Showing posts with label contemporary romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label contemporary romance. Show all posts

Heartthrob Review

Heartthrob
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This is the first mainstream romance by an award-winning series romance author, and it's well worth the wait! Brockmann delivers drama, comedy and believable, three-dimensional characterizations in this tale of Jericho Beaumont, a former a-list actor trying to rebuild his career after its flaming wreck due to his prescription-drug and alcohol abuse, and Kate O'Laughlin, a first time producer and screenwriter who is determined to get her independant movie made and made right, even if she has to demand her lead actor submit to daily drug testing and 24/7 supervision.The secondary characters also shine, particularly Susie McCoy, a 15-year-old child star who is trying to be taken seriously in her first adult role, and Jamaal Hawkes, a young, African-American man struggling to figure out how to deliver his best performance in the role of a slave when all he feels is anger and humiliation at the thought of being another man's property.Brockmann has obviously done her research on both movie production, and substance abuse and recovery. Yet, while the book deals with some very serious issues, the story and characters never wallow in self-pity or melodrama. I read very little romance, and buy even less of it new, but Suzanne Brockmann's name is at the top of my list. Read this book. Then do yourself a favor, and look into Suzanne Brockmann's backlist. Her books are well worth your time.

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Countless readers have discovered the amazing talent that is Suzanne Brockmann, a writer whose novels of suspense continually land on bestseller lists across the country. Now here is one of her earlier beloved books, one that signaled the beginning of a dazzling career.Once voted the "Sexiest Man Alive," Jericho Beaumont had dominated the box office before his fall from grace. Now he is poised for a comeback with the role of a lifetime. He wants the part bad enough to sign an outrageous contract with top producer Kate O'Laughlin—one that gives her the authority to supervise JB's every move, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.The last thing Kate wants to do is baby-sit her leading man, and Jericho may be more than she can handle. A player in every sense of the word, he is an actor of incredible talent—and a man with a darkly haunted past. Despite her better judgment, Kate finds herself irrevocably drawn to him. But is she being charmed by the real Jericho or by the superstar who dazzles the world?

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Recipe for Disaster Review

Recipe for Disaster
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I had a hard time putting it down especially near the end. You really get to know Karly and how God and everything plays out in her life. Also I got pregnant at 20 and decided to keep my son so I can relate to how hard of a decision it is for you. At the end I had a hard time not crying. It really gets you invested in the characters. Very well written.

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It should have been the worse day of her life. Nothing could be worse than being a bride abandoned on her wedding day, right? Wrong. Try factoring in an unplanned pregnancy that shatters what is left of Karly Martin's dreams to be a missionary. But Karly is a survivor, stronger and braver than she ever thought possible. Giving up her son for adoption and accepting a teaching position at a Navajo mission school gives her the chance to build on the dreams she thought she had to abandon. Slowly, she begins to heal. Earl Nezbegay sees to all of his responsibilities: caring for his quadriplegic sister and her eleven year old daughter while helping out at the Navajo mission school. Keeping busy enough not to think, keeping numb enough not to feel, and keeping distant enough not to interact. It's not exactly living, but it's surviving. Recipe for Disaster brings together two very broken people. Neither is looking for love but life isn't always what we plan or expect, is it?

