Review - Awakening (The Chrysalis Series #1) by Elene Sallinger (ADULT)

Title: Awakening

Author: Elene Sallinger

Series: 1st

Pages: 224

Published:  November 5th 2013 by Sourcebooks Casablanca 

ISBN:9781402289507

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Description: River Rock, Vermont, 2011: This is the story of Claire Ryan and Evan Lang. Thirty-five-year-old Claire joins a local book club for romance readers in order to get over the breakdown of her 10-year relationship. There she meets book shop owner Evan, a dominant man who has never recovered from the sudden death of his submissive wife.  As their relationship develops and they embark on the path of Claire's submission, it becomes harder and harder for Evan to keep his emotional distance. Claire is open and responsive and he wants her badly, but refuses to let himself go. As Claire falls deeper in love with Evan, she realises that he is holding back and decides to end their relationship, forcing Evan to confront his own past and his feelings in order to save his new love.  

I Give This ...

 

I wasn't sure I was going to review this on my blog.  This site tends toward young adult with the occasional younger book thrown in.  But, I realized I'm a grown adult and I think most of my readers are as well.  

I've read a few BSDM books.  Some of it really is hard for me to take.  But, this one was presented in a very 'tasteful" fashion.  I think it would be good for those easing themselves in the genre.  I really liked Claire.  It's interesting to me that she came from a very abusive relationship.  While you constantly hear of women who claim they deserved their beatings, Claire actually craved it.  But, she never recognized that it was delivered in the wrong context.  It wasn't until her relationship is long over that she realized what it was she wanted.  But, these types of relationships take care and consideration.  They aren't to be entered into lightly.

I understood that Claire had an intense attraction to Evan.  But I was a little disappointed that she agreed to his terms.  I know she realized that she was not a replacement for his deceased wife, but Evan never realized that.  It was like he refused to see Claire for herself.  In turn, he was denying himself what he really wanted.  If her recognized Claire as a true submissive, he was doing her a great disservice by treating her the way he did.

I'm happy they finally admitted what they both needed.  I liked that this book was not just about the BSDM lifestyle but about the dynamics of the relationship.

 

 

 

Review - The Redhead Plays Her Hand (Redhead #3) by Alice Clayton

Title: The Redhead Plays Her Hand

Author: Alice Clayton

Series: 3rd (The Unidentified Redhead, The Redhead Revealed)

Pages: 320

Published: December 17th 2013 by Gallery Books 

ISBN: 9781476741253

Source: Publisher for Honest Review

Description: Grace has landed the lead in a new TV series—but when the director asks her to lose fifteen pounds, she goes public with her weight struggles and suddenly develops a huge fan club who support her right to have curves. But between that and the public’s continuing fascination with her “are they or aren’t they” relationship with Jack, Grace begins to wonder if anyone’s really interested in her because of her upcoming TV series, or if it’s all speculation about the size of her ass and her bedroom partner. Meanwhile, Jack is voted the Sexiest Man Alive and becomes a little too enamored with the party-hard lifestyle. Grace vows to give him the space he needs to find himself, but then he begins to spiral down from lovable Brit to Hollywood brat. People are talking, but are Jack and Grace? Her career is on the rise, and his continues into the stratosphere, but will she be able to catch him if he falls? Will they ever be able to just be a couple who can hold hands when they walk down the street? 

I Give This ...

I've been anxiously waiting for this book for some time.  I've been a fan of Alice Clayton long before she was finally given the recognition she deserved from the big six!  But, I admit I was also hesitant.  Would my beloved characters have changed to please the big guys?  Rest assured, they may go through some turmoils but Grace and Jack are still just as sweet as ever.

I've seen some knocks against Grace in a few reviews.  Maybe it's because they don't identify with the way Grace reacted to her situations.  She's new to Hollywood and I imagine that's incredibly difficult to be faced with the pressure becoming famous entails.  Especially when she's attached to not only the "golden boy" of Hollywood, but also the newest it show of Television.  She's not your typical star and she hasn't grow a backbone yet when it comes to how all those people might play her.  I'm sure we all think that we someone tells us to lose weight in underhanded ways, we would tell them to get bent.  But, the truth is, I'm not sure we would.  Most have the drive to succeed, and if acting was our chosen dream, we would do anything to keep it.

More especially, I understood Grace's reactions to Jack.  I may not have liked him much in this book, but I thought he was true to character.  We've all seen how Hollywood can strip young actors down to nothing.  Now, it's a book and Clayton could have chose to have Jack be better than that.  But, in all reality I think showing the weakness was better.  Now maybe Grace could have walked away and decided Jack wasn't worth it.  But, sometimes it's harder than one thinks.  Even if it's the best thing for us in so many ways.  I identified with it because in all reality I've been in that relationship that all it would have took was one "I'm Sorry." Is it the right decision?   Only time can tell.

The only difference for me was this book seemed a lot lighter on the sex than previous books and more on the actual dynamics of their relationship.  It's not all about what happens in the bedroom!

