The Wedding Rescue by Megan Kelly

February 16, 2016 By Leave a Comment

wedding
The Wedding Rescue by Megan Kelly
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (325 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

LEFT IN THE LURCH…
Rancher Jack Walker eagerly anticipates marrying the quiet, lovely artist who has agreed to be his wife and stepmother to his six-year-old daughter. Their union will mirror the peace and security of his previous marriage.

AT THE CHURCH
Veterinarian Lexi Marshall is tricked into her twin sister’s wedding dress minutes before the bride disappears out the back door. Now Lexi must tell Jack there is no wedding. But instead of “guess what?” she says, “I do?”

ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED
Covering for her sister by marrying Jack is a big mistake. But even Lexi’s confession can’t untangle the mess after she learns he could lose his ranch if they divorce.

Legal problems aside, how will they handle the attraction simmering between them?

Doing the wrong thing for the right reasons sure gets complicated when the wrong thing turns out to be the right thing after all. But someone isn’t happy about it; not happy about it in a creepy, villainous way. How the author wove that into the story was genius. It made reading The Wedding Rescue all the more interesting because of that subtle nefarious twist.

Lexi tries to save Jack from a horrid fate, or so she thinks. She’s used to fixing problems but this one is bigger than anything she could have imagined. The emotional conflict comes from Jack and Lexi actually liking each other but not realizing just how much more their feelings are for each other. They’ve both made choices, have lives and careers in a small town where there aren’t too many surprises because everyone knows everybody. Because of that familiarity, neither one had ever looked deeper at the other to discover the treasure that was right under their noses. It took Lexi’s sister bolting away from her own wedding in the last few minutes to “go time” to throw every plan, dream, goal, expectation and perception on its ear and start a chain of events no one could have anticipated. What follows is an unusual romance.

Jack thinks he knows what he wants in a woman. What he was really getting was a one dimensional mirror image that was a stand in for someone who his heart recognized but his brain didn’t have a clue. Before you say ‘typical guy’, Jack was a very likable character. He has many great qualities and has his chance to prove to one and all just how heroic he can be. Before that happens, readers get to see a hardworking, manly man with a great sense of humor, love for family and friends who looks good riding a horse. I liked how the author was able to make me feel the love Jack has for his daughter.

Lexi is quite the independent woman. She has a great but challenging career and she doesn’t think of herself as a girly-girl. She thinks she’s pretty much on the sidelines, especially compared to her sister, who she’s posing as. Lexi’s going to find out that she’s very noticeable; it’s a good thing/bad thing. But what I really liked was how no matter what, she was herself, and Jack’s grouchy relative saw right through her and liked her just the way she was. That revelation was one of the high points for me. It showed me he wasn’t slow, old and doddering, and it showed me that Lexi was a really sweet, caring person. I liked that.

The only bit of fluff that the book could have done without was a side relationship between two secondary characters. It really had no bearing on Jack and Lexi’s romance so I didn’t understand why it was even there. If it was to foreshadow or set the hook for a future story for the two, it didn’t draw me in. If I ever do read it, it will be because it would be about Jack’s brother, not because I felt any emotional sparks between the two.

The Wedding Rescue is a full bodied romance filled with a lot of emotional layers. There’s gentle humor, characters that are genuinely likeable, and a few that are not, with good reason. It’s a well told romance story that takes the time to explore all the nuances of ranch and community life and shares with a reader all its charm and quirks. The cutest sentence in the novel was the last sentence. I had to think for a moment to remember what Lexi said earlier in the book and once I got the joke, I belly laughed. This was a really nice book to read and I recommend it.

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A Woman of Courage by Marlow Kelly

February 16, 2016 By Leave a Comment

WOMAN
A Woman of Courage by Marlow Kelly
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical
Length: Short Story (62 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Honeysuckle

When an injured Fianna Byrne turns up at Connell O’Neill’s gate twelve years after their separation he knows this could be his last chance to find happiness with the woman he loves.

