Dinca’s review of Wedding His Takeover Target (Dynasties: The Jarrods, Book 5) by Emilie Rose
Contemporary Romance published by Silhouette Desire 2 Nov 10

The Jarrods is a six-book miniseries. It is sad to say once again I did not start at the beginning of a series. This one is so well written, I will have to backtrack and pick up the others in this family. The setting is Aspen, Colorado. I feel Emilie Rose does a wonderful job depicting the town.

After being called to his father’s attorney’s office and informed his grandfather has lost a five-acre tract of land in a poker game, Gavin is determined to buy it back. At any cost. He just never counted on it involving a ring on his finger. But he finds he wants this woman, even if she is part of a business deal.

Sabrina Taylor has survived a lot – parents that had no time for her, a young marriage, and loss of her beloved child and husband. She is now content to live and work at the B & B her grandparents ran. It is a place where she has good memories and it ha bescome a sanctuary to her.

Chemistry or no chemistry, Gavin Jarrod reminds her of the snooty students she went to school with where her parents taught.  In Sabrina’s experience, they only use people in her position.  She never expected to want anyone ever again after her husband’s death.  She has her life planned out, taking care of her grandfather for as long as she has him, and then looking after Snowberry Inn, the B & B that has been in her family for generations.

For the sake of the inn and at her grandfather’s urging, she marries Gavin, but when she finds herself pregnant, she sets out to change the rules.

I really do need to go back and read the rest of the series. If they are as enjoyable as this one, I will be extremely happy reading my afternoons away.

Grade: A

Summary:

Nothing could stop Aspen resort heir Gavin Jarrod’s land grab. Not even the ornery owner’s insistence that Gavin marry his granddaughter to seal the deal. Gavin was up to the challenge of wedding perfect stranger Sabrina Taylor, since this beautiful stranger was perfect. After a whirlwind seduction, he had her wed and bedded…to their mutual satisfaction.

But what was this new groom to do once his bride announced she was pregnant with his child? It was back to the bargaining table—because she wanted a real father for her baby or this merger was off!

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Liviania’s review of The Executive’s Pregnancy Ultimatum by Emilie Rose
Contemporary romance released by Silhouette Desire 1 Feb 10

After limecello got onto me for reading specific titles she recommends by the author she likes instead of picking any book by the author, I pretty much chose to read The Executive’s Pregnancy Ultimatum by Emilie Rose because I know limecello likes Emilie Rose.  But hey, living dangerously paid off.

Renee Maddox just discovered her divorce papers were never filed.  She also wants a baby – the same baby she always wanted, from her husband Flynn.  He agrees to giving her his sperm, but only in a direct manner and only if she tries to live with him, with the baby, for a year.  Rose doesn’t make the mistake of dragging out the secret to the couple’s split up to where the reveal seems silly.  It’s explained within the first several chapters that Renee and Flynn agreed they wanted three or four children before they married, but Flynn’s new job after his father’s death kept him away from home.  He gave Renee neither attention nor a baby.  She communicated that she really wanted a child and split when he refused.  Renee had another complication: she began drinking heavily, like her alcoholic mother. She managed to stop after leaving the stressful situation.

I loved Renee.  She’s a successful business woman who doesn’t give up her job for her man.  She’s unafraid to be a single mother and has the courage to stand up to her hideous mother-in-law.  Then the Renee I fell in love with disappeared toward the end.  Suddenly, she isn’t communicating with Flynn.  She’s running from telling him that she isn’t really an alcoholic but has the potential to be . . . as he knew since her mother was an alcoholic and Renee chooses to avoid alcohol now in order to avoid temptation.  She also brings it up as a risk to their children, despite the fact she’s been planning to have children since before the book began and it isn’t an issue until the end.  It’s odd.

Luckily, Flynn’s characterization stays steady.  He messed up by taking Renee for granted, but now has his personal and professional life in balance.  He’s caring and thoughtful.  He stands up for Renee and respects her dedication to her business.  It’s no wonder that Renee falls quickly back in love with her husband.  It is a wonder that she thinks he’d hate her because she isn’t actually an alcoholic but showed the potential during their impending divorce.

