romance

Review: Stirring Up Trouble by Juli Alexander

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5 stars!

If you’re looking for a fun, young romance for a teenage girl to read (or if you yourself want to wax nostalgic), this is it! I’ll tell you upfront, there’s a lot of teenage kissing and a little bit of hand-wandering. Other than that, clean clean clean. Perfect for ages 13 and up.

Zoe is the magical daughter of a magical mom and a scientific dad. They’re divorced. Zoe has one magical friend, Milo, and regular friends Anya, Jake (who used to date Anya), and Camille.

The book centers on Zoe figuring out what to do about her crush on Jake, how she’s going to avoid getting into trouble with her magic, what to do with her annoying dad, and how she’s going to balance her friendships when her girlfriends are a little crazy sometimes.

Juli does a WONDERFUL job writing realistic teenage dialogue, describing awkward relationships with parents, showing how a teenager’s behavior doesn’t always match her thoughts, and using magic as the vehicle for moral lessons (greed, selflessness, kindness, honesty).

The story is super fun, light, and funny. It’s like a rom-com for teenagers with some potions and spells sprinkled in. I’m no teenager, but I loved it!

–Calliope

Great price: $2.99!

Buy it now Stirring Up Trouble
…and the next in the series Trouble’s Brewing

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Review: Take Me Home for Christmas(Whiskey Creek #5), by Brenda Novak

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I know what you’re thinking. It’s not even Halloween and this crazy Muse is posting about Christmas?! Well, the truth is that there are a ton of Christmas books that are coming out next month, that if we don’t space them out a bit, we will be overwhelmed almost every day with them. Not that I would mind, but I’m sure the other muses would shoot me if that’s all I did. So I’m starting now. 🙂

This is a story about true friendship and forgiveness.

Sophia returns to Whiskey Creek after her abusive husband dies running from the FBI. She has hit rock bottom and most of the town isn’t ashamed to rub it in her face. She has to be strong for her 13 yr old, but she doesn’t know if she can.

Ted Dixon is secretly pining over her all these past years, since she jilted him. So he really doesn’t want her here, but he’s not going to do anything about it. That is until he hears and sees what the town is doing to her. He decides to be the bigger person and help her out.

Sophia is so desperate for money, she’ll even work for Ted. Even though she knows her heart won’t be able to handle it.

I felt so bad for Sophia. I understood why she did some of the things she did. But it was still hard to watch her fall apart and just give up. I knew some people would help her. But I was shocked at some other’s reactions.

I may have to read this series from the beginning. It was really good. I’ve read the first two books and skipped to this one, but I don’t feel like I missed anything. The only thing I really missed was the hook ups from the past three that I didn’t read. But since I know who ends up with who, I can go back and relax and read.

I received this ARC for an honest review.

~Melpomene

Buy it now Take Me Home for Christmas (Whiskey Creek)

Review: Operation: Date Escape by Lindsey Brookes

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Kelsie Collins had a bad marriage, an emotional divorce, and a plan for a bad date escape book. Her best friend Nanci and her mother Melinda helped out by setting up blind dates just a little too often.

When Kelsie tries to escape from an especially horrifying blind date, she gets rescued by hunka hunka burning love firefighter Cole. And then it happens a second time – a bad date, fudged escape, and rescue by Cole. It has to be fate!

Kelsie and Cole go through customary ups and downs in their short but intense relationship before a delightful, realistic happily ever after.

The novel is funny and fresh. Lindsey Brooke writes a straightforward romance with easy, natural dialogue — especially between Nanci and Kelsie. She writes an awesome subplot, too: Nanci and Cole’s friend Joe hit it off in a different but still big and romantic way.

Operation: Date Escape is great fun… lighthearted chick lit romance with realistic characters and laugh out loud moments.

-Calliope

P.S. The cover doesn’t do the book justice.

Buy it now Operation: Date Escape

Review: Just One Song, by Stacey Lynn

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Silly as it sounds, I bought this book after seeing the cover. I never read what it was about. All I knew was it was a romance, and that was good enough for me. But I loved it!!

