romance

Review (Another Look): The Story Guy by Mary Ann Rivers

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Clio wrote a great review of this novella on July 16… So this will be brief.

Mary Ann Rivers writes so the reader is in the story with the characters. I felt part of the book – and I think that’s one sign of successful writing.

For one, I thought I would be freaked out reading about a librarian meeting a stranger in the park every Wednesday for a make-out session. But I wasn’t. Mary Ann Rivers wrote in the apprehension as well as the excitement (and the relief when the Wednesday guy turned out to be nice and normal), and I felt it right along with Carrie.

In this age of the Internet and texting, sometimes it’s easier to show our real selves to a stranger instead of a friend. That’s what Carrie and Brian did. They spilled their guts in instant messages, and got to know each other better than if they had gone on a month’s worth of coffee dates. Awesomely, I got to know Carrie and Brian, too, and I got to see how perfect they were for each other.

You know the feeling you get when you first start dating someone? Like there’s no one else to think about? Like no one else in the world exists? Rivers did an amazing job using the precise words and manner to give me that novel feeling of beautiful isolation. Brian and Carrie were in their own little world, until they were ready to face the world together.

Rivers has a talent for immersing the reader in her story. I look forward to more by her.

Netgalley provided me with this book in exchange for an honest review.

–Calliope

Buy It Now The Story Guy (Novella)

Review: The Master Undone, by Lisa Renee Jones

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Warning!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!You must not read this unless you read Being Me. This is a novella that takes place a day after Being Me ends.

I positively LOVED seeing Mark, Mr. In control all the time, not in control. 🙂

When he meets Crystal, the new sales rep for Riptide, she give him a run for his money. She doesn’t back down at all. He doesn’t know how to deal with that and he is OK with that. Part of him wants her to take control, but the other 95% doesn’t.

It’s a very quick read, 40 pages, so there’s not much to say. Mark is one tough cookie and doesn’t wanna show weakness, but somehow Crystal creeps in and slowly shows him that the loss of control isn’t weakness.

It ends quite suddenly and now I’m dying to see what comes next!!!

I received this ARC, for an honest review.

~Melpomene

Buy now The Master Undone: An Inside Out Novella

Review: Love, Technically by Lynne Silver

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This novella was a quick, easy mid-week read.

I loved the fresh, early-20s characters of Michelle and Noah. The tech-y office setting reminded me of my first corporate job after college – making friends, going to happy hour, figuring out whom to call at the Help Desk. And who can’t resist a juicy office romance where gossip and rumors abound?

But the writing seemed amateurish, the dialogue unnatural, and the comedic timing was off. In addition, the timing of the epilogue — taking place three years after the last chapter — was awkward.

Love, Technically is a cute, fun romance. A few more chapters and a little more editing would make fine improvements.

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

-Calliope

Buy It Now Love, Technically

Review: A Woman Entangled by Cecelia Grant

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imageKate’s father married her mother, an actress. Her grandfather, an earl, disassociated himself from her father. She has written letters to her aunt in effort to re-connect. She hopes that her aunt will help her attain her goal of marrying well and thus improve her and her sisters’ standing in society.

“I’ve pinned all of my hopes on making a good marriage.”
“You have stringent ideas of what constitutes a good marriage. Myself, I know of no better union than the one to which you owe your existence.”
“My parents have a happy marriage. That’s not the same thing.”

Nick’s brother, Will, married a courtesan. He had to distance himself from his brother so that he pursue his political ambitions. A baron, a former soldier, hires him to help him be a better speaker in Parliament. His association with the baron can help him repair the damaged reputation caused by his brother’s marriage.

“Will and his wife, after all, probably had a happy marriage. That didn’t make it a good one.”

Three years ago, Nick had hopes of courting Kate, who refused. It was a painful and memorable scene in the book as Nick recounts the event.

This a sumptuous tale of two people trying to overcome bad family connections to have better standing in society. It’s difficult for me to describe this author’s elegant writing. She makes each word a joy to read as we Nick and Kate with what they think they want and what they really want.

This is the third book in the series but it is not necessary to read the the two previous books to understand and enjoy this one. Go read this one to experience what a great historical romance is all about.

Thalia

Buy It Now A Woman Entangled

Review: Own the Wind: A Chaos Novel by Kristen Ashley

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imagePrior to this one, the only Kristen Ashley book that I have read was Motorcycle Man. I was curious about Shy & Tabby, which prompted me to request this book.

