood on Scilly.

Michelle has self-image issues as well as being conflicted about her future. She lost her bed and breakfast during a horrific hurricane in New York and, right along with it, she learned her partner and friend had been taking money from their business all along. She’s still reeling from both disasters.

Ray, a retired Royal Marine and now the vice president of a special security agency in the United States, treads lightly. He is not a relationship-commitment person, but Michelle sets his bruised and battered body sizzling. His special skills serve him well as he navigates the land mines in Michelle’s life to get to the “real” Michelle. His phone conversations with his partner and friend Preston are revealing and often humorous. While their business is fraught with danger, their friendship sparkles with comfortable trust and good-natured teasing. Preston has no qualms about giving Ray advice about Michelle.

Michelle’s own friend Vicky is also just full of advice for Michelle about the gorgeous, dangerous-looking hunk that showed up on the closed bed and breakfast doorstep, expecting his usual welcome. The irrepressible Vicky encourages a vacation fling for Michelle who she believes over thinking the situation. Just as it looks like she might take Vicky’s advice, Eleanor, Michelle’s multi-married and divorced mother shows up for a visit. The obstacles, the maneuvering, and the humor that comes from this unforeseen visit reveal much about the characters.

Kara Braden’s charming writing style weaves in beautiful description and engages the senses while all the time pulling the reader into the intimate emotions of the hero and heroine. She writes captivating romance without a lot of extra conflicts and complications thrown in. From start to finish, The Deepest Night is a believable, enticing love story and a joy to read.

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Common Enemy by Sandra Dailey

November 19, 2014 By Leave a Comment

ENEMY
Common Enemy by Sandra Dailey
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (273 Pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Sorrel

Jordan Holbrook is the single mother of a five-year-old daughter. She’s just inherited her grandmother’s house in South Florida where she’s hiding from an abusive ex-husband who’s been released from prison early. A new man in her life isn’t part of her plans.

Connor McCrae is a handyman who lives out of his van. He walked away from a privileged life and loving family after being badly scarred in a vicious attack. He doesn’t believe a woman’s love is in the cards for him.

They are brought together by a rundown house, a mutual attraction, and a common enemy: Bobby Ray Butler, who is cutting a path of murder and mayhem through south Florida in his quest for vengeance against his ex-wife.

Can Connor protect Jordan and her daughter from the enraged Bobby Ray? Can Jordan learn to trust men again? If anyone has a say in this–it’s Connor.

A classic mystery where the past is bent on revenge!

I think there are some who would say that the classic mystery would be where the male lead would be the handsome guy who would save the day at the end of the novel (with a Happily Ever After). I’d agree with those people too. However, classic mystery I think varies between different people’s opinion.

Here’s the general idea of this story. The male lead is an injured lawyer who have been running or trying to come to terms with his life after an injury. He drifts from town to town doing odd jobs for people. So when another odd job lands him with a beautiful woman and her daughter, they connect. All the old wounds start healing. Relationships are forged and strengthened. In the end it was surprising that justice was served but the road to find it wasn’t easy for them.

When I started reading this book it was simple. It caught my eye and kept me interested throughout to the end of the book. But what I disliked most of all was how fast everything was moving in the beginning. I like fast-paced books but this was smoking. It took me some time to wrap my head around it. I kept going back every couple of pages to make sure I didn’t misread or skip a page.

That said, the book also gives insight on how grief works and affects the whole family. The author did not let me get bored. Something was always happening. Questions kept rising in my head while reading, to answer it I had to read the coming pages. By the time those questions are answered I had a new set of questions at the ready. And then–Ta-da–I had finished the book.

This is a perfect book for readers looking for injured hero and heroines and how they help each other learn to live again.