I enjoyed Emilie Rose’s writing.  I liked the hero and the heroine.  I just wish there wasn’t a manufactured conflict, because the story would’ve worked much better without it.  It undermined a lot of what Rose was doing so well.  I am still likely to pick up one of her novels in the future.

Grade: B-

Summary:
Flynn Maddox, the driven vice president of Maddox Communications, thought he was over his ex-wife, Renee. But when he learned that they were still married—and that she was trying to have his baby—he realized he had never stopped wanting her. It was time to put his fierce negotiating skills to good use. He would give her the baby she so desperately wanted…but not without getting her to sign off on some terms of his own.
No excerpt found.

Limecello’s review of More Than a Millionaire by Emilie Rose
Contemporary romance released by Silhouette Desire 8 Sep 09

And she’s back! I’m so pleased to say I really enjoyed this book by Emilie Rose. She’s one of my favorite Harlequin authors. it pains me to say I didn’t like her previous few, so I actually putt off reading this one for quite some time. Yes, there were things about it that weren’t perfect, but I was engaged in the story and wanted to see how it turned out.

I have to say first… that the premise of this book is pretty “wtf” to me. The book blurb caught my interest, and made me chuckle a bit. But I knew I wanted to read it because Ms. Rose wrote it. This isn’t a spoiler because this is explained at the opening – the heroine is going to be a surrogate for her sister and brother-in-law. The brother-in-law used to be Nicole’s boyfriend first. And she thinks she love[s/d] him. The clinic messes up, and uses Ryan Patrick’s sperm. (Nicole’s brother in law is Patrick Ryan.)

Honest though – I found that easy enough to get over. In fact, what bothered me more was all the focus on contracts, and what they said. (But then, nobody wants to get into a discussion about contract law.)

Nicole Hightower is quite special, but flawed. She’s the peace maker in her family, but also rather silly, in my opinion. She is determined not to make the same mistakes her mother did, so convinces herself she can and will be in love, once. Ever. Otherwise, Nicole is fantastic. She’s smart, has a great career, and cares a lot. She’s a giver, which is really nice to see. At the same time, Nicole isn’t perfect, and there are certain aspects of herself she’d prefer not to examine. This makes her relatable, and interesting.

Ryan Patrick is something of a contradiction. Yes, he’s the jerk hero out to get the heroine… but his aim really is to get sole custody of his child. Which he hired a surrogate to bear. He’s been burned before, and reacts in the extreme. Although that’s not the most sensible reaction, self protection is understandable, and Ryan is determined to do that. I like that he’s actually quite considerate and caring, just… with misplaced ideas on what his goals are for some things. He had tunnel vision, as he says – but realizes his mistakes.

I wish the conflict hadn’t been quite as ongoing. Nicole Hightower and Ryan Patrick both have their issues to work through, and I felt they were well matched. Of course, the heroine experiences her epiphany first… but I think Ryan makes up for it with his heartfelt apology and his act of restitution. I also liked the fact that Ryan made headway with a better relationship with his father… but Nicole’s tenuous situation with her family remained the same. The fact that there wasn’t a candy coated perfect ending actually pleased me.

I definitely recommend this book to readers who enjoy books from the Silhouette Desire line, and those that like Ms. Rose’s writing as well.

Grade: B

Summary:

Mr. September: Ryan Patrick, millionaire daddy-to-be

Baby?: Yes…to secure his inheritance

Marriage?: No…only surrogates need apply

A mix-up at the clinic meant the wrong woman was pregnant! Ryan would do anything to reclaim what was his. Particularly since delectable airline heiress Nicole Hightower wasn’t about to just hand over her child. Was there a way he could have both…without making promises he could never keep?

Read an excerpt here. (The excerpt is on the amazon page, but I’m not sure how long it’ll stay there.)

Limecello’s review of Bargained Into Her Boss’s Bed by Emilie Rose
Contemporary romance released by Silhouette Desire on 14 Apr 09

I have to be honest, too often I hate the titles to the books published by Harlequin/Silhouette. Luckily, the title has little bearing on the quality of the book. (Although this one really seems like it should be a Harlequin Presents…) Emilie Rose was one of my favorite harlequin authors, so I was really glad to get my hands on this book. It also happens to be the fourth installment in the Hudsons of Beverly Hills miniseries. However, the books can also be read alone. (At least, I didn’t really get lost in the mix of characters and plot lines.) While I did feel a bit let down by parts of this book, overall it was a nice, sweet read.

