Laura C’s review of Looking for Trouble (Girls’ Night Out, Book 1) by Victoria Dahl
Contemporary Romance published by HQN 29 Jul 14
Dahl delivers her trademark mix of hot sex and fun, small-town characters in this, the first of her “Girls Night Out” series.
Veena’s review of Rebel (The Cat Star Chronicles, Book 10) by Cheryl Brooks
Futuristic Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 01 Jul 14
I felt like I fell into an episode of Star Wars while I was reading this book, from the exotic interplanetary creature-like characters to the sentient house and cloaking devices that can cloak speeders, homes, and all manner of things. At the heart of the story are Kim and Onca who’ve survived against all odds and yet retain an inner core of innocence and freshness that makes them amazingly lovable.
Sandy M’s review of The Winter King by C.L. Wilson
Fantasy Romance published by Avon 29 Jul 14
Waiting for this book has been worth all the seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, and months it’s taken to get it on the shelves. C.L. Wilson is a master at drawing out the reader’s every emotion under the sun, writing characters in whose lives you become ensconced from the beginning, and a story and world where danger lurks, the unexpected happens, and happily ever after is hard won, but it’s worth the fight.
Stevie‘s review of To Charm a Naughty Countess (Matchmaker Trilogy Book 2) by Theresa Romain
Historical Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 06 May 14
Generally I love books with older, experienced heroines, who are freed from some of society’s constraints by widowhood, and who are prepared to make the most of that freedom. So much the better, if their deceased husband wasn’t a bad lot, and didn’t die too tragically. I also like socially inept and inexperienced heroes, and stories that are properly rooted in real historical events. So this story ought to have ticked all the right boxes, especially since I enjoyed the first book in the series, and this one picks up soon after that one left off, this time following the first heroine’s former employer as she continues her life in the midst of the social whirl of Regency London. But does the book live up to all that it promised?
Veena’s review of A Duchess in the Dark (By Invitation Only, Book 1) by Kate McKinley
Historical Romance published by Forever Yours 03 Dec 13
This is a hilarious tale of musical bedrooms. Poor Daphne, all she wants is marriage to a man she can love. She’s figured it all out and has the most perfect plan, but then disaster strikes. The man in bed with her is the wrong man, the very rakish Duke of Claymore. How will she fix this disaster of epic proportions? Read the rest of this entry »
Veena’s review of Born Wild (Black Knights) by Julie Ann Walker
Contemporary Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 05 Nov 13
This happens to be my first book in a series that is already five deep about a custom motorcycle shop that acts as a cover for a special ops team. Since the motorcycle shop is originally run by Eve’s best friend Becky, she’s privy to the truth and reaches out to them for help in finding a killer who’s targeting her. Of course, the fact that her ex-boyfriend Billy is a member of the team is a plus because this experience might help them bridge the misunderstandings that keeps them apart. Read the rest of this entry »
Stevie‘s review of Nightingale by Andrea Bramhall
Contemporary Lesbian Romance published by Bold Strokes Books 11 May 14
Andrea Bramhall isn’t afraid to tackle difficult subjects, much less plotlines, that don’t follow typical romance tropes, as her previous novel, Clean Slate, made abundantly clear. This time she tackles the thorny issue of what it means to balance traditional and more modern values without alienating family or friends and while staying true to oneself. I’m not in a position to pass judgment on the cultural accuracy of the lives she depicts, but the parts of the story set in parts of England familiar to me certainly ring true, and her depiction of the differing views of the various characters feel fair and non-judgmental. Told both in the present and in flashbacks to a few years before, we see the two heroines come together, separate, and then try against all the odds to be reunited. And what odds those are!
LynneC’s review of Bound by the Italian’s Contract by Janette Kenny
Contemporary Romance published by Harlequin Presents 1 Jul 14
I’ve been a grumpy reviewer recently, and now I’m desperately hunting for a great book I can enthuse about. This, sadly, isn’t the one, but I’m not being as hard as I might otherwise be, because I was so keen to find something to like.
The writing world is in a state of flux right now, with vociferous advocates in all corners. At the moment all the talk is about Hachette v Amazon. Tomorrow it might be another publisher. Things are changing, that’s for sure.
As a writer, I’m lucky because I’m still finding readers. I took the decisions that were right for me. They’re not right for everybody and I have no intention of proselytizing, because what I did was what I did and I’m living with it.
But you know what? Who isn’t being heard in this?
The reader.
Veena’s review of Breaking Danger (Ghost Ops, Book 3) by Lisa Marie Rice
Contemporary Romance published by Avon 15 Jul 14
I thoroughly enjoy the right mix of suspense and the thrilling edge of danger that Ms. Rice dishes up in her stories. I am willing to stretch and bend my imagination as necessary around some of the curves and corners that manifest themselves during the telling of some her stories, but this one really stretches my imagination and credulity such that it made me way too critical about things that I could not wrap my head around to allow me to enjoy the story.
Read the rest of this entry »
Sandy M’s review of Then Came You (Animal Magnetism, Book 5) by Jill Shalvis
Contemporary Romance published by Berkley 1 Jul 14
I’ve been lamenting the fact lately a few of my faves’ books haven’t worked for me. Kept thinking to myself, is it really the stories or is it me?? With this latest release from Jill Shalvis, the scales have tipped just a tiny bit toward the books instead of me!
Stevie‘s review of Inked Armor (Clipped Wings, Book 2) by Helena Hunting
Contemporary Romance published by Gallery Books 13 May 14
When I reviewed the previous novel in this series, I offered up a little caution to those readers who dislike cliff-hangers, while confessing that I’m generally content to wait and find out what happens next, no matter how perilous the situation our characters are left in on the last page. So, did this next novel drag our characters back from the edge? Read on and find out.
Veena’s review of The Rome Affair (House of Steele, Book 3) by Addison Fox
Romantic Suspense published by Harlequin 01 Mar 14
I find this to be an excellent story about love and attraction hidden under the layers of business competition, wrapped inside an excellent suspense. Being set in Rome, which is one of my favorite cities in the world, just makes it that much more enjoyable for me. Read the rest of this entry »
Liviania’s review of The Kraken King Part I: The Kraken King and the Scribbling Spinster (The Iron Seas, Book 4) by Meljean Brook
Steampunk Romance published by InterMix 15 Apr 14
One of the latest trends for romance novels is the serial novel. I’m not quite sure how I feel about serial novels, honestly. I’m the type of reader who frequently waits for an entire series to come out before I read it, much less the entire novel. I’m also not sold on the price, most of the time. Yes, $1.99 is a great price point. But with eight parts, that’s $16 – more than the previous three Iron Seas novels cost in trade paperback. Certainly more than they cost now in mass market. It seems like it would be more economical to wait for the whole novel, in addition to getting to devour it all at once instead of in chunks of less than fifty pages. But skipping The Kraken King entirely? That’s not an option for me, and I doubt it’s an option for anyone reading The Iron Seas series. Read the rest of this entry »
Stevie‘s review of Julia’s Double Chance (Madame Joly’s House of Passion, Book 1)by Em Ashcroft
Historical Erotic Romance published by Siren Publishing 07 Apr 14
I don’t read many erotic romances, and even fewer on the historical side, but I’m very glad I was persuaded to give this one a chance (pardon the pun). On the other hand, I love anything that’s set very definitely before or after that overly popular Regency period, so this Georgian story is right up my street.
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