False accusations against Fianna had strained relations between their clans and forced Connell, under Irish law, to divorce her. Their disastrous three-month relationship left Fianna pregnant and heartbroken. She has avoided Duncarraig and her ex-husband ever since.

But with her home obliterated by the Vikings, Fianna must face her past in order to save her son, and prove once and for all she is a woman of courage.

Time can heal a lot wounds but it doesn’t erase the past. Connell has a chance to remind Fianna they really did have more than lust going for them so long ago. Twelve years was a lot of time to let bitterness simmer but if their love can be rekindled, it will be the ultimate healing power.

Fianna had to grow up quickly from the stary-eyed girl who married Connell at seventeen. She’s a mother and the queen of her clan. She took on the responsibility to maintain the livelihood of large group of people when she was forced to leave the security of her husband’s home. She was a woman who had proven herself and someone I could cheer for. I liked that the author didn’t have her turn into a weepy pile of goo as soon as she sees Connell. Yes, her body reacts to his closeness and concern but her priorities are in order. Her people come first.

I wanted her to be strong but I also didn’t want her to be so completely stubborn that she wouldn’t allow herself to see that Connell had changed as well. He’d been a boy of nineteen when they were married. He wasn’t a boy any longer and he’d had plenty of time to realize who had truly poisoned their chance at a happy marriage. Plus, he was able to see his own part in the fallout. He was a mature man, king of his clan, and still very attracted to the mother of his son. It was sweet and then it got hot.

I did expect the dialogue to be more of the period. It was almost too modern. The author obviously studied up on the era and used correct vernacular to describe the homes and the clothes as well as titles. Thankfully, I wasn’t drawn out of the story because of the dialogue, it was just noticeable. I’ve read some Historicals where the brogue can be so thick I couldn’t understand what I was reading without a translation dictionary but this was more on the other end of the spectrum. It was set in Ireland but it didn’t really feel Irish when they spoke.

The setting was very nicely described. I could see the way the villages were set up, the forest surrounding and the river running near Fianna’s home. The reader isn’t present for the initial battle that took place but the author describe the destruction and death and violence of the Vikings who decimated her clan’s home. That was exceptionally realistic.

Be sure to read the forward in this book regarding Irish laws and customs. It was beneficial in putting me in the right frame of mind to see the Irish culture of the period depicted as opposed to looking at it from a modern American standpoint.

This was nice period piece where land, loyalty and courage were highly valued. It’s a “one-sitting” story that has potential if the author ever decided to expound on Fianna and Connell’s world. There are secondary characters introduced who give the story some dimension. Ms. Kelly obviously likes to portray strong women and this is a short story worth spending time with.

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Winter’s Wonder: Pine Point by Allie Boniface

February 16, 2016 By Leave a Comment

winter
Winter’s Wonder by Allie Boniface
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (103 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Honeysuckle

When a bad boy falls for an angel, the sparks could set the coldest season on fire.

Pine Point, Book 2

Pine Point hasn’t changed much in the eight years Zane Andrews has been away. But Zane sure has. These days, this reformed bad boy has no problem resisting the bored housewives who flirt shamelessly with their gated community’s security guard.

The only thorn in his side is the stray dog that keeps overturning the neighborhood’s garbage cans, and the cute, crusading do-gooder who barks at him for trying to chase it off.

Becca Ericksen knows Zane is just doing his job, but his tactics are making her job—to rescue strays and bring them to Pine Point Paws—much harder. Clearly, they have nothing in common, yet when the legendary playboy asks her out, she finds herself saying yes.

With a sizzling kiss, something warm and unexpected begins to grow between them. Opposites can attract, but is attraction enough?

Becca has a way of collecting strays and not just the four legged variety.

Actually, Zane Andrews came home on his own so he’s not so much a stray as rescue. He’s just now realizing that what she’s rescued him from is a life without love, real honest love.