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Sugar Daddy Review

Sugar Daddy
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When awkward teenager Liberty Jones meets self-assured, loner Hardy Cates her life is changed forever. Liberty and her mother have just moved to a trailer home in Welcome, Texas. Hardy lives in the same trailer park with his mother and three siblings. Both the Cates the Jones families don't have much in the way of money, but their ties to their family make their lives complete. Liberty's mother works hard to support her daughter on her own, and when she becomes pregnant, Liberty steps in to help shoulder the extra burden. Likewise, Hardy also comes from a single parent home (his father is in prison) and he works hard outside the home to provide extra income for his family.
Liberty is going through puberty when she first meets Hardy and she falls for him hard. He is her constant advocate, helping her with tests, teaching her to play basketball, helping her see her own inner and outer beauty. But Hardy wants nothing more than to one day leave the sheltered trailer park life behind him and make something of his life. He is determined to not wind up like his father and he knows that falling in love with Liberty will only make it harder for him to go. To both of their dismay, he refuses to get involved with her and he walks away from Welcome and Liberty without turning back. Shortly after, Liberty loses her mother in an accident and is left to raise her two-year-old sister alone.
Forced to act as a single mother to her sister Carrington, Liberty makes sacrifice after sacrifice to ensure they are both fed, healthy, and happy. She sets out on a career path as a hair stylist and moves with Carrington to Houston to work at a prestigious salon. Once there, she meets Churchill Travis, a successful businessman who the other stylists tell her would make a perfect "sugar daddy." Liberty has never considered such an arrangement, but when Churchill takes a personal interest in her and offers her a live-in position as his assistant, she lets herself be swayed for the sake of her sister. Living with Churchill will give Carrington opportunities Liberty could never afford on her own. Soon Liberty has found love, happiness, and contentment in the Travis home and things are going well. But when Hardy steps back into her life after nearly 10 years, she has to decide if she's willing to sacrifice the happiness she's found for the future she'd always dreamed of.
I was skeptical when I found out Lisa Kleypas, one of the leading authors of historical romances, was going to be writing a contemporary novel. I mean, her historicals are so good--why ruin a good thing? Well, I'm here to admit that I was wrong. I forgive her for going the route of contemporary, and if they're all going to be this good, I say keep at it. Sugar Daddy was "unputdownable." I read it in six hours and stayed up until 3 in the morning to do so (and I have to go to work in the morning). But there was simply no other choice. I became absorbed in the characters, in the story, in the outcome and I just had to know how things were going to work out. Liberty Jones is a well-drawn character who develops from a shy, awkward teenager into a self-assured, confident guardian to her sister. She puts herself second to ensure that Carrington is well cared for and even sacrifices her own love life for the good of her family. When she finally finds someone to love, I was so happy for her, but then Hardy stepped back into her life and I had to wonder if she'd made the right choice. Hardy Cates was the stereotypical first love, but more than that he helped Liberty find her own womanhood. When she felt awkward and uncomfortable he put her at ease, and when she went through hard times, he picked her up. I wanted things to work for them, but at the same time it took Liberty so long to move on that I almost resented the easy way in which he walked back into her life. I've read enough romances that I can usually guess how they'll end (happily, of course), but Sugar Daddy's ending was a pleasant surprise for me. This story ranged from laugh out loud funny (the emu story) to heartwrenchingly romantic, and every emotion in between. Pick up Sugar Baby when you're in the mood for a stellar contemporary romance that will keep you on your toes, but make sure you have a few hours to spare because you won't want to put it down.

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Suspicions of the Heart Review

Suspicions of the Heart
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I enjoy reading a cozy mystery. A cozy mystery is just that . . . no gore, ugliness or sensuality. Just like a great cup of tea! The title of this book, "Who Wants Tyler Dead?" makes for an interesting start to the story. Marielle is hired, after her accident, to take ten-year old Tyler, his younger sister, and their grandmother to Oregon. Marielle needs the money and decides it's the best thing for her right now. A nice, big, newer pickup with a camper hatch is provided for her to drive to Oregon. She, and her charges, camp along the way. Camping brings out ALOT of the incidences that create the mystery surrounding Tyler. I enjoyed the trip from California to Oregon with Marielle and the others.
This is an interesting mystery with some humor and romance intertwined throughout the story. Why is someone targeting Tyler? And where is the children's mother? Marielle's sleuthing comes to the front and so she's on the case.
With twists and turns, I found this book immensely entertaining.

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Candy Arnold inherits a broken down ranch in the Panhandle of Texas. She's never had a home, but her ex-husband suggests she sell it.He's a lawyer and can help her.Candy doesn't want to sell, despite the fact that she was nearly killed in a rodeo arena, or the fact that she is shot at once she gets to the ranch. But when someone steals her trailer, she is freaked.Who could want her dead, or her land?Who could she trust?In her heart she had many suspicions.

