Veena’s review of Just One Kiss (Fool’s Gold, Book 10) by Susan Mallery
Contemporary Romance published by Harlequin 28 May 13

I’m ready to relocate to Fool’s Gold, the fictional town in Northern California which is the subject of this delightful series from author Susan Mallery. I probably read the first few books in the series and then stopped. No specific reason. I just hadn’t realized that the series kept on going, adding delightful new characters. I am glad to get back to Fool’s Gold and meet all those charming characters who have always lived there or have moved there in search of the wonderful small-town Americana that they’ve missed all their lives.

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LynneC’s review of Princess in the Iron Mask by Victoria Parker
Contemporary Romance published by Harlequin Presents 21 May 13

Like purple prose? This book is for you. While I prefer to give debut authors a lot of leeway, I couldn’t really manage it with this one. I remember what it’s like to get a bad review for your very first book. I got a lot of great reviews for Yorkshire and one stinker. Guess which one I could quote by heart? Yup, that one.

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 Dinca’s review of A Father’s Secret by Yvonne Lindsay
Contemporary Romance published Harlequin Desire 2 Oct 12

This is a very emotional read. Both the hero and heroine have their own set of unique miseries that bond them together. I never managed to like the hero, but I find it an interesting storyline and I completed the book cheering for the heroine all the way.

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LynneC’s review of The Return of the Sheikh by Kristi Gold
Contemporary Romance published by Harlequin Desire 7 May 13

Oh, a sheikh book. Love them, probably because I know very little about sheikh life, so I can swallow the stories whole.

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Veena’s review of Forever  (World of the Nightwalkers, Book 2) by Jacquelyn Frank
Paranormal Romance published by Ballantine Books 28 May 13

Jacquelyn Frank has been a long-time favorite for me, but Forbidden, her introduction to the Body Walkers, a new species of Nightwalkers, was so disappointing that I actually abandoned the book way before the end. Given the opportunity to read and review this book which is the next in the series, I wasn’t sure that I would be able to read it but I am so glad that I did not abandon the author nor the series because this book brings all the magic that I associate with the author’s writing back with the right blend of romance and mystery.

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Dinca’s review of Innkeeper’s Daughter by Marie Ferrarella
Historical Romance published by Harlequin Heartwarming 1 Jun 13

 The book is a little slow on the takeoff with the filling in of the backstory. The writing style of the author reminds me of John Steinbeck. He could write about nothing forever. I have read other works by Ms. Ferrarella and have not found this the case in those instances. In the Harlequin Heartwarming category, Ms. Ferrarella is trying to instill strong family values in the story line and she keeps repeating the obvious, which gets old fast.

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Sandy M’s review of Entwined with You (Crossfire, Book 3) by Sylvia Day
Erotic Romance published by Berkley Trade 4 Jun 13

Just about the time I began reading this third installment of the Crossfire series, I found out this is not the end of the story for Gideon and Eva. Needless to say, I was surprised and thrilled at that prospect, but some readers are a bit miffed at how this book ends due to the extension of the series. Doesn’t matter to me, because with Ms. Day’s assurance the next two books will be released in closer succession as once promised for Entwined with You, I’m happy to wait to continue my ride of life with these characters.

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Veena’s review of The Cursed (League of the Black Swan, Book 1) by Alyssa Day
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 07 May 13

In a little hidden fold of land that butts up to Highline Park in Manhattan, with a fountain of a black swan in the town square, live an enormous cast of supernatural characters. Witches, Wizards, Faery, Demons, Goblins, you name it and they exist, along with a whole host of new ones that you never imagined before. Alyssa Day has blended facts and myth with her own imagination to present an exciting start to what appears to me an adult version of the famous Harry Potter series.

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LynneC’s review of Sheikh With Benefits by Teresa Morgan
Contemporary Romance published by Amazon Digital Services 8 Jan 12

I have a guilty fondness for sheikh books. After 9/11 I thought the genre would die, but here it is, still going strong, thank goodness. This one is a Cinderella story, following the old fairy tale very precisely, with balls and everything. But the prince doesn’t stop at the glass slipper.

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 Wendy the Super Librarian‘s review of The Beauty Within (Armstrong Sisters, Book 3) by Marguerite Kaye
Historical Romance published by Harlequin Historical 23 Apr 13

Marguerite Kaye set the first two books in her Armstrong sisters series in exotic Arabia, marrying off the two oldest sisters to sheikhs.  For this book, featuring the plain blue-stocking sister, Cressida, the author stays closer to home in England.  Which would probably make some readers think that we’re in for yet another late-Regency romance, completely interchangeable from all the other Regency-set romances out there in Romancelandia.  Rest assured, nothing could be further from the truth.  Kaye gives us a very different hero, an intelligent heroine, and says a lot of interesting things about beauty, the eye of the beholder, and making your own destiny even when your family may be holding you back.

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Veena’s review of Smoking Hot by Karen Kelley
Erotic Romance published by Sourcebooks 4 Jun 13

While I’m not sure that this book lives up to its title, there are definitely some interesting interludes which include a chocolate-filled swimming pool and a hot fudge Jacuzzi complete with a hot half angel who answers prayers, though the results aren’t always what you might wish for.

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Sandy M’s review of Bristol House by Beverly Swerling
Contemporary/Historical Fiction published by Viking Adult 4 Apr 13

I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading this book. The blurb just sounded interesting. What I got was so much more than that.

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We hope our lucky winner enjoys this book as much Veena did. So gimme a drumroll…

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Veena’s review of Captain and a Corset (Steam Guardians, Book 2) by Mary Wine
Steampunk Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 4 Jun 13

I found the first book in this series delightful and truly enjoyed my introduction into this genre. I could barely wait to get hold of the continuation of the series, but, alas, this book falls far short of my expectations.

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Sandy M’s review of Heart of Obsidian (Psy-Changeling, Book 12) by Nalini Singh
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley Hardcover
4 Jun 13

I’m certainly glad I’ve been blissfully unaware of the huge bruhaha going on about some big reveal of the cover for this book, along with the blurb, that’s apparently got readers up in arms on the internet. Because when the book was delivered from the publisher to my doorstep Friday morning, I began reading immediately, drawn into the lives of Kaleb and Sahara, living through their reunion, their nightmare, and their future. I turned pages feverishly, I smiled, I gasped, I melted, not being one bit upset about such trivialities. Read the rest of this entry »