There’s so much to enjoy about this novella. The characters are easy to relate to and I just love a small town, bad boy comes home kind of story. Sure it’s a trope that’s been done but it’s one that draws me every time like a bee to honey. Having said that, it has to be done correctly. The characters have to have chemistry and real motivation. Simply putting them in a small town setting and calling him a “bad boy” won’t do it.

Zane and Becca have some high school history together even if they never ran with the same crowd in high school. I liked that she didn’t hold what she remembered about him as a teen over his head as an adult. She gave him a chance and she’s the perfect personality type who would see that he deserved a second chance.

These two have chemistry and I thought it was humorous that it’s actually Becca who has more trouble not climbing him like a tree. Don’t get me wrong, Zane wants her. Bad! But he also respects her and seems to have genuinely matured in the eight years he was away from Pine Point.

Interestingly enough, the main secondary character in this book never speaks, well never speaks in a human voice. He’s a dog that starts out as a thorn in Zane’s side but comes to represent something else altogether. It was fantastic to watch the development.

The story almost seems like the relationship is going to be sealed tight well before the end but there’s a reoccurring problem that has to be addressed. I could see both sides of the issue and that’s a good thing. I don’t like when author’s make an obvious two way street into a one way or the highway solution.

This was a fun read and an author I’d like to revisit since she loves the small town setting like I do. Her characters were nicely developed without information dumps and the love story hits all the right notes. I’d love to see Becca and Zane in a future installment to the Pine Point series. They’re headed for a really sweet and sexy HEA.

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Unwanted Girl by MK Schiller

February 15, 2016 By 10 Comments

MediaKit_BookCover_UnwantedGirl
Unwanted Girl by MK Schiller
Publisher: Lyrical/Kensington
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full (316 pgs)
Heat level: Spicy
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Rose

When a man loves a woman

Recovering addict Nick Dorsey finds solace in his regimented life. That is until he meets Shyla Metha. Something about the shy Indian beauty who delivers take-out to his Greenwich Village loft inspires the reclusive writer. And when Shyla reveals her desire to write a book of her own, he agrees to help her. The tale of a young Indian girl growing up against a landscape of brutal choices isn’t Nick’s usual territory, but something about the story, and the beautiful storyteller, draws him in deep.

Shyla is drawn to Nick, but she never imagines falling for him. Like Nick, Shyla hails from a village, too…a rural village in India. They have nothing in common, yet he makes her feel alive for the first time in her life. She is not ready for their journey to end, but the plans she’s made cannot be broken…not even by him. Can they find a way to rewrite the next chapter?

This book drew me in to the point where I read it in one sitting. In a way, you get double the content for your money, because there is a story within the story. First, you have the love story between Nick and Shyla—from their first tentative outreaches of friendship to a deeply passionate love. Second, you have the story they write together – the story of the Indian woman Asha and the horrors she went through.

There are obstacles for Nick and Shyla to overcome on their journey, not the least of which are the differences in their background, the secrets they both hide, and the fact that they know their time together is limited due to the time on Shyla’s student visa soon running out.

Ms. Schiller does an excellent job with the characters—though they both have flaws, they are very likable. She also does a great job with the two different “voices”—the elements of the Nick’s stories that are shared are so different from Shyla’s story that are shared about Asha. Good job there!

I don’t want to say too much about the plot, because I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I will certainly be looking for more of this author’s work.

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When Highland Lightning Strikes: A Highland Talents Novella by Willa Blair

February 15, 2016 By Leave a Comment

highland
When Highland Lightning Strikes by Willa Blair
A Highland Talents Novella
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical, paranormal
Length: Short Story (125 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Honeysuckle

A Man who would be Laird

Angus MacAnalen fully expects to succeed his dead brother as Laird. But on the day of the Clan Council’s vote, a new lass steals his breath and his heart, making him question the ambition that drives him. When he begins to suspect she has a hidden talent that could help his clan, he must overcome the painful disappointment of the past before it costs him the future he desires.