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Taming Rowan Review

Taming Rowan
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In her exhilarating debut novel, "Taming Rowan," Suzanne Barrett proves that she has all the qualities great romance writers are made of. She mixes just the right amount of intrigue and sensuality to keep her readers on the edge of their seats. Barrett has written a refreshing, enjoyable romance and after reading this book, you'll find yourself wanting more from this talented new author!

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Lone Star Woman (Signet Eclipse) Review

Lone Star Woman (Signet Eclipse)
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STORY BRIEF:
The Strayhorn family is one of the richest in West Texas. They have a huge cattle ranch. Jude's mother ran off shortly after Jude was born. Jude grew up lonely, a single child. Her dream is to take over the running of the family ranch. She obtained college degrees in agriculture and genetics to prepare her for this. Her father won't give her the job. He claims it a man's work. He wants Jude to get married and make babies. He even arranges a couple of marriage engagements for her which she manages to get out of. Jude teaches at the local school to be able to feel useful.
Brady just inherited a large ranch next to the Strayhorn's from his aunt. It is run-down but livable. Brady is recently divorced. He lost all his money fighting and losing a custody battle for his son. He needs money to build up the ranch, so he gets a job as a ranch hand working for the Strayhorns. Jude's father has demanded that Jude stay away from the ranch hands her entire life, but she's attracted to Brady.
REVIEWER'S OPINION WITH SOME VAGUE SPOILERS:
While reading this book, I felt like I just came back from a nice long vacation in Texas, being on a cattle ranch. It has the feel of real people with regular problems. It's life like. I felt sympathy for Jude. Brady was smart, competent and didn't talk much. I liked both of them, and I enjoyed reading about them. I liked the way Jude helped Brady work on his own ranch. It was interesting how they were attracted to each other but backed off because Brady didn't want to jeopardize his job working on her family's ranch.
I did not like the ending. It was too subtle for me. Brady and Jude had fought and separated. I assumed they were going to get back together, but the author didn't show it. Instead, Brady makes one statement which implies they would get together, but that was all. I wanted to see what would happen with Jude and Brady. I wanted to see and feel a more romantic ending. I felt like the story was chopped off. At the least, I would have liked an epilogue showing them together. I also wanted to know what was going to happen with Brady's son and stepson. The author implies that the boys might be spending more time with Brady or live with him, but it's not told.
This is the author's first romance novel. Her prior books were written under the name Anna Jeffrey and were relationship stories, leaning toward women's fiction. As a human relationships story, I would give "Lone Star Woman" 4 stars. But since it was advertised as a romance novel, I'm giving it 3.5 stars for weak closure at the end. Closure is part of "feel good" for me.
DATA:
Story length: 342 pages. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: 3. Total number of sex scene pages: 15. Setting: current day Texas. Copyright: 2009. Genre: contemporary romance and human relationships fiction.

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Cowboy Blues Review

Cowboy Blues
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For the past four years, Spencer Cole and Rebecca Rankin have been sharing one night of passion every Fourth of July when the rodeo passes through town. Things couldn't be better between them, except maybe if they had more time together, but Spencer is a bull rider following the circuit and Rebecca is stuck in Oakley working for her father's newspaper as a photographer. When Spencer has a life-threatening accident, Rebecca takes care of him. They now have a lot of time together, but it's not on Spencer's terms. Will this bring them closer or drive them apart?
Cowboy Blues is a heart-warming story. Spencer and Rebecca's relationship grows and changes over time. Their history binds them, but Spencer's accident changes the dynamics of their relationship in a way nothing else could have. Spencer has to learn to accept the things he cannot change and Rebecca has to be strong enough to see Spencer through. Their relationship evolves from sex to romance to a deep companionship. There are erotic moments, tender ones, and angst-filled ones as well. Cowboy Blues is a wonderful story with a lot of emotion and a long-deserved happily-ever-after.
Nannette
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

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As The Table Turns Review

As The Table Turns
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Cynn Chadwick has a knack for writing about family issues, emotions and fascinating characters. Her writing is sharp, humorous and emotional. Her gift for words is amazing and I get lost in the sometimes quirky and always interesting tales she weaves. Bravo! Another terrific book from Cynn Chadwick. And I'm not even the publisher!
Napping Porch Press has a winner here.
Fay Jacobs
author of For Frying Out Loud - Rehoboth Beach Diaries

