romance

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: An Invitation to Sin by Sarah Morgan

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imageThere’s an instant attraction when Taylor Carmichael and Luca Coretti meet at the wedding of his cousin. They end up kissing when they bump into each other later. Unbeknownst to them, photographs were taken of the embrace and sold to the tabloids.

Taylor is trying to overcome her bad girl past and become a respected actress. She has a forbidden list, which include carbs and men like Luca, that she thinks will help her stay out of trouble. When she is confronted with the photos, she blurts out they are engaged.

Luca is also trying to overcome his playboy reputation. He wants to be on the board of his fashion house while his brother is away. (The brother’s story is told in book 1, but you don’t need to read it to understand what’s happening in this book.) He learns quickly that Taylor claims they are secretly engaged. He tries to tell the board the truth but they think that since Luca is ready for such a commitment as marriage, then he is maturing and ready to be a member of the board. Thus begins this delightful tale of a fake engagement. As they spend time together as couple, they get to know each bother while trying to handle the sizzling chemistry between them. Luca helps Taylor to have fun and eat some carbs. Taylor, well, I think that is the one weakness of this book. I really didn’t see what was about Taylor that made Luca fall in love. Yes, they have amazing chemistry and he becomes very protective of her, but still I wonder a little bit.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this take on a familiar trope. The engaging couple and great dialogue make this book easy to recommend.

ARC provided publisher via NetGalley.

~Thalia

Buy It Now An Invitation to Sin (Harlequin Presents)

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)

Review: Plus One is a Lucky Number by Teresa Morgan

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18299025 Sophie has a “plus one” wedding coming up quickly and is dreading everything about it. She’s been in a rut, mostly just working as an Engineer and hanging out at a local pub with her co-workers. Definitely no dating or “plus one” to speak of. When a friend sees the invitation in her purse he quickly pushes her to bring Adam, a gorgeous co-worker with a playboy image.

When the weekend comes it starts off rocky and more than a little awkward. They put on a pretty believable show in front of the wedding party and Sophie’s friends though. They slowly start to connect and discover they have more in common than they thought. But both are hiding secrets from each other and from themselves. The question is can they come clean with each other and where do they go after the wedding weekend?

This was a quick, fun read that I really enjoyed. I liked that Sophie was an Engineer and while she may not have all of her life together she does have her work life in order. She loves what she does and she’s good at it. Adam was likable too and I found myself rooting for both of them pretty quickly. They bring out the best in each other and I thought the HEA was perfect.

This one comes out on August 29th.

4 stars

~ Clio

Pre-order or Buy it Here: Plus One is a Lucky Number: HarperImpulse RomCom

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: A Royal Without Rules by Caitlin Crews

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image“Prince Pato, international manwhore and noted black sheep of the Kitzinia royal family, was the biggest waste of space alive. He stood for nothing save his own hedonism and selfishness, she wanted to be anywhere in the world but here.Anywhere.”

Poor Adriana has been assigned to watch over Prince Patricio (Pato). Pato’s brother, and heir to the throne of Kitzania, will be getting married in a few weeks. Adriana has to prevent Pato from behaving inappropriately and causing embarrassment to the family.

Adriana comes from scandal herself. Three descendants have been mistresses to the Kitzanian royal family.“It isn’t my dirt but I’m covered in it, head toe, but I’ll be clean. Ever.”
As Adriana and Pato work together, the disdain grows to an attraction. More importantly, there’s trust building between them. Pato shares a secret that explains his hedonistic lifestyle.

Overall, I enjoyed their story. I encourage you to pick this one up. Just because there are many Harlequin titles published each month doesn’t mean the books aren’t worth reading. This is one of those gems that is. Pato and Adriana make a scandalously, delightful couple.

3.5/5 stars

~Thalia

ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley.