I really liked the heroine Dana Fallon, but she disappointed me at the same time. Dana is smart, creative, capable, and definitely someone who is in control of her own destiny. Unfortunately, she’s in love with her boss. That’s fine – but the fact that she allows him to treat her like a doormat is what bothered me. Dana seemed like a reasonable business women in all aspects, except when it came to Max’s personal life. I understand how being someone’s personal assistant can lead to blurred lines, but I felt it went too far here. I liked that Dana had the support net of a caring family, and that she generally tried to take proactive steps to change her life. I didn’t really find the reason for her staying when she tendered her resignation believable.

Max Hudson seemed to be a rather static character. He’s extremely wealthy, smart, capable, and has the world at his finger tips, but he’s emotionally barren. In fact, he refuses to let Dana quit, and after he thinks she might trading secrets, essentially decides to control her with sex. Nevertheless, Max is a good person. He’s hard working, cares for his family, and is so driven on this current film and project because it is for his grandmother. Max also is very much a man’s man, and I liked that that aspect of his character fit perfectly and was well written. He’s just a bit stupid with his actual reasons for wanting to keep Dana nearby. (And I didn’t appreciate that.)

I’m not sure if it was just this book, or Ms. Rose’s writing in the past few books, but I felt let down by the heroine. I hate to say it, but both the hero and the heroine seemed a bit thick. I was rather incredulous that Ms. Rose had Dana equating sex with love for much of the novel. Then, when Max and Dana make up, I felt that it was way too easy for Max. In a way I felt that Dana had “rolled over and died.” I know I think that for a number of books, but that was even more prominent here.

However, there were a number of things going on throughout this book, and I liked how every aspect worked with the next, and that every conflict, character, and repercussion mattered. It was also very interesting to get into the nitty gritty of film making, and the finer nuances that people don’t normally think about. Ms. Rose clearly did a lot of research, but it was all included naturally, and the actual details of editing, etc. weren’t unwieldy.

Another aspect I enjoyed was the fact that the Max and Dana had a number of obstacles to overcome. It was nice that Max began to see Dana for who she truly was, and that this happened because Dana decided she was going to quit and didn’t “care” anymore. Also the fact that Max was carrying a lot of baggage from the death of his first wife, and then there was the fact that he thought Dana was a spy, or at least leaking information to Hudson’s major rival. Yet even throughout all those issues, the romantic relationship between Max and Dana was not only developing, but real.

I really liked the secondary characters in this book, and will likely pick up the other ones – both the previous Hudsons of Beverly Hills books to fill in the hole,s and the subsequent ones to see how everything ends. Ms. Rose also write wonderful prose, and there’s a nice flow to her writing that makes it hard to put the book down. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy Ms. Rose’s writing, as well as anyone who is reading the Hudsons of Beverly Hills series.

Grade: C

Summary:
.
In the fast-paced, cutthroat world of Hollywood filmmaking, producer Max Hudson was a master at getting it done. With a movie deadline breathing down his neck, he wouldn’t let anyone get in his way, especially not his longtime assistant, Dana Fallon. Her tantalizing curves had wreaked havoc on his mind and his libido. But her sudden resignation caused chaos, and no amount of money would sway her. Luckily, Max had other means of persuasion….
.
Read an excerpt here.

Limecello’s review of Hot City Nights by Sandra Marton, Sarah Mayberry, and Emilie Rose
Contemporary romance anthology published by Harlequin 8 Jul 08

I was excited to read this book because it features two of my favorite Harlequin authors – Sarah Mayberry and Emilie Rose. Overall I’d say I’ve had a positive experience with the romance anthologies, and Hot City Nights didn’t disappoint.

Summer in the City by Sandra Marton

While this was the featured story in the anthology, it was also unfortunately my least favorite. Lincoln Aldridge and Ana Maria Marques make a good couple, but it takes them a while to get there.

I didn’t find their initial interaction realistic or believable. Nor the “if I assault you, but then kiss you, we won’t fight” theme that ran through a portion of the book. Especially as this was at a point where Linc and Ana didn’t really like each other. Certain practical matters in the plot such as the guardianship cum adoption, marriage (of convenience), and the stereotypical villain didn’t wow me either.

