romance

Review: Fearless, by Tawny Weber

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Gia is way more brave than I would ever be!!

She has liked Luke for a while, but never, in her wildest dreams, would he give her a second glance. But she is sick of waiting. So she decides to change her appearance and give him a weekend to remember.

But she never thought it would change her life.

Luke is unhappy with everything being handed to him, included women. For once he would like to actually have to work for something. While in Vegas, for work, he meets a super hot woman that he is instantly attracted too. He wants the full weekend with her, but he after a hot night, he wakes up alone. Now he can’t get her out of his head and he’s thinking of changing everything he knows. That woman changed him.

Gia’ head only wanted a weekend, but her heart wants forever.

What is she gonna do now???

I received this ARC for an honest review.

~Melpomene

Buy it now Fearless (The Girlz Guide to Gettin’ It)

Review: Shades of Gray(KGI#6), by Maya Banks

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I just love these big alpha men!!! This series is full of them. So far there are 7 books. The 8th will be out in December, and I can’t wait!!

P.J. and Cole compete all the time. I was hoping all the competitiveness was a cover for romance. I’m so glad I was right. It seems this has been a long time coming.

The day after they finally give into their desires; which, by the way, was super HOT, they get called back out on a mission. Cole wasn’t a fan of this mission, but P.J. wasn’t about to let him make the call after one night with him. She should have listened to him.

The mission went unbelievably wrong. I was devastated. The men, on the team, were devastated. Cole was heartbroken. And P.J.? She was destroyed……

She decides to quit the team and go off on her own mission of retribution. She doesn’t wanna drag her team down with this dark path she is heading down. She can’t function any more, until payback has been given.

But Cole doesn’t give up on her. He knew, from the moment he laid eyes on her, that she was gonna be his. Now he had to find her and bring her back and help her get better.

After six months he finds her and is determined to bring her back to herself and help her heal.

“I’ll wait as long as it takes, P.J. I’ll do whatever I can to help you. Whatever it takes for you to heal physically and emotionally. Just know that I’m not going anywhere, and it’s time for you to stop running.”

It’s takes a lot of patience, and love, to show her that she belongs to Cole and the KGI family. No matter what happens, this is her family now and they won’t turn their backs on her.

“I’ll always have your back, P.J. You’ll never have to look far to find me.”

If you can get past the mission scene, the rest of the book is smooth sailing. Just a word of warning. 🙂

~Melpomene

Buy it now Shades of Gray: A KGI Novel

Review: Delectable by Adrianne Lee

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20130909-091341.jpg I found Delectable so refreshing! Instead of boy meets girl until happily ever after, Adrianne Lee gives us a romance about a newlywed couple who almost didn’t make it past their first two years of marriage.

With intervention from friends and family, Quint and Callee are thrown together in the kitchen of Big Sky Pie Cafe. They think about rekindling their relationship and decide against it several times. Eventually, all roads do lead to a happily ever after.

I liked how Callee made Quint work for the relationship. She refused to be a doormat even though she still loved him. I loved Quint’s efforts to save his marriage, especially his attempts to be romantic while still being his authentic self.

The ending was abrupt and could have used another chapter about Callee to bring the reader along on her mind trip, but I made the leap and enjoyed the book as a whole.

True love and homemade pies made this novella totally delectable!

-Calliope

Buy It Now Delectable

Review: Edenbrooke, by Julianne Donaldson

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Normally, I don’t read historical romances. But a certain Muse told me about Ms. Donaldson and said that I must read her. Boy, am I glad I glad I listened to her. This is the second book I’ve read of hers and I am in love with her writing. This book was so full of sweet romance that my eyes were prickling the whole entire time. I fell in love all over again. I feel like twirling with my eyes closed.

Marianne has been away from home for 14 months. She wants nothing more than to be reunited with her twin, Cecily, and her father. But instead, she must endure constant affections from an unwanted suitor in a city that is the complete opposite of where her home is.

She has been invited to spend some time in Edenbrooke with her sister and some family friends. And after a horrible incident with a highway man and then being subjected to a very flirtatious boy, she wonders what else will happen on her visit.

The longer she stays at Edenbrooke, the more her heart strings get pulled. She starts to feel things for Phillip, the heir to Edenbrooke, but she knows that her sister wants him, so she tries to remain only friends.

Phillip was the perfect gentleman. He was sweet and adventurous and enjoyed making Marianne blush every chance he could. But he always seemed to be there when she needed him.