Buy It Now A Royal Without Rules (Harlequin Presents)

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: Never Kiss a Rake by Anne Stuart

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imageLet me begin this review with a confession. Anne Stuart is one of my book crack authors. After I devoured my first Stuart book decades ago, I searched for more. She is my most expensive book glom. Well worth every penny spent and every minute searching on eBay.

Bryony Russell and her two younger sisters are left close to penniless after their father passed away six weeks ago. Their father was a wealthy shipping magnate who was accused embezzling money from his company. Everyone believes that he died from a carriage accident while trying to flee England.

Her father left a note:
“Don’t trust any of them. Someone’s stealing money, and it looks like Kilmartyn’s in league with them, no matter what excuses he makes. Don’t trust Morgan either. Never trust a pirate. Something’s going on, and I’ll get to the bottom of it…”
This note leads them to believe that their father may have been murdered. Bryony plans to investigate Adrian Bruton, Earl of Kilmartyn, and discover if he is responsible for her father’s death and also if he embezzled the money.

Adrian has a difficulty maintaining a housekeeper. Bryony’s plan is to apply for that position. She figures that she’s better suited for housekeeper than maid because she “knows more about running a household than…dusting and cleaning.”

Bryony disguises herself as a widow and goes to the Kilmartyn home. When Bryony interviews with Adrian’s wife, she is turned down the position because his wife doesn’t want to be surrounded by ugliness. The ugliness is the smallpox scars on Bryony’s face. Luckily for Bryony, Adrian intervenes and hires her.

Adrian does this mainly to spite his wife. He was forced to marry her after she blackmailed him with her knowledge of his deep dark secret.

Since Bryony must report directly to Adrian, they spend much time together. That spark of interest at the interview becomes simmers.

Adrian is the epitome of the Stuart hero: dark, brooding and ambiguous. Sometimes you’re not sure if you should root him. He knows that Bryony is not whom she claims she is.

I enjoyed the time spent with Bryony and Adrian as they try to figure out what each other is really doing. Neither trust each other. Both are very much attracted to each other.

The weakest part of the book is the wife. She’s very one-dimensional. It’s never revealed how she found out about Adrian’s secret.

Because this is the first book in the trilogy, there is a teensy thread unresolved. I look forward to reading the next book. A Russell sister investigates a pirate.

3.5/5 stars

ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley.

~Thalia

Buy It Now Never Kiss a Rake (Scandal at the House of Russell)

Amazon Prime Members Can Borrow Book For Free Never Kiss a Rake (Scandal at the House of Russell)

Review: Her Favorite Temptation by Sarah Mayberry

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18184035This novella felt more like a full length novel to me, which is definitely a good thing. Leah is a cardiovascular surgeon who is making a change in her specialty and going against her patents wishes. When she meets Will she thinks he’s handsome and had a great voice. Will is shocked she doesn’t recognize him as part of the duo who has been all over the radio the last few years.

The two strike up a friendship although both are clearly attracted to each other. Their friendship grows as they try to ignore their feelings.

I love both characters here. Leah is obviously a very strong female lead, smart and headstrong. Will has charm and is very there for Leah when she needs him. Their interactions were warm, funny and annoying as I clearly wanted them together immediately.

Sarah Mayberry does the buildup to the romance perfectly, leaving the readers ready to scream if the couple doesn’t kiss this instant. But of course they eventually do and sparks fly. We get our HEA at the end, after a few obstacles having been overcome. This is a sweet romance and a quick read.

I loved the whole thing from beginning to end. This was intended to be a short story but the author ended up writing more (yay for us!) and is the lead in for her next full length book – Her Favorite Rival. That will tell the story of Audrey, Leah’s older sister, who we get to see quite a bit of in this one. I’m a fan of lead in books and getting to see bits of one character and then see them be the lead in the next.

I can’t wait to read her next one!

OH! Almost forgot this book is free for the entire month of August! So click below and get a great book for free!!

5 stars

~ Clio

Buy it Now Her Favorite Temptation