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Dixie Stuart, Queen of the Southern Romance novel is forty-two, divorced, living in Manhattan, overweight, and custodial parent to an increasingly rebellious teenaged daughter. Against Dixie's will, her muse, Mary Nell Dupree, and heroine of each of Dixie's many books, has risen to knock out Dixie's seeming writer's block. When Dixie's sister calls from Virginia to beg Dixie to help with their aging father who is experiencing the onset of dementia, Dixie decides to pack up her daughter and return home. She arrives to find the once majestic farm of her childhood in as rapid decline as her dear daddy's mind. Dixie is determined to save both her father and his estate. As the Table Turns is a rollicky roll through the Shenandoah Valley which introduces us to a bevy of quirky Southern characters from Dixie's bosom-heaving bodice-ripping protagonist, her angst-ridden daughter, pesky ex-husband, dramatic sister, flamboyant brother, and demented daddy, but it is the reconnection with her once secret beau that has Dixie's own bosom heaving instead of her character's.

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Sliding Home (Richmond Rogues, Book 4) Review

Sliding Home (Richmond Rogues, Book 4)
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Kason Rhodes comes home from spring training to find Dayne Sheridan in his shower. Assuming the trailer was abandoned, and falling on hard times, she had taken residence in the trailer, to work on saving money and healing her broken heart (her fiance, a radio DJ, broke up with her on the air). Kason may play for the Rogues, but he is a Loner with a capitol L and wants her out. She has no where to go, and fights to stay.
I really enjoyed this book. The secondary story was just as interesting as Kason and Dayne's story, and I found myself again rooting for the Rogues, both on the field and off. For those of you who read and enjoyed Curveball, you see a lot of Psycho McMillan, who is my favorite of the "Bat Pack." There were more than a few laugh out loud moments (making love on poison ivy is never a good idea). I love sports romances, and have ready many many many! Kate Angell's Richmond Rogues are one of my favorites...right up there with Susan Elizabeth Phillips Chicago Stars and Dierdre Martin's New York Blades. I hope she continues to write more. They are now a definite auto buy for me.
This is a quick, fun story that will be great to read on that blessed first day of school when peace comes back to your house after a long summer of lots of noise. :)
Enjoy.

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The ultimate bad boy baseball player finds a stranger in his shower and decides that no matter how sexy the interloper is, she won't find a place in his life-little does he know that the baseball diamond is not the only place he'll be sliding home.--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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Torn Apart (Storm Front) Review

Torn Apart (Storm Front)
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This book was much better than the first in the trilogy. So much so that it almost seems like 2 different authors. Sharon Sala does seem to be either a big hit or a big miss for me. The suspense was high throughout the book. It is not often that I wish over and over again that a character would just die. But in this one I did.
Small SPOILER below:
At first I was not sure that I would be able to read a book about a young boy being kidnapped by a pedophile since I have 2 young boys myself. For those who might feel as I do, the boy is never actually molested. That made it bearable for me. The boy is well written and I think responds appropriately for a child his age, not seeming older than he was, which is a problem in many books.
The love story was not really a main element in the book. The hero and heroine were separated at the time of the kidnapping but they still loved each other. As soon as the hero gets back to the heroine all their romantic type problems are over. So if you're looking for a traditional romance here, you're not really going to get it. It is sweet when they get back together and become stronger than each is alone, but the thrust of the story is finding and saving Bobby.
The author winds the story through the POVs of several characters showing the trail that eventually leads to Bobby's rescue. It is very well done and never intrusive or abrupt when the POV changes.
I'm glad I stuck with the series after the much weaker first volume.