Nicole Parsons’ life tragically changed over one year ago. And since then, she has stopped living. Her friend, Mia, challenges her to go out on a limb. And while she’s out there, she meets mega star, Zach Walters. She doesn’t wanna get involved with someone who reminds her of her past. It’s too hard.

Zach has never found anyone who likes him for him. Until he meets Nicole. He is thrown for a loop, over this girl who keeps to herself and who always looks sad. He wants to find a way to make her happy.

Nicole is shocked she feels anything for Zach. She is so used to being lost and sad. But she listens to Mia and goes out on that limb. She does some life changing things, but she needs to do them, in order to move on.

Zach helps her succeed in moving forward, without forgetting the past. It’s far from easy. But he doesn’t give up, and neither does she.

“Tell me that when you’re this close to me, when you feel my heart beating in my chest and feel my arms wrapped around you that you don’t want me; that you’re not falling in love with me. Because I am, Nicole. I’m completely falling head over heels in love with you.”

My favorite parts were all of the music scenes. I’m suck a sucker for musicians.

There is another book, about Mia, coming out at the end of this month. It’s called Just One Week. I can’t wait!!

~Melpomene

But it now Just One Song

Review: Bridesmaid by Julia London

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20130928-072827.jpg Bridesmaid is a novella about Kate, who has to travel from New York to Seattle on a deadline — and with a poufy bridesmaid dress in tow. Joe, a handsome, successful IT guy who hasn’t yet found his one and only, sweetens the trip.

Kate and Joe overcome funny travel challenges together in order to their final destinations. On the journey, they notice they kind of like each other. What do they do about it? Read the book!

I’ve read Julia London before and I usually like her books. I also appreciate a really tightly written yet thorough novella. I didn’t enjoy Bridesmaid as much as I wanted. The writing wasn’t as good as I expected, the dialogue was just mediocre, and the characters were a little flat.

Bridesmaid has a cute plot and a nice, easy love story. But it isn’t quite the best you can get from Julia London.

–Calliope

Buy it now Bridesmaid

Review: By Proxy by Katy Regnery

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This charming romance novel revolves around Jenny, a small town Montana girl from a close-knit family, and Sam, a work-hard-play-hard corporate guy who lives in Chicago but has Montana family ties.

Jenny and Sam agree to help their loved ones get married from afar by standing in for them by proxy. While they wait for their courtroom appointment, they have a few days to get to know each other. I’ll let you read for yourself how THAT goes. There’s quite a bit of personal growth, family loyalty, snowy fun, and new love in there … and a happily ever after, too.

The first few chapters were a little awkward to read. But the awkward writing mimicked the discomfort of Sam and Jenny as they felt each other out and determined how their feelings were going to play out. The writing became smoother and more natural as Jenny and Sam became more comfortable with each other.

I indeed sighed at Sam’s romantic moments, clenched my fists with Jenny when she was frustrated, and felt my shoulders tense when another guy tried to make a move on Jenny. Katy Regnery sparked more interest with snippets of Swedish… little phrases that I am going to practice so I can use them when the right moment presents itself. And I had fun strolling with the loving couple, talking Glogg and enjoying the Christmassy atmosphere.

I totally loved that By Proxy didn’t try to be flashy or dramatic, but it still made me laugh and cry. Real tears, people! I felt for these characters. And I’m all in for the next book in this Heart of Montana series.

–Calliope

Buy it Now By Proxy

Review: Christmas on 4th Street by Susan Mallery

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20130919-205920.jpg You know what happens four days from today? Christmas on 4th Street is released, and all you Susan Mallery fans (and Christmas romance fans) become happy campers!

You know what will make you even happier? Diving in to Noelle and Gabriel’s story. (Nice Christmassy character names, Ms. Mallery.)

Noelle’s three best friends are planning a triple wedding during the Fool’s Gold Christmas festival. One best friend’s fiancé has a cute doctor brother that comes to town for the wedding. I’m sure you can see where this is going… Kissing, dinners, getting caught in a remote cabin during a snowstorm … the usual.