Review - My Turn to Fail You by Luc Hawthorne

Title: My Turn to Fail You

Author: Luc Hawthorne

Series: Stand Alone

Pages: 354

Published: January 12th 2013 by Smashwords 

ISBN: 9781301186181

Source: Exchange for honest review

Description: A modern, steamy love story set on the Michigan lakeshore. As autumn turns to winter, two couples – one lucky and one not – will fight buried secrets and try to keep their relationships together. As tragedy unfolds, the story becomes a sexy train wreck that you’re not going to want to put down.

 I Give This ...

  

I always hesitate to to review family of friends books.  It's one of those lines that can be uncomfortable to cross.  I decided to accept this one despite that fact, and despite the fact that I don't normally read modern romance.   It turned out quite a bit better than I thought.

First off, I'm not really sure I would consider this a romance.  Sure, there are some romantic moments.  And there's definitely some steamy sex.  But, it's really more about the dysfunctions of  2 couples and how the rise and fall together.  They are far more intertwined than I could possibly have imagined when the story began. 

Our first couple is Emma and Sean and is basically the reunion of the love that got away.  Or is it?  As quickly as they fall back into things (or maybe its just back into bed), there are some deeply rooted issues that I wondered if they would be able to truly forgive each other for.   I can't deny the connection that they share.  There was something there in the beginning and it was not normal circumstances that drove them apart.  But, sometimes the space between is just to wide to bridge.  

Our next couple is Kevin and Lucy.  I actually thought this was a good example for Sean and Emma in the beginning.  But, it turns out that sometimes 2 couples can't co-exist in the same space for very long without fireworks.  And it's not always in a good way.  I was a little surprised at the actions both couples were willing to take.  It was like all allegiances to their partners and to each other were void.

But, it just went to show how dysfunctional they were.  

There were 2 aspects that kind of put a kink in the story for me.  The major event that lead to Sean and Emma's initial break-up was a little hard for me to stomach.  I know it happens in the real world.  It's just not something I like to read about.  Second, there's a child that figure pretty prominently in the story.   I did not believe Meghan's actions when she found out her true parentage. 

Overall, a good story that I'm willing to give a 4 rating too.   Warning on some of the graphic content.  And, I'm not sure the resolution was completely happy. 

Review - One Good Earl Deserves a Lover (The Rules of Scoundrels #2) by Sarah MacLean

Title: One Good Earl Deserves a Lover

Author: Sarah MacLean

Series: 2nd (A Rogue by Any Other Name)

Pages: 373 

Published:January 29th 2013 by Avon 

ISBN: 9780062068538

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

 

Description: Lady Philippa Marbury is odd. The bespectacled, brilliant fourth daughter of the Marquess of Needham and Dolby cares more for books than balls, flora than fashion and science than the season. Nearly engaged to Lord Castleton, Pippa wants to explore the scandalous parts of London she's never seen before marriage. And she knows just who to ask: the tall, charming, quick-witted bookkeeper of The Fallen Angel, London's most notorious and coveted gaming hell, known only as Cross. Like any good scientist, Pippa's done her research and Cross's reputation makes him perfect for her scheme. She wants science without emotion—the experience of ruination without the repercussions of ruination. And who better to provide her with the experience than this legendary man? But when this odd, unexpected female propositions Cross, it's more than tempting . . . and it will take everything he has to resist following his instincts—and giving the lady precisely what she wants. 

I Give This ...

  

I was so excited to learn that this second book was about Lady Philippa.  There was something about her in this first book that just really grabbed me.  I love stories that let the blue stocking girl fall in love.

I love that Pippa tries to made everything about love and marriage a scientific thing.  She doesn't understand things that you can't explain.  Since she hasn't experienced any of it, she doesn't feel like she can undertake her vows without fully understanding what it means.  I love that she's though this whole thing through to the point that she knows who to ask.  And it never crosses her mind to be afraid of what she is considering doing.  In her mind it's nothing more than research.  

I think Cross might be one of my favorite male romance characters.  When we learn the full extent of his past and how he's been punishing himself, I was amazed that he had any willpower at all.  I think Pippa was just the women he needed to forgive himself for his past sins.

The more I learn about this gaming hell, the more intrigues me.  While obviously not a business of well repute, it has an interesting reputation.  It has some interesting secrets as do its owners.  I'm happy to learn a few more of them in the next book in the series.  

Review - A Rogue by Any Other Name (The Rules of Scoundrels #1) by Sarah MacLean

Title: A Rogue by Any Other Name

Author: Sarah MacLean

Series: 1st

Pages: 386

Published: February 28th 2012 by Avon 

ISBN: 9780062068521

Source: Purchased Copy

 

Description:  A decade ago, the Marquess of Bourne was cast from society with nothing but his title. Now a partner in London’s most exclusive gaming hell, the cold, ruthless Bourne will do whatever it takes to regain his inheritance—including marrying perfect, proper Lady Penelope Marbury.  A broken engagement and years of disappointing courtships have left Penelope with little interest in a quiet, comfortable marriage, and a longing for something more. How lucky that her new husband has access to such unexplored pleasures.  Bourne may be a prince of London’s underworld, but he vows to keep Penelope untouched by its wickedness—a challenge indeed as the lady discovers her own desires, and her willingness to wager anything for them... even her heart.