A Lass in Exile

Because of her strange ability, Shona’s village banished her to live with a distant uncle after her parents died. When she catches the eye of the prospective laird of her new home, she fears the clan’s scrutiny may cause her to be expelled again, or worse. But Angus seems determined to win her heart, and Shona can’t help wanting to give it to him, despite the risks.

A Love Lifted out of the Ruins

Broken promises and broken dreams litter their pasts, and their present. Can they build a future from the ruins?

Shona is a Highland lass who has seen enough death and judgement to last a lifetime. It’s no wonder she’s wary when Angus literally staggers up with a lame pickup line. It was also pretty amusing. I could see her sitting there, one eyebrow raised at his obvious inebriated come on. I was glad to see that she had a little spunk in her even if it often had to be repressed because of heavy handed men in her clan, namely her uncle and guardian.

I kept picturing Ian Somerhalder when Angus was described and I had no problem seeing why Shona was attracted. Outside the tendency toward premature celebratory drinking, which was likely common for the age, he had some truly noble qualities and he loved his clansmen. Still, he’s also a man and Shona is a beautiful lass who doesn’t hate his kisses. Circumstances put them in a position to protect each other and the outcome was decidedly sweet and sexy at the same time.

One of the first things I noticed is that the dialogue feels authentic. This is a Highland setting and I expected to hear the people speak with some form of brogue lilt. It was easy to fall into a pattern of reading it in my mind with the same pattern of speech but it also helped put me into the setting, to feel a part of it.

A couple of interesting twists kept this story alive right to very end. Also, the clan MacAnalen needs to build their hall away from trees, for everyone’s sake. Seriously, if this clan didn’t have bad luck it wouldn’t have any luck at all. I would have liked to have seen Shona have a little more self-confidence in her ability and not have taken quite so long to embrace it. She has reason to worry about how people will react but she takes on so much guilt at what she can or can’t do it’s practically paralyzing. Love is a very powerful motivator and in the end it lends the strength she needs.

There’s a paranormal element to this book, as with all the Highland Talents books. Angus sampled some of that talent in Highland Healer and was less than impressed. I was curious to see how he would react once he realized that Shona shared a similar talent.

There’s mention of what happened in the first book in the Highland Talents series between Toran and his healer, Aileanna, who also make an appearance in this novella. I haven’t read that one, yet, but I’d like to go back and see how this war that tore up so many clans began. Ms. Blair has an easy to read talent for bringing a story to life. Given another opportunity, I look forward to returning to the Highlands with this Ms. Blair to see what new talents make themselves known.

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Christmas at the Corral by Debra St John

February 15, 2016 By Leave a Comment

christmas
Christmas at the Corral by Debra St John
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday
Length: Short Story (66 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Honeysuckle

Maggie Pearson has no time in her busy life for love, but an immediate attraction draws her to a mysterious stranger at The Corral, a local bar. However, any romantic feelings are ruthlessly squashed when he accuses her of having an affair with his brother.

As a divorce lawyer, Van Rawlings has seen the ugly side of marriage too many times to believe in love. But having gotten off on the wrong foot with Maggie, and genuinely contrite over his faux pas, he offers to help her with an upcoming Christmas charity dinner. The more time they spend together, the more he realizes he’s never met anyone like Maggie, who gives so generously of her time.

Can Maggie and the magic of the season help Van believe again? In Christmas and in love.

“What are you wearing ‘Jake from State Farm’?” “Uh, Khakis.” “She sounds hideous!” One of my favorite commercials on TV and illustrates that only hearing one side of a conversation can lead a person to jump to some outrageous conclusions. Either that or Van Rawlings has the worst pickup line in the history of the bar scene.

I can tell a lot about how well I’m going to enjoy a story from it’s opening paragraphs. This one drew me in pretty quick because I knew going in that Van’s assumption was totally off base. I wanted to see if Maggie would be the type to be stubborn and hold a grudge or smart and seize the opportunity. Her personality won me over quickly.