However, once the Ana and Linc begin interacting, the story was sweet. The ending made up for a lot of the book, and I was involved by the time they said their vows. What came afterwards was well written and heartwarming. I haven’t read any other books by Ms. Marton before, and I’ll likely watch for her other ones in the future.

Grade: D+

Summary:

In New York a billionaire remembers the beautiful stranger with whom he’d shared a kiss—a kiss that burned them both to the soul. Now he’s a desperate new father, and she’s suddenly the only woman who can help him!

Read an excerpt here.

Back to You by Sarah Mayberry

Ms. Mayberry writes another great “friends to lovers” story with characters Becky Taylor and Cal MacKenzie. I really liked the interaction between the two. Back to You is emotional, well thought out, and realistic. It was nice that the characters clung to their pride – thus creating the genuineness of the story. Misunderstanding on the part of Becky and Cal created drama, but not an excess of it. The heat between Becky and Cal is palpable, and this is simply a fun novella. Nothing too heavy, just quick entertainment. Back to You is striking in the simplicity of the storyline, which adds to its readability. (Oh – and how exciting is it that Ms. Mayberry’s website is finally updated?!)

Grade: B+

Summary:

In Sydney a woman comes face-to-face with the man she swore would never hurt her again. But when they agree to an intense, no-strings fling, she wonders if she’s gotten in way over her head…and her heart!

Read an excerpt here.

Forgotten Lover by Emilie Rose

Talia Rivera and Jake Larson are something of an anti-couple, as they ended their affair a number of years ago. However, an unfortunate accident puts them in each other’s company, and they’re forced to confront the past, and decide whether or not they should pick up the pieces and rebuild.

Jake is something of a jerk, but you get the sense that he’s a genuinely nice guy. He’s simply dealing with a tough situation poorly, and trying to avoid getting hurt. While the asshole routine gets a little old, Jake doesn’t stick with it too long. Talia is a sympathetic character, but not pathetic, and it was fun to see her regain her memory piece by piece. Her amnesia forces the reader to focus only on the here and now, due to the lack of background. We mostly only know what she knows.

I enjoyed all the emotion in this story – not just Talia and Jake getting back together, but seeing how Jake interacted with the Talia’s child, Adam. It was so adorable, and all together made for an engaging story.

Grade: B

Summary:

In Atlanta a woman lies in a hospital bed after a serious accident. But when the hospital calls her emergency contact—her ex-lover—she’s horrified. Why doesn’t she remember him? Worse still, she might be falling for him…again!

No excerpt found.

Overall Grade: B–

Book summary:

Love rules the night, but what will the daylight bring…?

Limecello’s review of Bound by the Kincaid Baby by Emilie Rose
Contemporary romance published by Silhouette Desire 1 Jul 08

This is the second book in the Payback Affairs series. I think that Ms. Rose’s trilogies are perfect. Just enough to keep you satisfied – but not so much that you’re wondering when will it end? The premise for this book was laid out in the first (although it didn’t detract from that book at all) – and I was eager to read it. Bound by the Kincaid Baby is also interesting, because time-wise, it takes place concurrently with Shattered by the CEO.

I hate to say it, because Emilie Rose is one of my favorite Desire authors, but this book just wasn’t what I thought it would be. I liked the characters and story, but they didn’t stand out. Carly Corbin and Mitch Kincaid were rather regular Desire characters, and nothing especially drew me to them. The story line wasn’t that new either, and I figured exactly how everything would play out from the beginning, and I was right. Granted I read a lot (likely too many) books from the Desire line, but still.

Carly Corbin recently lost her twin, and has been happily saddled (no really – she’s thrilled) with the responsibility of raising her nephew. I felt that there were some holes in Carly’s … not character, per se, but her thoughts. I also felt that Carly caved to Mitch’s charms too easily. Carly’s twin Marlene was the stereotypical “evil sister.” Carly knew about her sister’s machinations, but swung between a strange naiveté, and knowing exactly what kind of person Marlene was. It made the scenes were Carly’s apparent cluelessness in regards to Marlene’s mercenary personalty was rather annoying.

