Laura C’s review of Cheri on Top by Susan Donovan
Contemporary Romance published by St. Martin’s Press 30 Aug 11

Cheri Newberry goes home to take over the family business, a failing newspaper. In an era of electronic communication, it should be no surprise that the newspaper is going under, but Cheri–who’s had experience as a forensic accountant–realizes there’s more to it than that. Her only ally is J.J. DeCourcy, who’s become the newspaper’s lead reporter in her absence. But can she trust him? After all, years earlier he married–and divorced–her sister, all the while protesting his love for Cheri.

This is a charming contemporary romance with a touch of mystery. The relationship between J.J and Cheri doesn’t have too many problems, despite their history, so there’s no real question about them getting together, nor a whole lot of angst. The mystery, while rather sad, isn’t grisly or particularly stressful, which keeps the tone of the book light and (relatively) cheerful. This is probably both what I like and dislike about the book. It’s nice to have a book that is easy to read and leaves you happier at the end than you were at the beginning, but it’s also frustrating to have so little conflict between the hero and heroine in a romance.

There is plenty of external conflict, mind you. There are the newspaper’s financial problem, an ancient unsolved murder, a blackmailer, Cheri’s difficulties with her aunt, and her worse difficulties with her sister, Tanyalee. And Cheri herself has secrets, primary among them being that she’s flat broke, having lost everything when the real estate bubble burst. Since she left determined to be a success, and since she left her high school boyfriend, J.J., for the reason that he was too small-town and lacked ambition, it’s rather difficult to admit she flopped so spectacularly.

Still and all, even with all that external tension, the lack of real internal conflict for the hero and heroine make this a B book for me rather than an A one, regardless of how enjoyable a read it is.

Grade: B

Summary:

SHE’S GOT EVERYTHING SHE WANTS
Sun-drenched beaches, designer-label clothes, drop-dead-gorgeous boy-toys…all paid for with a series of high-risk real estate deals. That’s the lifestyle Cherise Newberry and her BFF Candy enjoy after leaving rural North Carolina for Tampa—until the market tanks and they lose everything. Cheri is surviving on Ramen Noodles and temp jobs when she gets a call from home to come back and run the family’s small-town newspaper. Just one catch: She’ll become the boss of her high school crush—and former  brother-in-law—who might have the power to crush her all over again…

BUT HE’S WHAT SHE NEEDS
But Cheri is surprised to see how “bad boy” J.J. DeCourcy has grown into the hard-working and principled managing editor of The Bigler Bugle. Still, according to Cheri’s bitter sister, he’s not to be trusted. If Cheri’s going to co-exist at the with this sexier-than-ever man from her past, she needs to stay professional—and keep her distance —even though he sets her on fire. When they’re handed the biggest news story in the town’s history, Cheri must trust J.J., even it means putting her life in danger.…and her heart on the line.

Read an excerpt.

Limecello’s review of Real Men Do It Better by Susan Donovan, Lora Leigh, Lori Wilde, and Carrie Alexander
Erotic romance anthology released 6 Feb 2007 by St. Martin’s Griffin.

They say that Real Men do it better… and they do, at least in this book.

His Body Electric by Carrie Alexander

I liked this novella because it was unique, yet at the same time… common. The hero, Gabe Tomzak is a human lightening rod. The heroine, Karen Jaffe is a divorcee who left New Jersey when her husband traded her in for a younger actress wannabe. She returns home to Iowa to the glamorous life of an amateur sculptor, and virtual service rep, answering 1-800 calls. The story runs on a short timeline, but the forced proximity causes the characters to open up, and their relationship is very believable. I enjoyed the give and take between Karen and Jaffe, as well as the comic relief provided by an overly conscientious ex-boyfriend.

Grade: B+

Bed and Breakfast by Susan Donovan

The old story of opposites attracting, yet Ms. Donovan makes it work. Kate Dreyfuss and Jorey Matheny couldn’t be more different – on the surface. Flash floods not only threaten Kate’s life when she makes the foolhardy decision to leave on foot, but also restrict them to the lodge. It was nice seeing Kate learn to relax and let go, and Jorey is a terrific character- the friend/boyfriend everyone wants. My only issue, is that at times the “new age stuff” got to be a bit much for me. I felt minor disbelief as to Jorey being so centered- but what got me most was all the super vegan food. There was also some minor drama to throw a kink into Kate and Jorey’s budding relationship, which I didn’t love, but can understand why it was added.

Grade: B-

For Maggie’s Sake by Lora Leigh

I tend to like Lora Leigh’s books, and I enjoyed this one more than some of her recent ones. My biggest beef with this novella is that it was too short. It could (or should) have been a chapter in another book. Maggie Samuels and Joe Merino have history, with no closure. When Maggie’s husband Grant dies, her delicate position causes Joe to step up and take charge. The emotions were well written, and the concerns Maggie and Joe have valid. Their interaction is believable, and entertaining. Of course, this was a very hot, with wild monkey sex.

Grade: B+

Siren’s Call by Lori Wilde

I liked this novella, but unfortunately Duncan Stewart and Annie Graves didn’t really draw me in. They were friends growing up, but a night of passion led to regrets, and a separation. They had a cute story, but I felt too much depended on their past. The reader is thrown into the present with all of Duncan and Annie’s baggage, and told to believe they can pick up essentially where they left off. Despite the fact that they haven’t interacted in years. Annie gives a token protest, but I wasn’t completely convinced. I felt that the book could have taken place a month after their split, not five years. Something else that bothered me was the excessive emphasis on Annie’s Harvard degree. I like snarking about Harvard as much as the next person, and ribbing Harvard friends – but I don’t need to read about it every few pages. Also, the education system is a hot button for me. Annie supposedly has a Harvard MBA, but she only went there for undergrad. Therefore, she might have a degree from Harvard Business School, but no Masters of Business Administration. Rawr.