I Give This ...

  

 This new series was highly anticipated in my book.  I'm not one for what I call "harlequin romances."  But, I was completely hooked after her first series.

I was completely in love Penelope within the first few moments of meeting her.  I loved her attitude.  She's not bitter when it comes to  her circumstances, but she knows that she won't be happy until she has a love match.  She's seen it, so she knows its a possibility.  Interestingly enough I think in her heart she's know all along who she loves.  

  I wasn't sure about Bourne for the longest time.  He was so cold and bitter that I wasn't sure that he would ever give in to what we knew he was feeling for Penelope.  He had spent so much of his adult life with his eyes on revenge that I didn't think that the promise of love would be enough.  It was never  his intention and it doesn't belong in his world.

The world that each of them inhabit are so far apart that its a wonder that they even collided to behind with.  Someone has to character to the darker whims of the acrostic, and I think Bourne is the perfect person for it.  I loved the little glimpses we get of his partners.  They each have an interesting story to tell and I'm looking forward to hearing it.

I liked how their relationship progresses.  Its an interesting mix of love and hatred at first, but Bourne often goes out of his way to make Penelope happy.  Even if its not in the ways she really wants.  MacLean has a knack for writing romance in this time period.  I'm looking forward to the next one!

 

Review - Savage (Daughters of the Jaguar #1) by Willow Rose

Title: Savage

Author: Willow Rose

Series: 1st

Pages: 444

Published:  June 14th 2012 by DMC 

ISBN: 9781477662397

Source: Author sent for honest review

Description: The year is 1983. Christian is 22 years old when he leaves his home in Denmark to spend a year in Florida with a very wealthy family and go to med-school. A joyful night out with friends is shattered by an encounter with a savage predator that changes his life forever. Soon he faces challenges he had never expected. A supernatural gift he has no idea how to embrace. A haunting family in the house next door. A spirit-filled girl who seems to carry all the answers. An ancient secret hidden in the swamps of Florida. One life never the same. One love that becomes an obsession. Two destinies that will be forever entangled. 

I Give This ...

I was intrigued by this one.  A man from another country trying to immerse himself in our culture and attend medical school.  I was really hoping this would be a good read.  

I wonder what Christian was expecting when he came to Florida.  I hope he realized that he didn't land himself in typical America situation.  A rich family that will basically adopt him as the long lost son.  I don't think that's a realistic situation.  I was also a little leery of the fact that the daughter just readily accepted him into her friend circle.  I don't think I would have done that, and she doesn't strike me as the type of person who would either.  Plus, I often really didn't like the family Christian leaves with.  The father/doctor seems to have conditions to everything, the mother seems spacey and discounted, and the daughter has more than one issue.

Despite that I liked Christian.  He seems generally optimistic and grateful for the situation he is in.  He knows that it's an awesome opportunity to study medicine in the US.  But at the same time, he's ensure if that's what he truly wants to do.  It's more of what's expected of him and it would be extremely hard for him to strike out in a directions that hasn't been mapped for him.  When the jaguar saves him life, he begins to think of his own mortality.  Does he really want to spend the rest of his life doing something he doesn't really enjoy?

I enjoyed the interactions with the family next door.  Their idiosyncrasies were a sharp contract to the rich world that Christian was accustomed to.  I loved learning about each family member and what they brought to the overall dynamics of the whole group.  I think they taught Christian a lot about life and the bigger picture.

The romantic relationships were a little intense for me.  Christian seems to have little regard for Heather, the girl he lives with.  It's just sex to him, but I'm not sure what it was for her.  And there are some instances that bothered me a little.  Then he meets Aiyana the girl next door and becomes obsessive.  It's a good thing she could handle him, because he became very intense.

I had a really hard time with the beginning third of this book, to the point I almost put it down.  I enjoyed the rest of it for the most part.  An interesting book that I would recommend for older readers.  It's definitely not young adult.

Review - Caribbean Romance by Leigh Morano

Title: Caribbean Romance

Author: Leigh Morano

Series: Stand Alone

Pages: 54

Published: June 20th 2012 by Amazon Digital Services 

ISBN: B008DJEJWA

Source: author sent for honest review

Description: Vanessa is the romantic type. She likes the idea of a man looking deeply into her eyes and professing his adoration, for only her. Secretly she enjoyes a man who is just a little jealous, just a little possessive, it makes her feel as if he could not live without her.  Here she is in a local coffee shop explaining to her best friend Marilyn, that she is in love with a man she met in a chat room as Marilyn listens with disparagement.

I Give This ...

I don't tend to read romance, and when I do it's usually historical.  But, I decided to give this short little romance a shot.  It was sweet and fun!

Vanessa has had a string of bad (and abusive) relationships.  It's no wonder that she's basically hiding behind an online/phone relationship.  It's easier to keep that perfect romance in tact that way.  There's very little risk involved when she keeps it this way.  But, despite all that she's convinced she's in love.  The idea of meeting face to face leaves her a little unsettled.  When Marcelo pushes the issue, she has to make the decision to let the relationship go or find out what it really can be.

