romance

Review: Revealing Us, by Lisa Renee Jones

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I must say, I am really enjoying this series. I honestly don’t know if this is the last, or not. It ended, and yet it didn’t. But Chris and Sara’s story ended….sorta. I know it say trilogy, there is no way LRJ can leave us hanging like this!!

OK, after I typed all this out, Ms Jones posted on Facebook this: 4 is the trial and it is in Sara’s POV — you get final answers to Rebecca, Ava, more Rico, and yes ….. and Chris and Sara face this all together. Mark must face the trial and Crystal might show up:)

Book 5
Mark’s POV and you will know by the end of 4 where it’s going

Spinoff Series

Ella! Can’t wait. I’ve had this planned FOREVER– COMPLETE different story line

It takes place the same day as Being Me ended. Chris is leaving for Paris and he gave Sara the option of going with him or not.

She goes.

Chris tells her that only in Paris will she find out all of his secrets. But he warns her that only he will tell her. She should listen to no one else. And believe me, there are plenty of people that are trying to tell her who he really is. She falls into too many traps and believes too many wrong things. But Chris brings her back and show her who he really is.

I kinda had a feeling his past would creep up, and I was right. Sara is confronted with women who helped him when he needed pain and she’s trying to believe that he doesn’t need it anymore. But it’s really hard believing that when it’s in her face since they showed up.

They are also trying to find Ella, which turns out harder than she ever imagined. There is a side of her friend that she never expected.

Ava has turned the tables on Sara and is trying to blame her for Rebecca’s death. Chris, with the help of Mark, are trying to get it all straightened out.

The twists and turns this book had, made me a wreck.

And don’t get me started on the Epilogue….. I screamed. Not my proudest moment. After reading that, I realized there HAS to be another book. There just has too…….

I received this ARC for my honest opinion. And my opinion is that it was awesome! And you must pre order it.

~Melpomene.

Buy it now Revealing Us (Inside Out Trilogy)

Review: The House on Burra Burra Lane by Jennie Jones

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4 stars

The House on Burra Burra Lane opened quietly, proceeded cautiously, and then had me in laughter and tears. Kind of like the novel’s romantic relationship! I liked how I got to know Sammy and Ethan as slowly as they got to know each other. Their lives unfolded gradually to each other and to the reader.

Sammy buys a house in rural Australia. The local vet helps her make the repairs. After some unique and wonderful turning points — ringing the High Striker bell at the fair, and rescuing a 300-lb pig from a muddy ditch – the two realize they can’t deny their feelings for each other. They meander through misunderstandings, personal baggage and community gossip before landing in the Happily Ever After.

This book is peaceful and light — because of the story and setting but also because of the author’s word choice and writing style. The House On Burra Burra Lane is impressively crafted, something I’ve come to appreciate in the romance genre.

–Calliope

Buy It Now The House On Burra Burra Lane

Review: The Last Original Wife by Dorothea Benton Frank

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4 stars

The Last Original Wife cracked me up! One thread in the book was about how Wes, the husband, didn’t appreciate his wife Les’ humor — kind of like how some reviewers didn’t appreciate the humor in this book. But I did. 🙂

The book is ostensibly about a marriage gone wrong, a woman’s search for her own identity, and the social dynamic in the south. Underneath, the author comments on society’s expectations and prejudices. To experience it all, I went on a hilarious literary trip from Atlanta to Charleston, replete with a brother living in a haunted house, walks along the battery with iced cocktails, dinners at the Club, and a lover who wears seersucker suits.

Wes and Les had a less-than-perfect marriage. And Les finally got fed up with Wes’ idiocy. Did she make a high moral choice? No. Did he deserve it? Yeah, pretty much. They both hid their real selves from each other for years, so in my opinion they both reaped what they sowed.

I really enjoyed the humor, the insouciance, the ridiculousness of these characters and their interactions. I felt like I was reading the book version of a mural of caricatures.

I didn’t agree with everything the characters did in The Last Original Wife. I wouldn’t have made the decisions they did. But I loved reading their story.

–Calliope

Buy It Now The Last Original Wife

Review: Homecoming Ranch by Julia London

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4 stars

I was excited to start this book, because I had so much fun reading Julia London’s first book in The Fancy Lives of the Lear Sisters series. I figured, this London chick knows how to write, so I picked up Homecoming Ranch, an August release. I’m glad I did.

I’m going to admit I was confused in the beginning. Three sisters — Emma, Madeline and Libby — were left a ranch in their dad’s will. But the ranch was the lifelong home of a completely different family. And one sister had already made herself at home when the story began.

But then it sorted itself out. Once I was un-confused, I could sit back and enjoy London’s fabulous, real characters. These sisters pouted and gave dirty looks, hugged and cowered, laughed and made fools of themselves… just like people I know in real life. And the male love interest? Whoohoooo! He was pretty real too (well, okay, except for the customary perfect physique). Luke got annoyed, angry, impatient, confused, distant, sappy, happy, passionate… hey, just like a real guy.