One of the things that made this a fun read is the flirty dialogue. After they get past the initial misunderstanding, Maggie and Van’s story really began to heat up with some palpable tension, the good kind. The chemistry has to be there for a story of this length to work and the author didn’t shy away from making them completely aware of their reactions to each other. It was like little zings of electricity. Very nice! And then she brought the heat. Really nice!

The second thing that kept me vested in this story was the conflict that came after the first one. Van is a divorce lawyer living in Dallas with zero interest in marriage. This seemed like a lot to overcome in a short time but it’s Christmas in our story and miracles do happen.

I loved how the author ultimately resolves Maggie and Van’s story, especially how Van grows from jaded divorce lawyer to someone who sees the good in others. I’ll just say the ending with “Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” was way better than the way it opened with a State Farm commercial.

This is a holiday themed book but I would suggest reading it anytime. I was also tickled to see that there are three other books in the series, including Zach and Jessica’s story that made this one possible. This author is going on my auto-read list.

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Runaway Vampire by Lynsay Sands

February 12, 2016 By Leave a Comment

RUNAWAY
Runaway Vampire by Lynsay Sands
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (218 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

The latest entry in the sizzling paranormal vampire series featuring the Argeneau family – no one does wickedly funny and irresistibly steamy like Lynsay Sands!

Dante Notte has heard it said that love hurts. He just wasn’t expecting it to run him over in an RV. Still, a punctured lung and broken ribs are nothing compared to the full-body shock he feels whenever he’s near the vehicle’s driver, Mary Winslow. He needs to keep her safe from their pursuers while he rescues his brother. Most challenging of all, he needs to claim this smart, stubborn woman as his life mate.

The naked, injured, insanely gorgeous younger man who clambered into her RV insists they belong together. If Mary wasn’t feeling their incredible connection in every inch of her being, she wouldn’t believe it. But now that the men who took Dante’s twin are after her too, trusting her gut means risking her life for an immortal who’s the very definition of a perfect stranger.

I can always count on Ms. Sands to deliver a tale that takes me away from my every day gerbil wheel and propels me into a world I’m always happy to visit. Time ceased to matter, and indeed, it flew by because reading Runaway Vampire was an adventure in joy, excitement, exploration and fun. I usually feel happy after reading a book by this author and I’m glad to say this one continued the tradition.

Another reason that I can safely say this was a very good book was because of the one I read right before. It was so long of wind that by the time I hit page 150, my brain was alternately screaming from the slow pace of the story and trying to fall asleep at the same time. The plot and characters were good but the delivery was an exercise in molasses. Not so with Runaway Vampire, oh no, by page 150 it was steamy, it was exciting and I couldn’t wait to read more, more, more. Maybe my higher rating is because I was so incredibly happy to read a plot that actually moved and had a brisk and stimulating pace that thrilled me to my toes. I enjoyed the emotions of an older woman finding herself young again, I loved watching Dante love her before the turn, and after, I giggled at the part where Lucien (fans can never forget HIS character) actually cracked a joke and I adored the reason why he won’t change his phone ringtones no matter how much they irritate him. So romantic!

Ms. Sands does have a little background drama that starts off in this book but it is meant for the next one. Talk about a successful hook; there is no way on this good earth that I will miss the next book if it’s about Tomasso. The external conflict does however plague both Dante and Mary and provides opportunities for readers to see just how well matched they are as a couple.

As for humor, I never knew where it would pop up. One of the most hilarious scenes for me stems from where this sentence shows up, “Stop playing with your condoms and kiss me.” If readers have a sense of humor like me, they are going to have a giggle fest that will last for at least a page or so because the whole visual Ms. Sands painted with her descriptions and dialogue was uproariously funny. I’ve re-read those paragraphs quite a few times just so I could snicker/snort some more – it’s total fun!