  A Caribbean cruise seems like the ideal romantic getaway.  It's not long before Vanessa is head over hells.  Yet, the alarm bells ring just like always.  Turns out an ex is aboard the ship, and wants Marcelo back.  And Marcelo has a secret that threatens to destroy the new relationship.  At first I was worried that the characteristics I was seeing were just another abusive person.  But, I was happy when Vanessa discovers that Marcelo is all that she hoped for and more.

Sweet little book.  I enjoyed it for the most part!

Review - Sound of the Heart by Genevieve Graham

Title: Sound of the Heart

Author: Genevieve Graham

Series: Companion to Under The Same Sky

Pages: 336

Published: May 1st 2012 by Berkley Trade 

ISBN: 9780425247341

Source: Sent by author for honest review

Description: Dougal MacDonnell, a fierce warrior from the Highlands of Scotland, is able to hear the thoughts of other men and dream how the future will unfold. Devastated by the loss of his family during the Battle of Culloden in 1746, he fosters a deep hatred for the English. But when Glenna, the love of his life and a Scottish outlaw, is captured and shipped overseas, Dougal is forced to join an English army made of vanquished Scots. Now fighting on the side of his sworn enemies, he embarks on a journey that will take him across the seas to the colonies. There he will risk everything for the chance to find his true love.

I Give This ...

I was a little hesitant to read this at first because I haven't read the companion novel.  I wasn't sure how much they were connected and if it really mattered.  I decided to read it anyway just because I liked the idea of it.  And well... I like stories set in the Scottish Highlands.

I was immediately thrown into a very familiar battlefield.  I half expected to meet Jaimie from Outlander in these opening pages.   It actually had a very similar feel to that story.  I liked Dougal from the moment we meet him.  I love the sense of family we get and how he immediately knows something is wrong because of who is standing beside him.  It doesn't take long from the real battle to begin because we all know what happens at Culloden.  

I thought it was interesting that Dougal was just as concerned for the well being of others as he was for his own.  It doesn't take him long to make a friend with the same beliefs as his own and for them to take a young pair of boys under their wings.  In return, those boys help them escape.  But, sadly only two make it out alive.  

For the longest time, I wondered when we would be Glenna.  She seemed like she should be someone we meet in the opening pages.  When we finally do, it really seemed like a "duh moment" to me.  The clues were all there.  I didn't understand her at first, but her actions began to make sense.  She was doing the only thing she knew for most of her life.  It became harder and harder to shake off that lifestyle.  

I actually think the only downfall of this novel was that is could have been longer.  A lot of time is covered in this book and a few events just barely glanced over.  It never felt long and I was disappointed when it ended.  I will be seeking out the companion book though.  I think it might hold some answers to the questions that I have! 

 

Review - Absolutely, Positively (Lucy Valentine #3) by Heather Webber

Title: Absolutely, Positively

Author: Heather Webber

Series: 3rd (Truly, Madly; Deeply, Desperately)

Pages: 320

Published: February 1st 2011 by St. Martin's

ISBN: 9780312946159

Source: Personal Copy

Discroption: Exposed” by a Boston Herald reporter, Lucy is suddenly the talk of the town. Long back-story short: Even though the rest of her Valentine ancestors were blessed by Cupid with psychic abilities, Lucy’s only special power lies in her ability to find things. This skill has proven quite a blessing for those who come to her matchmaking agency in search of finding their long-lost loves. Now that Lucy’s secret is out, she has more new clients than she knows what to do with. But soon a certain man of mystery steals Lucy’s spotlight…No, it’s not Sean Donahue, the sexy fireman-turned-private-eye who’s stolen Lucy’s heart. It’s a masked man in a cowboy hat, dubbed “The Lone Ranger,” who’s been throwing handfuls of cash across the Common. Now all of Beantown’s abuzz. Can Lucy unmask the mysterious money man, track down all her clients’ old flames, and turn up the heat on her love life? Absolutely, positively…

I Give This ...

 

 I hate it when I can't think of a good reason when I've let a book I know I will enjoy sitting on my shelf for so long.  Especially when it's a series book that I have enjoyed.  Such is the case with Absolutely, Positively.

Thankfully, I was able to dive right into this book and be reminded about the characters I love.  Lucy is so great when she's faced with the being in love.  It's not something she's comfortable or familiar with.  Her family is cursed after all.  I love that Sean takes it all in stride and seems to know exactly when Lucy needs more and when she doesn't.  Even their animals seem to be so in tune to each other.  You would think that this perfect scenario might get cheesy, but it's doesn't. 

I also really enjoyed the dash of mystery thrown into each story.  Lucy used her abilities to help those around her.  I liked how the two mysteries she solves seem to vastly different.  I also like how each case seems to get equal attention in the book.  Neither is overshadowed by the other.  I feel like it's a perfect balance between light romance and mystery.

The only disappointing part of this book....there isn't another one at this time.  While I think this book ended on a good note, I would like another one.  The characters are still fresh and I think have something more to offer readers.  I hope the author comes back to this series soon! 