Filed Under: Interviews, Mystery/Suspense, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Deadly Influence by Lynde Lakes

November 18, 2014 By Leave a Comment

DEADLY
Deadly Influence by Lynde Lakes
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Mystery/Suspense, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (170 pages)
Heat Level: sensual
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Thornapple

Laced with romantic intrigue, Air Force Intelligence Lieutenant Jay Corning, and his grandmother’s bodyguard, Lisa Dixon, struggle to keep their attraction for each other in check while they work together to uncover the evil soul trying to kill the strong-willed matriarch.

Danger closes in from the dark corners of the small community, stirring fears and steamy emotions. The heat rises at the Corning Estate, drawing Lisa and Jay closer, while a mysterious force threatens to drive them apart.

This is a very twisty story full of greedy, selfish characters, a cool grandmother, a hot military guy and a strong leading lady.

When Lisa’s career as a police officer didn’t work out, she goes into the private sector. She is now a bodyguard for an elderly woman someone wants dead. But, who? Why? Lisa begins to care for Meta just like she was her own grandmother. Meta’s two grandsons are another matter entirely. Dealing with Bud is a pain but when Meta’s other grandson, Jay arrives, Lisa finds him even more infuriating, and not only that, too attractive and not as easy to blow off as Bud.

Jay returns home from his military duties to see what has been going on with his grandmother after he is informed there has been an attempt on her life. He is very uneasy and angry to learn that the nurse, Lisa, has ensconced herself firmly into Meta’s life, and has even been included in his grandmother’s will. But when another attempt is made on Meta’s life, Jay gets an up close and personal introduction to the real Lisa…and a gold digger she is not.

Although there were some areas in the plot that were transparent in regards to the whodunit part of the story, there were still twist that took me by surprise. The action and shoot outs make up for any predictability. While the story was equal parts suspense and romance, Jay and Lisa’s saga was the best part for me. I couldn’t believe what was happening with them and wanted to somehow reach into the book and punch a certain master manipulator in the mouth. Grrrrr!!

What I liked the most about the story was the subtle message about our own individuality. Jay and Lisa had to come to the realization that they were nothing like their parents and didn’t need to worry about carrying their parent’s undesirable traits themselves.

This book was a quick and entertaining read and I would recommend to romantic suspense fans.

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

A Quilt for Christmas by Sandra Dallas

November 12, 2014 By Leave a Comment

QUILT
A Quilt for Christmas by Sandra Dallas
Publisher: St. Martins Press
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (256 pgs)
Heat: Sensual
Rated: 4 stars
Reviewed by Snapdragon

It is 1864 and Eliza Spooner’s husband Will has joined the Kansas volunteers to fight the Conferedates, leaving her with their two children and in charge of their home and land. Eliza is confident that he will return home, and she helps pass the months making a special quilt to keep Will warm during his winter in the army. When the unthinkable happens, she takes in a a woman and child who have been left alone and made vulnerable by the war, and she finds solace and camaraderie amongst the women of her quilting group. And when she is asked to help hide an escaped slave, she must decide for herself what is right, and who can she can count on to help her.

A Quilt for Christmas surpasses expectations in every way imaginable. Heartfelt and charming: yes. Meaningful: Yes. However, the depth of characters, the strength of their beliefs, and their reliance on one another, as well as the warm undercurrent of faith, make this a book to remember.

Eliza Spooner is the main character. Her husband away at war, she has to manage home, children and a good deal of the unexpected, without him. This story might have turned into her own personal journey story for just the one main character, however, it’s honestly more of a ‘community’ journey story. Many people’s lives are interwoven here.

It is the time of the Civil War, a time when many menfolk are away from home, some families are suffering terrible loss, a time when women in the community learn to lean on one another. Sometimes, their political beliefs don’t coincide, yet trusting in ‘doing right’ helps them stand by one another.

Everyday life, from the corn-silk haired doll to some old time turns-of-phrase in conversations help create a sense of the time and the setting. Descriptions are straightforward and never slow the pace. Some characters are unexpectedly important: like little Luzena who manages to be quite clever, and Missouri Ann, who is both a victim and a heroine, in her own right.