Runaway Vampire is a hit. It’s practically perfect, a little quirky, still has the Argeneau family feel to it and I’m satisfied with the happy for now. Why an HFN? Because it ended with a beginning and I am excited about the prospect. Ms. Sands knows how to leave a reader craving for more in all the best ways.

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May by Alicia Stone

February 9, 2016 By Leave a Comment

may
May by Alicia Stone
Publisher: Rogue Phoenix Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (73 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Marielle, single, restless and thirty-something is looking for a man. Can love compete with Fate? The problem is the man she desperately wants and needs is not interested in her. He was once, but ten years ago she threw away their chance of happiness. Together again, Marielle and Peter discover how they have both changed and how much they have in common. Their attraction for each other is intensified, but can their love be rekindled? Can they risk everything for love? Affairs of the heart prove to be no match for the darker powers of Fate as Marielle’s very survival hangs in the balance.

Marielle is taking a rare day off work. Giving herself a treat, she goes to London to visit a gallery and enjoy herself. While waiting for coffee she bumped into Peter – her ex from university and the man with whom she’d left her much younger, more innocent self’s heart. Can they really pick up where they so bitterly left off? Could they both get a second chance?

This is an interesting, sweet style of story. While I was a little surprised at how quickly Peter and Marielle became intimate once more, the author did an excellent job of reminding me, the reader, that Peter and Marielle were far from strangers. I found the lovemaking scenes tasteful and spicy. I think they were detailed enough to make a reader blush but not explicit enough to be a turn off. Most of the story revolved around Peter and Marielle as they try to find common ground after parting as young adults on bad terms. A part of me found much of the plot clichéd – their unwillingness to communicate and the repercussions of their time together – but I have to admit it added a good amount of conflict and tension between them. While I might have wished Peter and Marielle particularly had acted more maturely, it was interesting watching them take the usual “two steps forward one step back” that a rocky, difficult relationship so often shows.

This is a lovely, emotional story I feel will resonate with many readers. Marielle and Peter love each other deeply but have a number of obstacles to overcome first. While there are miscommunications and difficulties, these tensions only serve to make their happiness even more joyful. While sensually spicy I think the love scenes are tastefully and carefully written to still appeal to most readers and can be thoroughly enjoyed. A heart-warming story I can see myself reading again.

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The Convenient Cowboy by Heidi Hormel

February 9, 2016 By Leave a Comment

cowboy
The Convenient Cowboy by Heidi Hormel
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (159 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

What a cowgirl’s gotta do…

A wedding of convenience isn’t exactly cowgirl Olympia James’s dream—she wants the rodeo, not a husband. But marrying Arizona lawyer Spencer MacCormack will make a lot of other dreams come true. Spence needs a stable home to win custody of his little boy, and with Spence’s help, Olympia can send her sister to school.

But while the marriage is supposed to be just on paper, their chemistry is volatile…and the night they spent together weeks ago leads to a surprise: Olympia is pregnant. Soon the ranch is home to a baby, Spence’s sweet cowboy son, and feelings Olympia and Spence can’t deny. This fake relationship is quickly getting all too real. Maybe it’s more than just business…

The joy of romance, the twists and turns of fate, and laughter at the most unexpected of times are all found in this really fun story by Ms. Hormel. The Convenient Cowboy is the kind of novel to read when you are looking for a plot with heart and characters that can make you smile. I certainly found myself laughing out loud during many parts of this book.

First, this is a character driven romance told from both Spence and Olympia’s point of view. I liked having both their sides revealed because a reader gets a better understanding of how challenging this romance is going to be. Spence wants his son full time and has come up with the perfect plan to get custody; Olympia needs to provide for her younger sister’s education, so both Spence and Olympia join forces in an arranged marriage to achieve their goals. There’s just one problem, the condom broke. And, true to life, the best-laid plans of mice and men oft go awry, so too with the main characters. I adored how Ms. Hormel shared with me her characters’ dreams, hopes and fears and how they came about realizing that everything they truly wanted in life was right in front of them. It’s the getting there that makes this book worth reading. It’s classic romance.