 

Review - Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door

Author: Stephanie Perkins

Series: Companion Novel (Anna and the French Kiss)

Pages: 338

Published: September 29, 2011

ISBN: 9780525423287

Source: Around The World Tours

Description: Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.  When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door. 

I Give This ...

I loved Anna and the French Kiss, so I really had high hopes for this one.  I was keeping my fingers crossed that Stephanie's sophomore book would deliver.  I'm happy to say it did!

At first, I wasn't sure what to think of Lola.  She's so different from any other character I've read, and such a drastic change from Anna.  I also didn't identify with her as much.  I don't have that artistic flair and tend to prefer to go with the flow not stand out in the crowd.  But, slowly that characteristic really began to grow on me.  She's everything I'm not, and I really admired that about her.  I also admired the fact that she's a typical teen.  With things begin to snowball, she questions who she really is.  But, she soon realized that being who you are doesn't always mean fitting to everyone else's standards.   A nice change of pace is that Lola is being raised by her two dads, who are really her biological uncle and his partner.  Her mother occasionally comes in and reeks havoc in her life.  

I liked Cricket from the first time we meet him.  I love how it seems like he just appears were ever Lola is.  Some of it is coincidental, but other times you can tell he's making a valiant effort to reconnect with Lola.  I enjoyed his personality.  He's like a combination of nerdy mixed with a couple other "types", it's no wonder that Lola is so attracted to him.  I found ironic that Lola never flat out told him that she had a boyfriend.  It's not something I really faulted her on, because I could tell she was really struggling with her feeling concerning Cricket. 

It's funny how a book can twist around how you feel about things.  I was prepared to dislike Calliope (Cricket's sister) and I did for part of the book.  But, she really comes through in the end.  I admired how the how family has backed her in her dreams.  I think the fact that Cricket has put some much of his life on hold for her shows a sense of who he is and what's important to him.  I also really liked Max at first, despite their age difference.  In the end, I couldn't believe that he acted that way he did to Lola.  But, maybe he was really hurt by her actions and this was his only way of expressing it.

In the end, I decided that Lola was just as fantastic as Anna, but in an entirely different way.  I'm amazed that Stephanie has managed to write two completely different heroines and their romances.  I can't wait to read her next one!

Review: Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart (Love By Numbers #3) by Sarah MacLean

Title: Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart

Author: Sarah MacLean

Series: 3rd in Love by Numbers

Pages: 367

Published: Available now from Avon

ISBN: 9780061852077

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

 

Description: She lives for passion. Bold, impulsive, and a magnet for trouble, Juliana Fiori is no simpering English miss. She refuses to play by society's rules: she speaks her mind, cares nothing for the approval of the ton, and can throw a punch with remarkable accuracy. Her scandalous nature makes her a favorite subject of London's most practiced gossips . . . and precisely the kind of woman The Duke of Leighton wants far far away from him. He swears by reputation. Scandal is the last thing Simon Pearson has room for in his well-ordered world. The Duke of Disdain is too focused on keeping his title untainted and his secrets unknown. But when he discovers Juliana hiding in his carriage late one evening—risking everything he holds dear—he swears to teach the reckless beauty a lesson in propriety. She has other plans, however; she wants two weeks to prove that even an unflappable duke is not above passion.

I Give This ...

 

I think that was my favorite of the series.  It's really hard to tell when the characters are so different.  I think it's because I enjoyed Juliana's character the most out of all the female leads.

I really admire Juliana's character the entire story.  She's fiery and cares nothing about other's approval.  Her passion is what drives her character.  She knows what she wants and will stop at nothing to get it.  While her outer face challenges anyone who disapproves of her actions, I think she really longs for acceptance.  I think she's feels she's constantly trying to live down her mother's actions and her own upbringing.  She longs for acceptance but not at the sake of losing who she is.

I enjoyed Simon's character as well.  Typical for a male, I wanted to slap him a couple times when he didn't realize how hurtful some of the things he said were.  I loved watching his carefully built reputation come crashing down around him.  He worked so hard to be everything he was suppose to be that he forgot to live for himself.  I really enjoyed watching him fight against what he truly wanted all to save his reputation.

I loved how their romance functioned.  Juliana truly brought out the best in Simon.  She made him question who he was and what really mattered.  I was happy to see that Juliana got what she deserved as well.  She stopped worrying about being a scandal and settled for the importance of family.  

I'm sad to think this series is over.  I've really enjoyed it as it's opened my eyes to the historical romance genre.  Hopefully I can find something as fun and this! 