Not only is this an epic tale of women’s struggles through this difficult time, but there are unexpected and surprising events, and we see that indeed evil does exist, and people can band together against it.

A Quilt for Christmas if dramatic and heartfelt, surprising and also warm: It will make a wonderful Christmas present…but don’t wait for Christmas to read it!

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Dark Prince by Eve Silver

November 11, 2014 By Leave a Comment

PRINCE
Dark Prince by Eve Silver
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (352 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Thornapple

Innkeeper’s daughter Jane Heatherington is sold into indentured servitude to cover her father’s debts, sold to Aidan Warrick, a man whose handsome face and form mock the rumors that skulk in his shadow, rumors that paint him a smuggler, a pirate…and worse.

On the rainswept Cornish coast, Aidan’s business is carried out in the darkest hours of moonless nights, his secrets are many, and death follows in his wake. Isolated and alone, Jane’s only companion is the man she dare not trust, the man who looks at her with heated desire that she both fears and craves.

As she finds herself ensnared in the twisted schemes carried out within the walls of Aidan’s looming estate, Jane must decide if Aidan Warrick is the dark prince of her dreams or a monster preying on the innocent…

Dark Prince harkens back to the days when dark Gothic mystery and romance were all the rage. I have read a few more modern novels which attempted to capture that dark, brooding atmosphere, but they usually come up short.

Today’s readers might not “get” this type of novel having missed out on the glory days of this genre. If the word Gothic is mentioned to modern readers the first image that comes to mind is usually something to do with vampires or a novel somehow dealing with a supernatural tone. That is not necessarily the case. This Gothic style novel falls more on the Jane Eyre side of Gothic romance, only quite a bit darker. It is my sincere hope that younger, and more modern readers will approach this type of historical romance with an open mind, without preconceived notions, and will appreciate it as much as I do.

Before I go into my take on the story, I feel I must point out this book does have some typographical errors. There are only a handful, but it does need to be corrected, in my opinion, before asking someone to pay for the book. That is my only complaint about the book and it has no bearing on the story itself, but I did reduce the star rating because of this issue.

Jane is a young lady, handicapped with a bad leg, in dire circumstances due to her father’s mishandling of funds. He owes a great deal of money and when the man he owes comes to collect, Jane winds up being the bargaining chip.

Aidan is a very handsome man, but he is dangerous, dark, sinister and quite handy with a knife. He now has Jane as his bond servant, the price that was paid him by Jane’s father. While Jane is expecting Aidan to behave toward her in a cruel manner, he surprises her by doing just the opposite.

Aidan is almost an anti-hero as he makes his living by being a smuggler or pirate. He is hard and angry, filled with bitterness against Jane’s father, but is very protective of Jane, always treating her fairly, and admitting she has taken him by surprise. He has lived his life for this moment, the moment when he will finally have his revenge on the man who wronged him many years ago. Jane was to be a tool he used as part of that revenge. Will Jane have an impact on his plans for vengeance?

Hardly the noble hero many are used to reading about in romance novels, Aidan is still a character I felt compassion for, especially after realizing his painful past. I saw he was dangerous but I also knew I could trust him with Jane. When love enters his life, his priorities shift, making it difficult to justify his plans for vengeance. In the meanwhile, Jane, who has never known a way of life other than the one with her father, begins to slowly realize the kind of man her father really is. There are quite a few twist of irony in this story. Aidan falling for the daughter of the man he most reviles and Jane being the one to lift him out of the dark turmoil that has plagued him for years. Also, Jane’s realization she is in love with her captor, the man who owns her legally, the man she should hate, but can’t. So, this may not be the type of love story many are accustomed to but, it is truly a wonderful story about being lifted from so much pain and grief, letting go of one’s anger and hatred, choosing love over revenge and coming away with a new life, one filled with joy and peace. While most of the novel is very dark in nature, the darkness gradually lifts as love gains more power and we watch Aidan and Jane stand in a bright clear dawn.