Mitch Kincaid, was a complicated hero, but I didn’t particularly care for him. For most of the book, he’s a jerk. The “point” is that he figures out what kind of person he’s turning into and changes. However, he was a mean for too much of the book, and felt that as long as he didn’t do something overtly illegal, his actions were perfectly acceptable, and nothing like the controlling shenanigans his father caused. The rapid switch to kind, caring person was a bit too smooth.

Still, there was depth and complexity to both characters. Mitch didn’t flat out hate children – he had reasons for being reserved around baby Rhett. Carly was a strong character in that once she learned “the truth” about Mitch stayed in a difficult situation for the good of other people – but didn’t let herself be treated like a rug. (Or she at least held out for a few weeks.)

I’m glad I read this book to find out what Mitch’s story was, but otherwise, it’s not one I would push on others to read. If you’re a fan of Desires and Ms. Rose, and especially if you’ve read Shattered by the CEO, I’d say you should look into this one as well. If this will be your first book by Ms. Rose, however- take heart, her others are excellent. I’m still looking forward to the last book, Wed by Deception, so I can see how Nadia’s story turns out.

Grade: C

The Summary:

The rules of the will were ironclad:

Mitch had to gain custody of his father’s bastard son or lose the family fortune.

It should have been simple. A sizable check and Carly Corbin would be on her way. But nothing about Carly was simple, including Mitch’s attraction to her. When she refused to relinquish her baby nephew, Mitch had no choice but to let them both move in.

Neither of them guessed that playing house would become all too real.

Read an excerpt here

Limecello’s review of Shattered by the CEO by Emilie Rose
Contemporary Romance released by Silhouette Desire on 1 May 08

I love Emilie Rose’s books like a shopaholic loves Filene’s Basement. I really enjoyed this book too. I expected to like it, but once I started reading it, I had my moments of uncertainty. In fact, I was surprised I liked this book so much, because for about 80% of it, what was running through my head was “the heroine is batshit insane.” That’s normally not a good sign. Yet it might indicate what a great book this is.

Shattered by the CEO has something of a typical Silhouette Desire premise. The hero is a mega-corporate type, and the heroine has been wronged but loves him anyway. I understand that, accept that, and find it easy to enjoy Desires. In this book, however, Tara Anthony takes the cake. She, the heroine, lets the hero, Rand Kinkaid treat her like crap, and forces him to agree to a no-strings-attached affair. It seems empowering, no? Actually, it’s not because she’s convinced she can sex him into loving her. I had a lot of problems with that, so you might wonder why I liked this book so much. Because it’s so very well written, and the ending erases a whole host of sins.

Rand is an interesting character. He’s a jerk, but generally he feels guilty for acting like an asshat. Mind you, the guilt isn’t enough to prevent him from being so horrid, but it’s nice that he realizes he’s being a terrible person. That’s something. He also holds a lot of baggage due to his father’s machinations – although those are somewhat explained at the end as well.

My main issues in the book were that I thought the heroine was crazy, and I’m not sure if the premise of the book was plausible. A clause in a will states that Tara has to work for KCL for one year, otherwise the company is forfeit. However, nobody wants to get into a discussion on probate law. It’s also a convenient way to bring together characters that would never agree to work together otherwise.

This book made me consider a few things – because the whole point is, deep down, Tara believes Rand is a great guy, capable of being a terrific husband, and that he loves her. That deep conviction allows her to take all sorts of abuse (not physical) from him- so he can get over his hang-ups and realize that yes, he does indeed love her. She’s right, and gets the payoff in the end. (Oh come on, that’s not a spoiler.) I had a hard time accepting that, but I still enjoyed this book.

While I spent much of the time reading this book thinking “is she for real?”, the heroine did have her good moments. The secondary characters in this book were a lot of fun, and I expect to see their books being published at some point in the near future. The story itself was interesting and well written, and the characters well developed. I’m looking forward to reading more of Ms. Rose’s books.

Grade: B

CEO Rand Kincaid had never been coerced–until his entire future was at stake. Under the stipulations of his father’s will, Rand had to rehire Tara Anthony as his assistant. It was either get along with the one woman who’d dared to leave him first, or lose his family empire.

But before Tara would accept, she gave Rand her own demands. She wanted a second chance, with Rand back in her home and bed as her lover. And nothing prepared him for where this arrangement would lead.