 

The Redhead Revealed (Redhead #2) by Alice Clayton

Title: The Redhead Revealed

Author: Alice Clayton

Series: 2nd in Redhead series

Pages: 228

Published: availble now from Omnific Publishing

ISBN: 1936305380

Source: sent for review

Description: As their careers catch fire, Grace and Jack -- everyone’s favorite foul-mouthed, funny, and feisty couple -- find themselves on opposite coasts. Grace has landed in New York City, where she loves being onstage again, particularly because she’s playing a fabulous character in a musical written by her old college flame, Michael. Their rekindled friendship makes exploring the city that much more fun. Wait, it’s just friendship, right? Meanwhile, in L.A., Jack can scarcely keep up with the swirling throngs of women who track him everywhere he goes, the endless press appearances, and the ridiculous rules his manager, Holly, keeps concocting for him -- all part of the buildup to the release of Time, his steamy new film. Thank goodness for phone sex. But even when their schedules allow them to connect, Grace and Jack must keep their relationship off the radar and away from paparazzi cameras. Sure, the sex is sensational, but can this duo survive swirling rumors, the demands of their chosen professions, Grace’s raging internal battles, and a whopping nine-year age difference? Tick-tock, the clock is ticking. Isn’t it?

I Give This ...

 

Were has this series been all my life?  It's just the right touch of everything that makes a book a good read. It had romance (and some steamy sex), funny parts, things that make you cry.  I don't think this book would have every caught me eye if it wasn't for the title.

The book dives right into were the first book left off.  I still think Grace is my favorite.  She acts so confident even if inside she feels anything but.  I love reading about her journey into her new career.  It's the one area I think her confidence lacks and its great to watch her come into her own.  I was surprised at how she managed to twist her relationship with Jack into something that it wasn't.  She doubted herself and Jack's feelings.  It was heartbreaking to watch. 

I also really enjoyed Jack.  His career is skyrocketing and I don't think he knows how to deal with it.  I think he might have made some poor choices which lead to Grace feeling the way she did.  But, his reaction to what Grace does was even more heartbreaking than watching Grace's own turmoil.  I never feel like he's the younger one is this story.  He always acts much older than he actually is.

I was glad the book had a happy ending.  I was afraid it wasn't going to end like that.  In the end, I was pleased with the entire book and happy to learn that the author had a 3rd in the works!

The Unidentified Redhead (Redhead #1) by Alice Clayton

Title: The Unidentified Redhead

Author: Alice Clayton

Series: 1st in Redhead

Pages: 276

Published: February 2010 by Omnific Publishing

ISBN: 9781936305063

Source: ebook provided for review

Description: When Grace Sheridan returns to Los Angeles to become a working actor, it's a second shot at a life-long dream. With some help from her best friend and agent, that dream could become a reality, but at thirty-three, has Grace missed her chance at the big time? Will an unexpected sizzling romance with the entertainment industry's newest 'it' boy shine an uncomfortable spotlight on her life? Alice Clayton spins a playful and erotic May to December romance in this, her debut novel. Clayton's funny, borderline neurotic heroine is perfect in her imperfections, and the off the charts sexual chemistry between her and her charming, yet blissfully unaware leading man are the true heart of The Unidentified Redhead. With laugh out loud dialogue and a super steamy romance that will get your heart racing, sneaking around in L.A. and dodging the Paparazzi has never been so fun.

I Give This ...

 

Ummm...WOW.  I'm not sure were to begin with this book.  First off, one should note the word erotic in the description.  While, I wouldn't consider the sex in this book over the top or even really descriptive, it's definitely there.  And there's a lot of it.  But, it's hot.  Wow, I can't believe I just said that.

I LOVED Grace.  For a thirty-three old who claims to still be trying to be comfortable with her new self, she radiates confidence.  What I wouldn't give to have been able to pull off some of the comments that come out of her mouth.  I love the sexual and flirtatious stuff she says.  It just works for who she is.  She sounds like someone you would love to be friends with.  Plus, I love how hard she's trying to make it in Hollywood.  Her best friends Holly is a riot.  I think I'll move in with them.  Oh wait, I'm married and I have two kids.   I don't think that will work.

I also loved Jack.  Who wouldn't love the new Hollywood golden boy, who's still trying to get use to be the next big thing.  I love that he's younger than Grace, but never makes her feel like it.  I love how well he seems to compliment Grace.  I love that he's from England and has a sexy accent.  I think might be just in love...pretty sure that doesn't work with my husband either. 

I was going to give this 5 stars, but towards the end I thought the sex overtook the story a little bit.  It was great, but I also like the story of Grace and Jack minus the sex.  But, overall, this was just a fun and sexy story.  I loved the characters and the sex only made me blush a few times.  I can't wait to read the next one!

Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord (The Ralstons #2) by Sarah MacLean

Title: Ten Ways to be Adored When Landing a Lord

Author: Sarah MacLean

Series: 2nd in The Ralstons

Pages: 357

Published: October 2010 by Avon

ISBN: 9780061852060

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Description: Since being named one of London’s "Lords to Land" by a popular ladies’ magazine, Nicholas St. John has been relentlessly pursued by every matrimony-minded female in the ton. So when an opportunity to escape fashionable society presents itself, he eagerly jumps—only to land in the path of the most determined, damnably delicious woman he’s ever met!  The daughter of a titled wastrel, Lady Isabel Townsend has too many secrets and too little money. Though used to taking care of herself quite handily, her father’s recent passing has left Isabel at sea and in need of outside help to protect her young brother’s birthright. The sinfully handsome, eminently eligible Lord Nicholas could be the very salvation she seeks. But the lady must be wary and not do anything reckless...like falling madly, passionately in love. 