This novel did manage to capture the essence and nuance of the Gothic style mystery and romances of old, adding in a more sensual touch. Perhaps one day this genre will see a revival of sorts. So, if you are looking for something a little off the beaten path, say something totally different from the over saturation of regency tales we are overrun with currently, something that has a darker tone, a mystery, suspense, and an unconventional love story, this one is worth giving checking out.

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

The Lodge on Holly Road by Sheila Roberts

November 10, 2014 By Leave a Comment

HOLLY
The Lodge on Holly Road by Sheila Roberts
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday
Length: Full Length (354 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

How Santa Gets His Christmas Spirit Back…

James Claussen has played Santa for years, but now that he’s a widower, he’s lost interest—in everything. So his daughter, Brooke, kidnaps him from the mall (in his Santa suit!) and takes him to Icicle Falls. She’s arranged a special Christmas at the lodge owned by long-widowed Olivia Wallace and her son, Eric. And yet…Brooke wants Dad to be happy, but she’s not ready to see someone else’s mommy kissing Santa Claus.

Single mom Missy Monroe brings her kids to the lodge, too. Lalla wants a grandma for Christmas, and her brother, Carlos, wants a dog. Missy can’t provide either one. What she’d like is an attractive, dependable man. A man like John Truman… But John’s girlfriend will be joining him in Icicle Falls, and he’s going to propose.

Of course not everything goes as planned. But sometimes the best gifts are the ones you don’t expect!

The Lodge on Holly Road reads like a holiday soap opera with nothing but happy endings for the main protagonists. It’s a feel good read that fits in with the theme of the season.

Not that it’s all fluff and cotton candy. Human emotions, expectations and assumptions not to mention life’s dismal realities do tend to give this novel a depth and richness. Most of the heroes and heroines have to overcome issues in order to find the happiness they all hope for in some part of their hearts. It’s getting there and how Ms. Roberts navigates the tricky personalities of her characters that made this book an entertaining read.

Like with most soap operas, there are one or two main plots that are highlighted with some background mini plots filling out the tableau, and somehow, they are all interconnected because for a week’s time, everyone is together in a very close setting. Not one character remains untouched by what goes on at the lodge.

There are those that start out like Scrooge but in the end show that they are marshmallows inside – while denying it the entire time. There are single moms and dutiful sons, grief and loss and new beginnings. There are kids on the cusp of not believing in Santa and adults who desperately want what the message of the season inspires. There are rich and poor, both in money and in spirit. Ms. Roberts covered all the bases, making The Lodge on Holly Road a busy but thoroughly engaging read.

The one that stood out to me, and I think that was the point, was John Truman. Every single time he did a monologue about his girlfriend, I knew, just knew where it was heading. I also had hopes, which the author gave plenty of hints that it was not in vain, as to whom he’d eventually turn to. The fact that the other lodgers noticed his plight somehow became the glue that touched every other character in the novel in some way and bound them together. His tale may not have started the story right away, but once he was on stage, I could see most of the plot threads being influenced by his actions and his presence.

There are too many heroes and heroines to go through in a review but I’d say they were all well done. The only one I was least impressed with was the romance of Brooke and Eric. Yes, it was sweet and happy but it didn’t have the detail nor was it as fleshed out as it could have been to convince me of their falling in love. I think the author was all about the “feel good” aspect of the story and if that was her aim, she was on target. Nothing wrong with that.

If readers are in the mood for a book that embodies the warmth, love and heart of the holiday season, especially Christmas, then look no further than The Lodge on Holly Road. It reads like a yummy dessert, with a crunchy outside and delicious multilayered gooey goodness inside. It’s a treat that I recommend for all readers who want a simple but busy character driven romance. The theme might be Christmas but at heart is a universal love story.

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