My heart broke for Marianne, while she examined herself and found it lacking. She always put herself in her sister’s shadow and never realized that she was perfect, not inferior. She tries to convince herself that someone will love her, even if it’s for her inheritance.

Little does she know that love is right in front of her.

“Where is your compassion when I need it the most? Open your eyes, love, and see what is right before you: that I am not merely a friend, but a man deeply, desperately, in love with you.”

*swoon*

Seriously swooning happened. Phillip did everything a gentleman would do. He was perfect.

“I will always want her…Always! There is nothing you could do to change that.”

~Melpomene

Buy it now Edenbrooke: A Proper Romance

Review: Patchwork Family in the Outback by Soraya Lane

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Poppy leaves the city and heads to a teaching position in the outback, hoping for a fresh start after her husband did her wrong. Harrison loves the land he was raised on and is determined to raise his own children there – despite his wife leaving the family for a more exciting city life.

This novella is very well-written, and the small cast of characters is nicely developed. There’s a meet-cute, the push and pull of new and unexpected chemistry, and a convenient storm that gives Poppy and Harrison a final push toward each other.

I loved the relationship between Harrison’s children and Poppy. I thought it was pretty realistic for a teacher to want to care for mother-less children. I also liked that Harrison was so rough and tough, but had a soft spot for his children.

I enjoyed reading about this Patchwork Family, and wished it was a full-length novel. For an hour or two I was transported to rural Aussie ranch country, and fell in love with Harrison’s family just like Poppy did.

–Calliope

For a quick, enjoyable, uplifting read for under $4:

Buy It Now Patchwork Family in the Outback

Review: All Over the Place by Serena Clarke

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4 stars

Livi is a New Zealander who runs away to London after a humiliating – and very public – breakup. While she’s doing the single-working-girl thing in England, the book read like straight chick-lit, which I love. She had fun with her best friends, kept in touch with some schoolmates back home, flirted with a smattering of guys, and alternately complained about and thrived on her work in a hair salon.

And then all hell broke loose.

Livi’s mother came to London to “find herself” while Livi’s dad was nowhere to be found. Livi’s best friend Cam was sometimes being his sweet self and sometimes ignoring her texts and emails. Finally, Livi got stuck with a handsome American’s leather satchel due to a mishap on the train.

With a nudge from her flatmate, Livi went all over the place – throughout town, on day trips around England, and even a few days in romantic Paris – trying to find the American and return his satchel. She also went all over the place in her heart and mind, trying to figure out where her life was going and who she wanted to spend it with.

And there’s where chick-lit turned to romance.

I won’t give away details, but Livi got one of the best, most romantic, awe-inspiring and awwwww-inspiring happily ever afters I’ve read in a long time.

Brava, Serena Clarke! I plan to read more by you.

–Calliope

The Kindle format is less than $4!
Buy It Now All Over the Place

Review: Rock Chick, by Kristen Ashley

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Why did I read this?? In the back of my head I knew I was gonna like it, but I didn’t wanna get sucked into yet another series. But, silly me, I was sick of seeing it staring at me, when I scroll through my kindle, so I decided to give it a shot. Guess what happened???

That’s right, I LOVED it!!!

Indy Savage has loved Lee Nightingale since she was five. But he never looked at her like that. To him, she was a little sister. She has been avoiding him, for the past 10 years, out of embarrassment. But she seems to have gotten herself in a pickle and he decides to help her. She doesn’t want his help, but he seems to take no for an answer.

She finds herself in many Stephanie Plum moments, that had me cracking up. Stun gunned, dead bodies, stolen diamonds, and the occasional kidnapping. She lives her life like she hasn’t a care in the world.

Lee was the perfect Ranger/Morelli. He owns Nightingale Investigations and is trying to keep Indy in one piece long enough to show her how he feels about her.

It was super fun to read. The banter was hilarious.

“Your grandmother used to say that you two were two souls separated at birth. She mainly meant that you were both trouble and deserved each other.”

The romance was sweet.

“I intend to marry you and spend the rest of my life with you. If that freaks you out, tough, because now that we’ve started this, there’s no goin’ back.”

The romance was HOT.

“I could be on assignment, in a desert as hot as an oven, in a jungle as close as fuck, and sometimes I’d get through it dreamin’ of you saying my name like that.”