I Give This ...

I think I liked the characters more in this one.  And the location was different which added an interesting element to the story.  There was a couple things that bothered me, but not enough to through off the story.

Isabel was just as strong of a female character as Callie was in the first book.  She's use to handling things on her own.  She has taken care of herself, her younger brother, and the estate pretty much on her own.  Plus, she's created a sort of halfway home for women.  It's an admirable thing to do in a time were women didn't do things like this on their own.   It's also created a fault were she can't admit when she might be over her head and need some help.  Something everyone else can see.

I liked getting to know Nick in a different light.  He's not exactly how I pictured him in the first book.  He seems a lot more dark and mysterious here.  I enjoyed learning his history and what made him the sort of man he is.  I also liked his friend Rock that journeyed with him.  There's quite a bit of history there and I'm glad they both found happiness and love.

What bothered me a little was the sex scenes were completely predictable this time around.  The followed the exact same pattern as the first book (right down to the intimacy that occurs is each one).  It was kind of strange.  Plus, there is some dialogue that is identical.  Perhaps this isn't as noticeable if you don't read the book pretty much back to back.

I still really enjoyed this one and will be looking forward to the next in the series.  I assume, since the series is now titled The Ralstons, that the next one will be about Julianna.

Nine Rules To Break When Romancing A Rake (The Ralstons #1) by Sarah MacLean

Title: Nine Rules To Break When Romancing A Rake

Author: Sarah MacLean

Series: 1st in The Ralston's series

Pages:  397
Published: March 2010 by Avon

ISBN: 9780061852053

Source: Personal Copy

 

Description: A lady does not smoke cheroot. She does not ride astride. She does not fence or attend duels. She does not fire a pistol, and she never gambles at a gentlemen's club.
Lady Calpurnia Hartwell has always followed the rules, rules that have left her unmarried - and more than a little unsatisfied. And so she's vowed to break the rules and live the life of pleasure she's been missing. But to dance every dance, to steal a midnight kiss - to do those things, Callie will need a willing partner. Someone who knows everything about rule-breaking. Someone like Gabriel St. John, the Marquess of Ralston - charming and devastatingly handsome, his wicked reputation matched only by his sinful smile. If she's not careful, she'll break the most important rule of all - the one that says that pleasure-seekers should never fall hopelessly, desperately in love... 

I Give This ...

I usually stay far away from romance novels.  Especially those that I think might fall under similar category as Harlequin romances.   But, this one seems to get rave reviews and I really liked her young adult novel.  So, I decided to give it a go.

  In all reality, I thought this was historical fiction in a fun way.  I loved the setting, but then I'm fond of most books set in England, and growing a fondness for the 1800s in particular.  Callie was interesting.  She seems to so boring at first, but only because she's spent so long doing what's expected of her.  Once the hat comes off (and I mean that literally lol), it's a whole new ballgame.  She wants to do something scandalous and I wonder if she realizes the consequences if she is caught.  I enjoyed watching her grow out of her spinster habits and realize that she's a remarkable women.  I liked her family as well. 

Gabriel is also an interesting character.   He is your typical ladies man (I had to look up what a rake was because I had never hear the term before).  You know because of the type of novel it is that he's going to fall in love, but I couldn't help but love every minute of his interactions with Callie.  

I think one of things I liked the most was the fact that you could take the sex out of this book and the book would still hold it's own.  The characters and storyline don't depend on it.  I  will be looking forward to more from Sarah MacLean.

 

Deeply, Desperately (Lucy Valentine, #2) by Heather Webber

Title: Deeply, Desperately

Author: Heather Webber

Series: Lucy Valentine #2

Published: August 2010 by St. Martins

Pages: 336

ISBN: 9780312946142

Source: ARC from Romance Book Tours

Descrtipion: Lucy wants to breathe new life into her family’s Boston-based matchmaking company. But how? Even though she comes from a long line of ancestors blessed by Cupid with psychic abilities, a freak accident left Lucy with only one special skill: finding things. Car keys, socks in the dryer, needles in haystacks...and now, in a stroke of professional genius, lost loves! It’s not long before Lucy’s on a winning streak, helping old flames reunite and create new sparks. Business is booming. But when Lucy finds herself involved in a possible case of murder, she realizes she’s in too deep. Enter Sean Donahue. Lucy’s handsome fire-fighter turned private-eye neighbor, Sean is just the man she needs to help her on the job. Could he also be the man she’s been looking for all along? When it comes to Valentine, Inc., falling in love is always serious business… .

I Give This ...

 

If you like light romance with a bit of mystery, then I highly recommend this series.  With two books to date, I can't help but love the main character Lucy, and the quirky cast that makes up this story.  She's just as fun, smart, and witty in this one.  I can see myself becoming a follower of this series for as long as remains true to the initial storyline (or she stops writing them).

I love how each story seems to include a mystery that involves the family business and a mystery the has Lucy using her powers.  In this book, Lucy helps an older gentleman find his lost love from before he was sent off to war.  I thought this story was very sweet and I loved the closure.  Plus, the mystery that Lucy solves involving a missing person is interesting.  Although, I don't think it brought quite the amount of danger that seemed to be in the first book.