I don’t know if other readers will feel like I did in the first few chapters so I’ll share it just in case. At first, the conflict of Olympia’s internal struggles seem large enough to overshadow the book and I was so afraid that they were going to poison the romance and turn it into a whiny cliché. Let me assure readers that it gets so much better. Once Ms. Hormel gets the setup out of the way, and the players in place, the pace, interest, and entertainment picks up and never stops. The romance between two stubborn people with assumptions and expectations is not without its emotional drama, but once Spence’s young son comes on stage, a reader will get to enjoy a bit of madcap hilarity, like the scene with Petunia. I belly laughed at that part. The reason why I got the biggest kick out of that and other sections of the book, like when Spence kept getting bit by the horse, was because of the power of the words the author used to paint the action for me. It was effective, well done and the results are pure entertainment. It was apparent that this author knows how to craft laughter in literature.

The Convenient Cowboy is engaging, endearing and is simply a fun romance. When I find stories like this, it reminds me of the reason why I read romances in the first place. When people think happiness isn’t in the cards for them and they find it accidentally, it’s extra special and it reinforces that dreams really can come true; fact can mimic fiction. This was a great read and I easily recommend it.

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Winter Wedding in Vegas by Janice Lynn and One Night Before Christmas by Susan Carlisle

February 2, 2016 By Leave a Comment

vegas
Winter Wedding in Vegas by Janice Lynn and One Night Before Christmas by Susan Carlisle
Publisher: Mills and Boon (Harlequin)
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday
Length: Full Length (382 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Winter Wedding in Vegas
Single mom Taylor Anderson loathes playboys. So when she wakes up in Vegas to find Dr. Slade Sain, the hospital’s most notorious womanizer, in her hotel room, she’s horrified. And then she spots the ring on her finger!

Marriage was never in the cards for Slade. But now he finds himself married to the most gorgeous woman he’s ever laid eyes on. And when he meets her little girl, Gracie, his heart melts just a little further. Can a Christmas miracle turn this playboy extraordinaire into the perfect family man?

One Night Before Christmas

Sports physician Dr. Melanie Hyde is used to being treated as one of the guys—but just sometimes it would be nice to be treated like a woman…

So when hotshot orthopedic doctor Dalton Reynolds flies in to Niagara Falls, his brooding good looks ignite feelings Mel never even knew existed!

Dalton’s flight leaves in a few days, and yet after their short but steamy time together Mel knows that she’s already fallen for him. Can she melt Dalton’s heart and convince him to stay…just in time for Christmas?

Every so often I want a book I can enjoy on a chilly winter afternoon. You know, something to be read by the fire. Well, this book doesn’t disappoint. It was perfect for reading when the temperature dipped and actually, reading whenever. The characters in both books are engaging and the writing flows. I’m glad I got this book–both of them,

I loved both stories in this book. First thing, where can I find a Dr. Slade of my own? Janice Lynn has written a hero that’s both sexy and sinful, but a little flawed. I could see him well and wanted to find one of my own. Not kidding. Once I started Slade and Taylor’s story, I couldn’t put it down. The writing flowed and kept my attention well. I was a little sad when it was over. Ms. Lynn, if you revisit these characters, I’m on board to read all about them.

In One Night Before Christmas, I loved that the author included football. Now, I’m more of a stickler for having the sports play a bigger role in the book, if it’s a sports romance, but not in the case of this one. Susan Carlisle had the right amount of romance, sports and medicine in the book. I loved Dalton and Melanie. I totally could see them getting together from the first moment I met them and rooted for them. Like with Janice Lynn’s book, the story flowed well and kept me hooked. I know when I open a Susan Carlisle book, I will be entertained and I certainly was with this story.

If you’re looking for a pair of stories to warm a chilly night, then this twosome might be exactly what you want.

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