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Fangs But No Fangs (The Young Brothers, Book 2) Review

Fangs But No Fangs (The Young Brothers, Book 2)
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The second story in the "Young Brother's" series "Fangs but no Fangs" is without a doubt one of the best paranormal vampire romances in publication. Ms. Love has taken the dark Christian (we met him in "Fangs for the Memories") and made this anti-hero a wonderful romance hero!
Christian Young is looking for redemption after reaching rock bottom. Now this vampire has left all of his creature comforts behind in order to live his own twelve-step program. He's going to live like a human. Well, this is easier said then done and just when he thinks that life can't get any worse he becomes the reluctant hero when he saves Jolee Dugan from her knife-wielding brother. Now his somewhat well ordered life is about to get a lot more complicated then ever before. Why now after all these years is he attracted to a mortal?
Jolee is trying so hard to escape the taint of her family. Too bad her family and her past keep intruding on the life she's trying to make. When handsome yummy man from across the street saves her from her kid brother she's grateful. When same yummy guy accidentally tries to run her off the road...well, that's just not something a hero would do...no matter that it was an accident. Well, now she can't keep her mind off of Christian and Christian seems to be not inclined to ignoring her. Well, you can't dodge fate and fate has plans for these two wounded and lost souls. Even though they find love with the other, will they be able to hold on to it, or will life inevitably get in the way?
This is a story about finding redemption and acceptance. Jolee and Christian are wonderfully crafted characters the reader will feel connected the moment they start the story. Ms. Love has an amazing talent for telling a story and her vision of the vampire legend is fresh and unique. It takes a very strong talent to take a villain and turn him into a sympathetic, likeable hero. Ms. Love has managed to do this. This is one author that truly shines in the romance genre!


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If I hadn't seen it for myself, I'd swear it couldn't be true: my brother, Christian, living in a trailer park and working at a karaoke bar. We're talking about the snob who'd probably sniff the plasma packets and send 'em back in a huff if the blood type wasn't the right vintage. But after centuries of living in the undead fast lane, he's made up his mind that this is exactly where he needs to spend the rest of eternity, atoning for his many, many, sins.But sometimes things just don't work out like you think they will. Sometimes your hell can turn into your heaven. And thanks to Christian's chatty neighbour and boss, Jolee, things seem to be getting a whole lot nicer in Shady Fork Mobile Estates. Not that either of them has the first idea how to have a normal relationship - we are talking about a woman's who's only dated dead-beats, and a guy who's only dated the dead. Well, nobody's perfect.

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Desert Heat Review

Desert Heat
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Attempting to escape a rejected love turned stalker, Patience Sinclair heads south, to the rodeo. Originally, the trip was planned just to work on her disertation, but escape becomes the focus.
The rodeo is a whole new world. Cowboys, barrel racers, and courageous clowns have their own civilization in which Patience becomes enthralled. It has its own inherent romance, and Patience soon has to face her fears when she gets entangled with an overly amorous cowboy. Before trouble can get out of hand, she is rescued by the someone who won't be turned aside. Dallas embodies everything a man ought to be, and is willing to be there for Patience.
When the city girl learns that danger lurks even there, a serial killer is on the loose, she will need all her own skills and all of Dallas' courage to handle the situation. If she lives through it, it will be time to go home, and leave behind her heart. Can she do it, or is there another way?
**** Some writers pen such wonderful books that reviewers almost hate them; it's hard to write about the story without letting out too much, and then reading lesser books is painful. However, although Kat Martin fits this category, I don't want her to ever stop. She makes the settings and people seem real, yet still has the slight larger than life quality that makes reading her books an escape from reality. ****
Amanda Killgore

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Kiss an Angel Review

Kiss an Angel
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I admit when I first read the plot of this book I was skeptical. Arranged marriage in this day & age? Socialite ends up in a circus with her groom? Sounded pretty hokey to me. Wow, was I wrong. Daisy's character was endearing, warts and all. She truly had a heart of gold. But it took a long time for anyone to realize that. At first you wanted to smack Alex on the side of the head, but he did end up redeeming himself beautifully.
Another reviewer commented on the implausibility of the Romanov connection. That aspect of the book fascinated me so much that I started researching Alexei Romanov. I've read several books on him, found extensive info on the Internet and found out the connection isn't so implausible after all. Let's just say, it's true, fact is stranger than fiction!
This book is definitely worth the read. You'll laugh & cry & cheer!

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