Grade: C+

I happened upon this book, and had to read it because of Lora Leigh’s Tempting SEALs series. I wasn’t disappointed -  this is one of the best anthologies I’ve read in a while. I’d definitely recommend reading Real Men Do It Better, and plan on looking into the backlists of these authors.

Overall Grade: B+

     Summary:

     Every woman knows real men do it better, and these contemporary erotic romance writers prove why.

     Bed and Breakfast by Susan Donovan
     A stressed-out corporate dynamo finds a rustic lodge under renovation and the hunky owner, who had no idea she was coming. After a downpour strands her, he helps “center” her in ways she never imagined.

     For Maggie’s Sake by Lora Leigh
     Maggie’s ex-lover things she’s hiding information about the deaths of some Navy SEALs. But when a member of a notorious crime family captures and holds her hostage at gunpoint, he realizes he’s wrong, and only he can save her life.

     Siren’s Call by Lori Wilde
     Annie never forgot her first love or the day he pushed her away. But she’s back in town and he plans to win her over. What girl could resist a handsome Scotsman to guide her on a treasure hunt?

     His Body Electric by Carrie Alexander
     Strange events occur at Karen’s farmhouse after an aloof stranger seeks shelter from a violent lightening storm. Alone in the dark with him, Karen uses her skills as a phone-sex operator to seduce the mystery man, uncovering secrets and erotic pleasure.

GIRL MOST LIKELY TO by Susan Donovan coming in January!!  I prolly wouldn’t be interested, but her writing always wins me over no matter what…

You can check out the first chapter here.   Read on for the blurb and more information about future projects…

Kat Cavanaugh was sixteen when she hitchhiked out of Persuasion, West Virginia, and vowed never to return. Who could blame her? In the course of one afternoon she’d found out she was pregnant, discovered her father’s adulterous affair, got dumped by the baby’s daddy, kicked out of school by the principal, and thrown out of her home by her mother. Twenty years have gone by, and Kat’s back — gorgeous, stinking rich, and ready to rub her fabulousness in the faces of everyone who hurt her. At the top of the list is Riley Bohland, the boy who stole her heart and then broke it before she could tell him about the baby. She may desire sweet revenge, but Kat, Riley, and the rest of the town are about to get a big helping of the truth instead, and it isn’t easy to swallow.

And then she says this about her next proposal:

…preparing a proposal for a series of books that move a little more into the “thriller” arena. The first book in the series is tentatively called FLIRTING WITH DISASTER. I will be posting more details about these books when I know the specifics.

Sybil’s Review of The Kept Woman by Susan Donovan
Contemporary Romance released 27 June 06 from St. Martin’s

I liked!

There was a big plot hole, at least in my mind that just has to be over looked. The fact that this is such a big fat hairy deal Sam has to sign a confidentiality agreement it doesn’t make sense they (Jack, his people and Sam) keep telling people. Kara asks Sam be Jack’s fake fiancee in front of Monte and I get that Monte is Sam’s BFF. But duh… why doesn’t Monte have to sign an agreement? And the kids are told and good night they are kids! So this ‘secret’ was set to spill from the get go.

Once I just got over that huge lil detail, and went with it, I found the whole story very amusing, quick, quirky and entertaining. Loads better than He Loves Lucy, which I didn’t enjoy at all.

And yes, Jack was a big ol bastard who has fucked his way through town but really so what? That is the point, rake falls in lurve! Right after they do the deed for the first time this cracks me up:

“Oh well, you know I wasn’t exactly suave. You felt too good for me to manage suave. And it’s been a while for me, too.”That made her laugh. “Oh?”

“It’ll be three weeks on Tuesday.”

“My God, how have you survived?”

He patted her shoulder. “I ask myself the same thing every day.”

hee, the whole scene is just a laugh, or maybe you just have to read it… hmm or I could just be twisted. OH! maybe all of the above

Anyway, the kids are a bit much at times and Sam has a serious TSTL moment at the end but neither killed my enjoyment factor. I will be looking for her next book…

Grade B

WHEN A GOOD-GIRL DIVORCEE
Playing by the rules has left Samantha Monroe with an AWOL ex-husband, maxed out credit cards, and the task of raising three children on a hairstylist’s salary. It’s time for a new game plan. When Sam learns that politician Jack Tolliver needs someone to play the part of his fiancee for six months in return for a generous paycheck, she’s ready to sign up on the spot.

MEETS A BAD-BOY POLITICIAN
Jack needs Sam and her kids to help tone down his image from womanizing cad to dependable dad. But he was expecting Sam to be a frumpy single mom, not a wickedly smart, sexy redhead. Keeping nosey newshounds from discovering that his engagement is a charade is going to be a tough job, but one mind-blowing kiss from Sam and suddenly Jack is ready to put in all the overtime necessary…

LOVE WINS IN A LANDSLIDE…
Now, with scheming opponents itching to bring Jack down, Sam’s ex returning to stir up trouble, one stubborn pre-schooler, two squabbling teenagers, a crazy dog, and some out-of-this-world sex, Jack and Sam are discovering that playing make-believe can be complicated-but not nearly as much as falling in love…