A few things struck me as unique in this romantic tale. First, Noelle was the most optimistic person I’ve ever met in a book. I wasn’t annoyed, I was reflective. If Noelle could traverse tragedy and come out of it smiling, I should be able to do the same in my pretty smooth-going life. Second, Gabriel’s relationship with his dad was explored nicely. Mallery didn’t gloss over it; she showed me how Gabriel’s dad had so much influence over his emotional development that he totally needed his dad to nudge him into going and growing that extra step. And third, the dialogue was fresh and bold. These characters tell it like it is, with tact, but directly. I like that in real-life people, and I appreciate it in book characters.

I got my coffee and shopping fix on 4th Street in Fool’s Gold … and let my tears of joy fall at the big wedding. Mallery wrote just the right balance of Christmas, friends and family, wedding planning, and new love.

Don’t miss it.

–Calliope

Buy it Now Christmas on 4th Street

Review: No One’s Angel by Kelly Walker

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18109730 Angel and Arion met while playing video games online and struck up a close friendship immediately. When Angel virtually disappears Arion is crushed and has his heart broken. When a bedraggled Angel shows up on his doorstep he is overjoyed at seeing her again and hopes to kindle a true relationship with her.

But Angel is terrified of something and is determined to keep that to herself. She won’t allow herself to get to close to Arion or let him into her world because she’s scared he’ll be affected by those she’s trying to keep in her past.

I really enjoyed this book for a few different reasons. The novelty of a romance set up like this, with a meet cute happening online was very current and I thought it was well done. It wasn’t the typical meet online type story since it was through gaming. I thought the romance between Angel and Arion felt realistic. There was also a lot of mystery and action tied into Angel’s past catching up to her.

I thought this was a nice YA/NA book that fans of the genre will enjoy.

3.5 stars

~Clio

Review: So Tough to Tame by Victoria Dahl

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So Tough to Tame will be published September 24.
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Here’s a peek at what you’re in for:

So Tough to Tame might be the steamiest romance novel I’ve ever read.

Charlie (Charlotte) and Walker always had a little classroom crush on each other. And now as adults they can do something about it. They flirt like crazy, tease a little here and there, build a friendship, and then jump in to a sizzling physical relationship.

They each have secrets that scare them away from an emotional relationship. But Charlie and Walker lean on each other, find solace in each other, and make each other laugh.

They respect each other as equals, even though Walker is a hot cowboy with a swagger that takes a woman’s breath away, and Charlie has always been known as the straight-laced studious type. Charlie and Walker don’t even realize that despite all the talk about sex being the only thing they have in common, they’re falling in love. After some ups and downs there’s a satisfying happily ever after.

Besides enjoying the romantic element of this novel, the great writing, fun characters, and suspenseful plot had me on the edge of my seat!

–Calliope

Buy it now So Tough to Tame

Review: I Only Have Eyes For You by Bella Andre

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20130914-222021.jpg 4 stars

*Dreamy sigh*

Where do I begin? Let me just say that Bella Andre created a very swoon-worthy character in Jake McCann. He’s rough and tough and domineering and crude and powerful. And he only shows his softer side to Sullivan family members, namely Sophie, with whom he’s been in love since childhood. Who doesn’t love a bad boy with a sensitive side?

Sophie is the bookish sister of six brothers and a twin. They think she’s fragile and want to protect her from struggles and hurt. They want to protect her from Jake McCann. I love that despite her siblings’ opinion of her, Sophie is a strong, brave, vocal woman who knows what she wants. Sophie is the best kind of heroine – she advocates for her own best interests, even when there’s a risk involved.

When circumstances put Jake and Sophie together for a week, sparks fly — good and bad. They find out each other’s weaknesses, faults, and truths. They decide whether being in love will lead to anything more. That’s the best part of being in love: knowing where you both stand, and then determining whether the truth will make you or break you.

Bella Andre’s characters are unique in the world of romance novels. Sophie and Jake stay true to themselves, living the lives everyone knows them to have, and being brave enough to show what’s under the surface.

I want to meet every one of the Sullivans in this series… So I will sign off here and get to the next book.

-Calliope

Buy It Now I Only Have Eyes For You