What I liked about this book:
1) No rambling sentences that inhibited my ability to understand what was going. Thank you, KA’s editor!
2) The romance between Shy & Tabby after they declared their love for each other. For me, the book really took off at this point. You just knew no matter what happened, they had each other. There was a great combination of sweet & sexy moments.
3) The way Shy & Tabby handled the club’s reaction to them. Also, when Shy had an opportunity to be promoted in Chaos, I liked the choice he made and his decision behind it.

What I didn’t like:
1) The time jumps in the beginning. It hindered my ability to connect w/ Shy & Tabby.
2) I wanted to see more of the development of them being friends.
3) The liberal use of the word “bitch.” It was used 60 times, as an adjective, a verb & a noun.
4) Tyra was also called Ty-Ty & Cherry. Sometimes she was called two of those names in the same paragraph. It became confusing.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I think it’s helpful that you read Motorcycle Man, but I think there’s enough information given to read this book as a standalone. The paperback is less than $6. The Kindle book is less than $4. It’s worth the risk to venture into this motorcycle club.

Thalia

Buy It Now Own the Wind: A Chaos Novel

Review: Material Girl (The Fancy Lives of the Lear Sisters) by Julia London

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Robin Lear is a successful businesswoman at her father’s giant freight corporation. Or so she thinks. Once she meets Jake — the guy renovating her new house — she realizes she’s little more than an arrogant, spoiled child who can’t see outside her fancy bubble. When Robin’s feelings for Jake begin to deepen, she knows she must shed her material girl image and find her real self, the self she can share forevermore with a man like Jake.

This is a fun romance with a happily-ever-after ending. I enjoyed reading about Robin’s material girl lifestyle: her jetsetting weekend trips, designer bags, expensive taste in wine. But I really loved watching her fall out of love with her fancy life and fall in love with Jake and his family. Jake is a little bit sappy, but strong when it counts most: vying against slick corporate Evan who chases Robin like he’s trying to win a carnival prize.

London did a great job endearing me to the main characters. She fleshed out the ancillary characters enough to make me want to read about Robin’s sisters and estranged parents in the next two books of the Lear Sisters trilogy. And best of all, London told a great love story, rife with ups and downs, arguments and make-ups, picnics and unmet expectations, and misunderstandings and kisses.

-Calliope

Buy It Now Material Girl (The Fancy Lives of the Lear Sisters)

Review: Being Me, by Lisa Renee Jones

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I had IF I Were You for a few months, but never read it. I thought it was gonna be like 50 Shades, so I wasn’t in a rush. Then I received an ARC of Being Me. So I figured I Had to give it a shot. And boy was I surprised!! I really had no idea what the story was about. I don’t like reading book reviews or descriptions, cuz they tell me too much. So I was totally and completely shocked!!

The first book I was trying to figure out what was gonna happen. I had to give up. I had no idea what was going on. Just when I thought I knew, I was slapped in the face. The sexual tension between the characters was awesome.

And to top it off, THERE WAS A CLIFFHANGER!!!! I screamed at the end. If I didn’t have the next one to read, I think I would’ve just died right there.

The second book was WAY more intense than the first. It had everything I love in it, sex, emotion, love, and a great deal of angst. Perfect!

Sara is still obsessed with Rebecca’s journals and starts to learn things about herself, just from reading them. You see a bit of her past and why she’s the way she is.

Her relationship with Chris, the super sexy artist, is smokin’ HOT. The scenes are so filled with sauce, I was feeling the emotion. The ways he takes her……*fans face* You see a little bit more of what makes Chris tick. But he is so complex we’ve only scratched the surface.

Her boss, is still sexy, but she thinks he knows more about Rebecca than he lets on. He also tries to help her in ways that muddle up her perception of him.

The twists and turns this book makes, was so wild I could barely keep up. The last 25% of the book was so shocking all the way around. I never saw it coming. But in the end it starts to make sense.

I can’t wait to read the last installment. I just have to know how they all continue on with their super screwed up lives. 🙂

After I read this, the author released Rebecca’s journals, which are in ebook form only. They take place between book 1 and 2. I highly recommend reading them also. It adds way more to the story.

~Melpomene

Buy now If I Were You (Inside Out Trilogy)

Buy now Being Me (Inside Out Trilogy)

Buy now Rebecca’s Lost Journals, Volume 1: The Seduction

Buy now Rebecca’s Lost Journals, Volume 2: The Contract

Buy now Rebecca’s Lost Journals, Volume 3: His Submissive

Buy now Rebecca’s Lost Journals, Volume 4: My Master

Review: The Edge of Never by, J.A. Redmerski

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“You were the missing piece of my soul, the breath in my lungs, and the blood in my veins.”

