The Earl’s Mistress by Liz Carlyle

August 19, 2014 By 2 Comments

EARL
The Earl’s Mistress by Liz Carlyle
Publisher: Avon / Harper Collins
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (400 Pgs)
Heat Level: Hot
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Bluet

Women rarely refuse the wicked Earl of Hepplewood, whose daring exploits are only whispered about. But when his new governess answers his proposition with a slap, then stalks out, references in hand, Hepplewood finds more than his face is burning.

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But when fate sends Isabella back into Hepplewood’s arms, the earl must make an impossible choice—draw Isabella down into his sensual darkness, or behave with honor for the first time in his life.

Isabella Aldridge is desperate. Her job as a governess has ended. She has two younger sisters to support, no funds, and no prospects except for a sleazy cousin. The man she just interviewed with, Anthony Chalfont, the Earl of Hepplewood, offered her a position, but it wasn’t as governess. Angry and disillusioned, she returns to her former employer to ask advice. The woman, who is notorious in her own right, suggests that Isabella needs to marry or find a wealthy protector. Isabella is a widow, and has no desire to marry again, so she resigns herself to becoming a mistress. She contacts a broker who makes these kinds of arrangements, and soon sets off to the country home of none other than the Earl of Hepplewood. Ironically, he was so taken with her looks at their initial meeting, that he commissioned the same broker to find him a mistress with her unique violet eyes and dark hair. It turns out that he gets the real thing, not a facsimile.

The Earl, Anthony, is a complex character. There are some tragic events in his past that have changed him. Although he is still mostly a kind man, he also is dominating and controlling. And he’s determined to flee any kind of emotional entanglement. After just one night, he knows he’s in danger of feeling more than just lust for Isabella, so for his own self preservation, he sends her away, but with a small fortune in jewels. Isabella is bewildered at being cast aside. Although she had been married, it was very brief, and she didn’t have much sexual experience. One night with Anthony gave her a whole new perspective, but she accepts that it’s probably for the best, so she uses the jewels to start a small book store and set up a new home for her and her sisters. But Anthony can’t stay away.

I found Anthony to be a real hero. I love his strength, his protectiveness of Isabella. He is off the charts HOT! Isabella was so well written, as well. She is honest, beautiful, loving, and even willing to sacrifice herself to keep her family together. There was a lot of going back and forth in this book about Isabella and Anthony being together, then not together. That’s something that normally annoys me, but in this case it just worked. The author does a great job of showing us the conflict and confusion each of them is feeling. There is also a mystery, and some danger, and it all comes together perfectly. A word of warning without giving too much away – the sex in this book is not all vanilla. If you are offended by elements of BDSM, you may want to avoid it. Normally, I wouldn’t choose to read a book with those elements, but it fits the people that Anthony and Isabella are, and it works.

This is a strong book that will go on my favorites list for this year. It’s hot, it’s emotional, it’s romantic, and the story just flows beautifully. The author, Liz Carlyle, stretched the typical boundaries of historical romance with this book, and in my opinion, it’s one of her best. It all comes down to a beautiful love story of two wounded people who are perfect for each other, and deserve their well earned happy ever after. Highly recommended!

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Cavendon Hall by Barbara Taylor Bradford

June 19, 2014 By Leave a Comment

HALL
Cavendon Hall by Barbara Taylor Bradford
Published by HarperCollins
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (416 pgs)
Heat: Sensual
Rated: Best Book
Review by Snapdragon

Cavendon Hall is home to two families, the aristocratic Inghams and the Swanns who serve them. Charles Ingham, the sixth Earl of Mowbray, lives there with his wife Felicity and their six children. Walter Swann, the premier male of the Swann family, is valet to the earl. His wife Alice, a clever seamstress who is in charge of the countess’s wardrobe, also makes clothes for the four daughters. For centuries, these two families have lived side-by-side, beneath the backdrop of the imposing Yorkshire manor. Lady Daphne, the most beautiful of the Earl’s daughters, is about to be presented at court when a devastating event changes her life and threatens the Ingham name. With World War I looming, both families will find themselves tested in ways they never thought possible. Loyalties will be challenged and betrayals will be set into motion. In this time of uncertainty, one thing is sure: these two families will never be the same again. Cavendon Hall is Barbara Taylor Bradford at her very best, and its sweeping story of secrets, love, honor, and betrayal will have readers riveted up to the very last page.