The romance between Sean and Lucy makes some headway.  Which is a relief, because I was afraid the author might choose to drag it out for a few books.  I really enjoy how intense their attraction seems to be but has a basis of true feelings and not just lust.   I'm looking forward to the next one!

Voyager (Outlander, #3) by Diana Gabaldon

Title: Voyager
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Published: August 2001
Pages: 1072
ISBN: 9780770428785
Source: Personal Copy

Description: Their passionate encounter happened long ago by whatever measurement Claire Randall took. Two decades before, she had traveled back in time and into the arms of a gallant eighteenth-century Scot named Jamie Fraser. Then she returned to her own century to bear his child, believing him dead in the tragic battle of Culloden. Yet his memory has never lessened its hold on her... and her body still cries out for him in her dreams. Then Claire discovers that Jamie survived. Torn between returning to him and staying with their daughter in her own era, Claire must choose her destiny. And as time and space come full circle, she must find the courage to face the passion and pain awaiting her...the deadly intrigues raging in a divided Scotland... and the daring voyage into the dark unknown that can reunite—or forever doom—her timeless love.

I Give This Book 5 Stars!

At the start of this book, I was afraid it wasn't going to live up to the first two. It took me awhile to figure out why I wasn't liking it as much. While I enjoyed learning about Jamie and Claire after they were separated, it's the two of them together that make this series so special. And then I realized that story of their 20 years apart is important too. As a reader we need to understand how much of an influence they had on one another. That even after 20 years (not to mention 2 centuries), they still hold those outstanding feelings for each other. But, I have to admit, that moment in the print shop was what I was waiting for! This book takes you on a ride. It's not stop action with all that heart stopping romance in between. It's suspenseful, and at times I really wondered if Jamie and/or Claire was going to get out of whatever situation they managed to find themselves in. It had some major shocks and twists in it, things that I was down right not expecting. And, at times I wondered if 20 years of separation was just too much to overcome. At the end of the story, I was left with a book that rivals my first love of Outlander! I was amazed at the story Diana Gabaldon has managed to create.

Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, #2) by Diana Gabaldon

Title: Dragonfly in Amber
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Published: June 1992
Pages: 949
ISBN: 9780440215622
Source: personal copy

Description: For twenty years Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to Scotland's majestic mist-shrouded hills. Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as stunning as the events that gave it birth: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones ...about a love that transcends the boundaries of time ...and about James Fraser, a Scottish warrior whose gallantry once drew a young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his ....
Now a legacy of blood and desire will test her beautiful copper-haired daughter, Brianna, as Claire's spellbinding journey of self-discovery continues in the intrigue-ridden Paris court of Charles Stuart ...in a race to thwart a doomed Highlands uprising ...and in a desperate fight to save both the child and the man she loves....

 I Give This Book 5 Stars!

I was completely floored by Outlander.  It was a story like I've never read before.  When I picked the book to read as part of a challenge last year, I did not know that it was part of a series.  I knew when I was finished that I wanted to read them all.  I wish I had sat down and read Dragonfly in Amber in one sitting.  Instead I drew it out over a couple months, reading here and there.  So, in that sense it's my fault that I sometimes got confused over who was who.  Because lets face it, there's a lot of people and even more information presented in this book.  But, its wonderful.  I feel like I've been taken on a history lesson that is much more personal than any book or teacher could ever have shown me.  Claire and Jamie are beginning to work their way into the favorite characters (and couple) category.  They invoke a powerful mental picture.  I love their relationship and to what grounds they will go to portray (notice I don't use the word prove) their love for one another.  The events that happen in this story are also of high emotion and intensity.   Diana Gabaldon has written a masterpiece.  I can not wait to see were she takes Claire and Jamie next!

 

Truly, Madly (Lucy Valentine, #1) by Heather Webber

Title: Truly, Madly
Author: Heather Webber
Published: Feb 2010
Pages: 320
ISBN: 9780312946135
Source: Won From Goodreads

Description: Meet Lucy Valentine; sassy, fabulously original…and psychic.
Lucy hails from a long line of matchmakers known as Valentine INC. According to family legend, the Valentines have been blessed by Cupid with the ability to help couples find true love. Trouble is Lucy’s powers were zapped away by an electrical surge and now all she can find are lost objects.
But what good is that in the matchmaking world?
Lucy is about to find out when she tries to solve a murder and winds up falling into a romance of her own.

I Give This Book  4 Stars!

This book caught my interest from the moment I saw it.  I was glad to have won a copy.   It completed exceeded my expectations.  I was afraid that the psychic accept of this story would be a tad bit corny in combination with the romantic elements.  But, it worked better than I imagined.  Lucy was a fiery lead character.  In one book she manged to draw me in and I look forward to reading the future books in this series.  The mystery elements balanced out the romance perfectly.   It even surprised me and wasn't predictable.  The secondary characters added to the story and were developed enough to be a great supporting cast for future books.  Overall, a great read and looking forward to more of this series and more from Heather Webber!

* Watch for my giveaway for this book tomorrow!