I cannot express how much I loved this book. I grabbed it only for the cover and I was completely shocked how wonderful it was.

Camryn was sick of her life and wanted more. She didn’t know what it was, but she knew she wasn’t gonna find it at home. So she packs a bag and hops on a Greyhound bus and sets out. Meanwhile, Andrew is on his way to see someone, but he really isn’t in a rush to get there. So he packs a bag and hops on a bus.

Little do they know that their quest is going to drastically change their lives. Even though they have completely different reasons for traveling, they slowly build a friendship that will help both of them in some very hard situations.

At first the book is in Camryn’s POV, which you find out that her life has gone down the crapper. She has had more heartache than someone twice her age. But then it switches to Drew’s when he takes notice of her. And it’s fun to hear what’s going on in his head. 🙂

As they travel, you slowly see their relationship grow from strangers to way more. It was really sweet to watch it unfold. When they sing together, I just cry. Now, when I hear Poison and Wine or Barton Hollow, by Civil Wars, I think of them.

“I think if past lives are real then we have been lovers in every single one of them. I’ve known you for a short time, but I feel like I’ve known you forever.”

Their trip has a few nerve wrecking parts, some sad parts, some fanning your face parts, and a few “HOLY CRAP, WHAT JUST HAPPENED?” And let’s not forget my favorite, the ‘OH MY GOSH!!! OH NO!! THIS CAN”T BE HAPPENING!!!” All in the name of drama. I don’t think I stopped crying during the last 25% of the book. Don’t even get me started on the Epilogue.

This is a standalone, but the author decided to write a second book, The Edge of Always. We have to wait til November for that one, but I think I’ll make it.

~Melpomene

Buy It Now The Edge of Never

Review: The Story Guy by Mary Ann Rivers

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imageCarrie is a librarian in her 30’s who is very content with most of her life. She loves her job, loves her friends and loves her family but in the romance department she’s feeling lonely and sick of watching love pass her by.

One night while perusing the local online personal ads one in particular catches her eye.

“I will meet you on Wednesdays at noon in Celebration Park. Kissing only.”

The picture attached is normal, attractive and looks like an actual person for once. On impulse Carrie responds to the ad and quickly sets up the meeting.

The first Wednesday and first kiss go surprisingly well and sparks fly. Brian seems to be a great guy and Carrie wants to see him outside of the park but he pulls back and insists on Wednesdays and kissing only.

They begin to get closer during their park dates and IM chats when they both can’t sleep . Carrie can tell Brian is withholding important information to him. When she realizes what that is she tries to figure out how to make a possible relationship work with someone so hesitant to share his life with her.

I don’t usually read novellas but this one caught me from the very beginning. I’m a sucker for librarian stories and this was funny and cute from the get go. Carrie as a heroine was excellent – she knew what she wanted and fought for it. She loved her life and I loved that she went after what she wanted – from emailing Brian to set up the initial meeting to IMing him.

Brian was an adorable hero and together they made a great couple. This book felt like a longer novel to me with all of the emotions that I went through reading it. The romance between the two leading characters was strong and I loved the humor throughout as well. The last part of it was particularly touching and made me a little teary eyed.

I would definitely recommend this cute romance. 5 stars.

I was provided this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

~ Clio

Buy It Now The Story Guy (Novella)

Review: The Man Behind the Pinstripes by Melissa McClone

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Caleb Fairchild is the CEO of Fair Face, a billion-dollar skin care company that his grandparents started. His grandmother, Gertie, wants to start a dog skin care line. He meets the dog wrangler, Becca Taylor, who’s been helping Gertie develop and test the line.

Caleb is very suspicious of Becca when he discovers that Becca is also living Gertie’s estate. He believes that Becca is trying to take advantage of Gertie. To keep an eye on Becca, he reluctantly agrees to be the business consultant for the line even though he is busy with the launch of the baby skin care line.

I enjoyed this sweet romance of Becca and Caleb. They have prejudices of each other that each overcome. They go on dates and get to know each other. They talk. I can see them falling in love.

There are so many things to like about this book: Caleb, Becca, Gertie & the dogs. I hope Ms. McClone will write about Ty or Courtney in a future a book. In the meantime, I have her backlist to explore.

Thalia