Since I’ve read her Mystery Man, Unfinished Hero and Chaos series, I just HAD to like this one as well. Now I have a glimpse into a few of the guys we’ve seen in the other series. Looks like I’ll be going on Amazon to grab the other seven books. 🙂

~Melpomene

Buy it now Rock Chick

Review Take 2: Plus One is a Lucky Number by Teresa Morgan

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Clio wrote an awesome advance review of this 4 star romance. Now that the book has been released I’m just going to add my two cents. 🙂

British rom-coms are one of my favorite genres. This one made the grade. I chuckled during Sophie and Adam’s wedding weekend, hurt for Sophie when she was getting her feelings trampled all over, and sighed with relief when Sophie and Adam finally started being honest with each other.

Low points included Sophie’s insecurities being too exaggerated, and being reminded repeatedly of Adam’s “player” reputation.

One of my favorite things about this book is how fun the characters were. The guests at the wedding, Adam’s mom, Sophie’s best friend and relatives… they all sounded like people I’d want to meet up with for a drink. Kudos to Teresa Morgan for a cheery cast!

If you like Jill Mansell and romantic comedies, you will enjoy Plus One is a Lucky Number.

–Calliope

Buy It Now Plus One is a Lucky Number: HarperImpulse RomCom

Just released August 29!

Review: The Hero by Robyn Carr

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5 stars!

Oh, Robyn Carr, I do love your talent. Who else can make an ensemble cast and a main character develop simultaneously in the same novel? Romance leads the way while family life and suspense follow closely behind.

I liked the romantic element in The Hero — Devon runs away with her daughter from a drug dealer-run commune — and ends up falling in love with a new guy in a new town (Thunder Point). He’s her hero in a way.

And I liked the family and community themes EVEN MORE. Rawley, the antisocial, grouchy old coot who helps Cooper at the beach restaurant, finally finds a social niche. Rawley found Devon walking along the road, saved her, and gave her a place to stay — a physical home and a home in his grandfatherly heart. Devon and her daughter Mercy are the family Rawley never had. He is Devon’s hero, too.

The women of the town quickly take to Devon, meeting her for coffee and lending an ear. They make her feel part of the town, without requiring that she repay them. The women’s friendships save Devon emotionally. They are her heroes.

By the end, we see the many ways Devon is a hero – to herself, her love interest, her daughter, Rawley, the doctor’s office. And she finally sees it too.

Around Devon’s story, Robyn Carr masterfully weaves in updates on the rest of the characters, whose stories began in Thunder Point books 1 and 2: Eric and Ashley, Cooper and Sarah and Landon (and Eve), Mac and Gina, Spencer and Austin… their relationships continue to grow and develop in wonderful ways. There are new homes, engagement rings, new jobs, a new school year, and even a beach wedding.

The Hero was a combination of the best romantic elements from The Wanderer (book 1) and the well-developed family elements in The Newcomer (book 2).

Thank you for a great escape, Robyn Carr! I lived in Thunder Point for a night and enjoyed every word, every chapter.

–Calliope

Buy It Now The Hero

Review: This Man Confessed, by Jodi Ellen Malpas

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Where to begin…..

Let me start out by saying that I LOVE 50 Shades. I admit it, OK. I liked the story more than the hot scenes. I have read WAY hotter books. I never understood the hype. But I’m not here to discuss Shades, am I??

Since I liked Shades, I heard this series was similar, so I figured I’d give it a shot. Well….. Let’s just say I was not a fan.

If you want a book with very HOT scenes, then this is right up your alley. If you wanted an emotional roller coaster, this is perfect. If you like all happiness and flowers, then only to ripped apart by something horrible, then you shall be a happy camper. If you like sad back stories that gut you, then you will truly be content.

However, Jesse Ward was border lined stalker and obsessive, to the point I was getting uncomfortable. I was about to put it down, cuz it was close to crossing a line for me. I wanted to smack him and Ava.

The other super duper irritating part was his constant correcting of her swearing, when he swore like a sailor himself. Very annoying. It was a total turn off. Every other page he was yelling “Mouth!” Drove me up the freaking wall!!

Secrets was the theme of these books. I was going crazy. Every time we turn around, Jesse made a new revelation and I was getting upset. If he just spoke up and told Ava everything, right off the bat, none of these crazy things would’ve happened.

I wanted to like these, I really did. I kept hearing about Jesse Ward and how awesome he was, but I’m not a fan. I am so disappointed.

~Melpomene

Buy it now This Man Confessed (This Man Trilogy)