“Barbara Taylor Bradford” is all some readers need to see on a cover to want to read a book, and indeed, Cavendon Hall will meet fans’ best expectations. We readers step into start of the twentieth century, into an Earl’s family and grand old home, and see both sides at once: the staff’s sharp view as well as the view from ‘the family.’
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Cavendon Hall is home to two families, sharing a symbiotic relationship – the gentry, the Ingham family and their long time, endlessly loyal Swanns. What sets this two families apart is mutual recognition and appreciation between those families. Unlike the more typical masterclass, the Inghams exhibit great appreciation for their staff.

Appreciation sometimes borders on great reliance, even attachments…but the mutual attractions do not always come with mutual benefits. The interplay of human drama here starts years–perhaps decades–earlier, as the current patriarch speculates about his father’s involvement with the incredibly loyal and brilliant Charlotte Swann. However, if there is one thing Swanns are careful about, it’s gossip…so we only slowly uncover the depths of the relationships here.

Odd characters with odd problems keep the story unpredictable: Why is the crazy local gypsy hanging about? What is wrong with the unlikable lady of the house, Felicity? And the lovely young Cecily, who yearns to be a dressmaker and seems so enthralled with a certain young man; can her dreams come true?

When disaster strikes the beautiful Daphne, favorite of both families, both immediately step up to protect her, and she needs protecting from both her attacker and the judgmental eyes of society. If I had one complaint, it would be how quickly answers to her ‘problem’ are suggested, although of course it might only be that I didn’t wish the story to end! There is more than one ‘knight in shining armor’ here, and more than one devil… even the lesser servants don’t escape the notice of the author!

Cavendon Hall is a romance with a depth and wealth of character within its characters: this is one of those books you read and want to keep reading, and in any moment when you must set it aside to do something else, you will yearn to keep reading.

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The Runaway Princess by Christina Dodd

May 15, 2014 By Leave a Comment

PRINCESS
The Runaway Princess by Christina Dodd
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Genre: Historical, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (360 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Masquerade

English orphan Miss Evangeline Scoffield has spent her life contenting herself with dreams. But with an unforseen inheritance, she can afford one perfect summer–a summer she will spend the rest of her life remembering. She buys herself expensive clothes, travels abroad, and presents herself as a lady of mystery.

Marriage

But she quickly discovers her mistake, for a darkly handsome man appears at her bedroom door, claiming to be a Crown Prince–and her fiance.

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One look into her eyes, and the prince recognizes her. She is his betrothed, the runaway Princess of Serephinia. All her denials cannot change that, or alter the passion that burgeons between them. To fullfil their destinies, the prince will do anything–abduct her, coerce her, or, best of all seduce his reluctant bride into his royal world of peril, promise and passion.

Sometimes I hanker after a story about an arrogant, self-assured prince, castles and long ago told prophecies. In The Runaway Princess, the prince finds a woman that thwarts him, astounds him and simply does not conform to what he perceives a princess to be. He’s so sure she’s lying. He’s so sure he knows best. This tale is appealing because Prince Danior learns a thing or two of what being a real hero is all about. Evangeline beguiles him and seduces him by just being herself; and I enjoyed myself all the way through.

The heroine is quite the little escape artist. She’s well read, has lofty dreams and a pure heart. She’s also stubborn to a fault. I liked her character but I was shocked as to how she could conceive action from reading. If only I could do that. Then again, some of the things she did would make me cower in a corner and suck my thumb. Danior has his hands full. Since he’s so full of himself, Evangeline is the perfect partner for him. She knows how to use a well-placed knee and not afraid to do it. I chuckled quite a few times from her cheeky escapades.