Leo (Luke’s brother) provided some comic relief and a reality check amidst Luke and Madeline’s love story. London’s “Leo” voice was brilliant, so so brilliant. Changing literary points of view made the story so genuine. Yeah, there’s a romance happening, but yoohoo, readers, there’s real life baggage to deal with too. Just because London writes a Happily Ever After doesn’t mean she skims over the struggles.

Besides writing superb characters, London illustrates the fun, funny and difficult moments of families, whatever package they come in.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

-Calliope

P.S. It’s only $3.99 for Kindle!

Buy It Now Homecoming Ranch

An Early Look: Review: Cake by Lauren Dane

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imageARC provided by publisher via NetGalley.

This novella is part of the Harlequin’s new Cosmo Red-Hot Reads line. (The first one, by Sylvia Day, will be released tomorrow). It definitely lives up to name of the line.

Gregori is a successful multi-media artist. He’s also very, very hot with his tattoos, nipple rings and beard. Wren, currently attending art school, is working hard to get her graphic novel published. Her job as a bike messenger helps pays the bills. Wren has been delivering packages and paperwork for Gregori for a year now.

They have slowly developed a friendship in that year. She always makes her deliveries to him last so that they can chat about his work or her art school. He provides her with scrumptious treats and hot tea.

Underlining the friendship is a super-charged attraction. When they do finally have sex, it is scorching. It scares Gregori how amazing the sex is and how at ease it is to be with Wren. He’s divorced and very wary of being in a relationship. He is the first to back away.

Wren is a fabulous, take-charge heroine. She sees that Gregori is skittish and scared but doesn’t back down from what she wants and doesn’t let Gregori push her aside. She shows him in every way that their relationship will be different than the marriage he had.

“I came here to get some distance between us. To cool things off.” She stepped closer. “I know. I came here to put an end to such silliness.”

Although, this is a short read, I didn’t feel like I was missing anything in the story. I belived in Wren and Gregori’s HEA. Wren is a fierce heroine. I adored her. She never let Gregori give in to his insecurities about their relationship.

This novella will be out Monday, September 15. Go and pre-order this! You won’t regret it!

~Thalia

Pre-order It Now Cake

Review: Married by Morning Lisa Kleypas

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image“Was this some new level of depravity? Had he developed a spinster fetish?”

Lisa Kleypas has created one of her most captivating heroes in Leo Hathaway. As a young man, Leo lost his fiancée to scarlet fever. This tragedy turned him into a hedonistic, sarcastic scoundrel. A very funny one.

“Oh, I have a very pure soul. It’s only my private parts that have gotten me into trouble.”

“Tell me about our legal issues. And use small words. I don’t like to think at this hour of the morning. It hurts.”

Catherine Marks is the one lady who can match wits with him. As they banter back and forth, they acknowledge that beneath that hatred is a mutual attraction. They go from trying to find the worst on each to learning about the best in each other.

It was a pleasure to watch them fall in love. The Hathaway family is there along with a mischevious ferret named Dodger to help Leo and Marks through their courtship. One of Kleypas’ funniest books punctuated by sweet memorable moments.

This is the fourth book in the Hathaways series. This book can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend reading the previous books. Marks and Leo’s relationship develops through the series and you can see the attraction building.

~Thalia

Buy It Now Married By Morning (Hathaways)

Review: Sweet Revenge by Zöe Archer

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image“Oh, aye,” he said, bitter. “I’m a goddamn hero.” “I never said that.” Her mouth curved into a soft, bittersweet smile. “But maybe someday you’ll become one.”

Jack Dalton has a gun held to his head. On the other end of the gun is Eva Warrick. She and her companions are part of a private organization called Nemesis Unlimited. Nemesis’ mission is to help those in the lower social classes. Their current client is a merchant’s daughter. She was seduced and abandoned by Lord Rockley. Eva and her fellow agents believe that Rockley is also involved in some illegal activities. They want to expose him and thus bring retribution for the merchant’s daughter.

Jack just wants to kill Rockley. Jack’s sister was a prostitute. Rockley had rough sex with her and caused her death. He escaped prison to kill Rockley. Eva threatens to bring him back to prison if he doesn’t help her.Jack is the only person who left Rockley’s employ and is still alive. They need him to track Rockley’s activities as well as his business associates. Jack has no choice but to help Eva and her partners.

Jack and Eva are immediately attracted to each other when they first meet. The romance slowly develops as they work together. They learn of each other’s past. Jack’s is painful, of course, as he is riddled with guilt over his sister’s deaths.

This an exciting and entertaining, action-packed first book in the series with a kick-ass heroine. The tv shows Leverage and Burn Notice inspired Zoë Archer to create this series. I eagerly look forward to the next book. Hopefully, Simon will be the hero.

~Thalia

Buy It Now Sweet Revenge: A Nemesis Unlimited Novel