Absolutely, Danior annoyed me. Any man would who was so commanding, autocratic and self-assured to the point of arrogance. However, give the hero his due, he shoulders a huge responsibility and his willingness to shoulder even more is a daunting task and worthy of respect. The extent to which the heroine messes with his intent was comical. She even tells him the truth, repeatedly, continually. What a stubborn man. He tried so hard to remain unaffected so it was doubly pleasing when he finally let loose. Oh, he has his misguided internal angst to deal with but eventually he figures things out and his ultimate decision was oh so very romantic.

Even though this book is tagged as paranormal, it’s not in the form of the latest fashion. It’s more a spiritual woo-woo with a bit of magic. A reader will put the clues together and figure out who is who long before the hero and heroine do. The thing is, I enjoyed seeing the ‘how’ of it and despite suspecting the big reveal, I was entertained and charmed by how the author chose to have things happen.

As far as villains, I was surprised. I really thought I knew who was bad. I had my own bit of arrogance thrown back at me when the truth was revealed. Actually, Evangeline and I were both duped. I liked that. What I find astounding is that one of the villains actually has his own story! I liked The Runaway Princess enough to wonder if this was the only book or if this was a series. Imagine my delight when I found that there was one more. Imagine my shock when I discovered who it was about. I’m buying it.

Even though I thought that it was impossible to put the written word into immediate unrehearsed action, I don’t fault the writing too hard for doing that because it provided some greatly entertaining scenes and plot shifts. Did I think the heroine went one episode too far? Yes, I did. But the results of its occurrence can’t be disputed as being pivotal, so I have to bow to the author’s fantastical suspension of logic. This book aims to entertain, and it does.

The Runaway Princess is fun, especially for a reader who likes to see a haughty royal getting humbled by love. It’s entertaining and a well told story. I only wished there was an epilogue because I would have enjoyed seeing if they had a boy or a girl. Because Danior and Evangeline were a cute couple, I would have liked to have seen the two as parents in the future. In any event, I think historical fantasy readers might like them too. It’s worth checking out.

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The Masterful Mr. Montague by Stephanie Laurens

April 24, 2014 By Leave a Comment

MR
The Masterful Mr. Montague by Stephanie Laurens
Publisher: Avon / Harper Collins
Genre: Historical, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (448 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Bluet

Montague has devoted his life to managing the wealth of London’s elite, but at a huge cost: a family of his own. Then the enticing Miss Violet Matcham seeks his help, and in the puzzle she presents him, he finds an intriguing new challenge professionally … and personally.
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Violet, devoted lady-companion to the aging Lady Halstead, turns to Montague to reassure her ladyship that her affairs are in order. But the famous Montague is not at all what she’d expected – this man is compelling, decisive, supportive, and strong – everything Violet needs in a champion, a position to which Montague rapidly lays claim.

But then Lady Halstead is murdered and Violet and Montague, aided by Barnaby Adair, Inspector Stokes, Penelope, and Griselda, race to expose a cunning and cold-blooded killer.who stalks closer and closer. Will Montague and Violet learn the shocking truth too late to seize their chance at enduring love?

Generally, one would think that having large sums of money deposited to one’s bank account on a regular basis is a good thing. But when one has no idea who is depositing the money, or why, it raises many questions. Lady Halstead has been widowed many years now. She feels that she’s coming to the end of her life and wants to put all her financial affairs in order. Her man of business can’t explain where the money is originating, so she instructs her long time companion, Violet Matcham, to contact London’s premier financial advisor / investigator, Heathcote Montague, to request his assistance.

Montague has worked very hard at his craft for many years, and has earned his stellar reputation. But something just doesn’t feel right. Now, at forty-ish, he notices his colleagues going home to loving wives and children, and feels the pangs of loneliness. Just as his office is about to close, Violet shows up, requesting his help for Lady Halstead. Montague is intrigued both by the case, and by Violet, herself, and agrees to investigate the mysterious funds. However, whoever is responsible for the funds has no desire to be found out. He will take any steps, including murder, to cover his crimes. As danger comes closer to Violet, she and Montague become closer to each other.

Both Montague and Violet are honorable, likeable people. They are straight forward about their developing feelings for each other, and I like that a lot. I also like that we have a hero who is forty-ish and a heroine who is thirty four. Generally I’m very fond of books that have a slow building romance, with the couple building a friendship first. This book was well written, but felt very long, and it lacked the passionate and steamy scenes that Stephanie Laurens is known for, and I missed that. If you prefer a historical mystery, with a subtler romance on the side, this may just be the book for you.

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Twice Tempted by Jeaniene Frost

March 4, 2014 By Leave a Comment

TWICE
Twice Tempted by Jeaniene Frost
A Night Prince Novel
Publisher: Avon – an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (269 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Dating the Prince of Darkness has its challenges…

Leila’s psychic abilities have been failing her, and now she isn’t sure what the future holds. If that weren’t enough, her lover, Vlad, has been acting distant. Though Leila is a mere mortal, she’s also a modern woman who refuses to accept the cold shoulder treatment forever–especially from the darkly handsome vampire who still won’t admit that he loves her.

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Soon circumstances send Leila back to the carnival circuit, where tragedy strikes. And when she finds herself in the crosshairs of a killer who may be closer than she realizes, Leila must decide who to trust– the fiery vampire who arouses her passions like no other or the tortured knight who longs to be more than a friend? With danger stalking her every step of the way, all it takes is one wrong move to damn her for eternity.

The experience of reading this book is like being a dust bunny in the path of a super suction vacuum cleaner – once I got started, reality fell away and the only thing that existed was Vlad and Leila. There was no escape.

I had read Once Burned, the first book that introduced me to Vlad and Leila, and I was astounded as to the originality and the quality of writing that took place in that novel. It ended with a not so happy type of cliff hanger so I was both cautious and curious to start Twice Tempted. I didn’t know where Ms. Frost was going to take her characters – further estrangement, using that as one of the plot conflicts, or advancing their romance to the next step, fighting and screaming all the way. I’m thrilled to report that this story is written just as powerfully with an almost absolute perfect balance of suspense, drama, intense passion and a delightful and thoroughly captivating culmination of their courtship and romance.

Of course, Vlad is not a typical hero. In fact, he is a cold blooded killer. His sense of justice is extreme and his methods of punishment are medieval and brutal and in the beginning Leila was horrified that he wielded his weapons with so much gusto. The hero is a very scary man. However in this book, told through Leila’s eyes, he’s so much more. In fact, that is how this novel is told – through Leila’s first person point of view and Ms. Frost never missed a beat. Usually I find first person POV hard to get into. Not so with Twice Tempted. I was solidly in Leila’s head but because the author has such a strong command of dialogue, expressions, descriptions and mood setting, it was a smooth yet commanding read and I reveled in it. The author used the secondary characters to give Leila the clues she needed to understand what was happening or what was about to. When she understood, I understood. The author’s expertise in crafting her characters in this book was clear and bold.

If readers missed the first book, Once Burned, they won’t get too lost in reading this sequel. Ms. Frost did play catch up at certain points to make sure a new reader understood the ramifications of certain choices made by the characters in a few scenes. Since I’d forgotten some of the finer points, it was a good refresher for me and I think just right for new readers too. One thing is for sure, some of the secondary characters mentioned in both Once Burned and Twice Tempted were from the other series that Ms. Frost is famous for. I’ve never read them but after my experience with these two novels, I’m going to be looking into getting all the back books. I can only hope my purse doesn’t scream OUCH! too loud since it looks like there are quite a few. If the quality is anything like reading Vlad and Leila’s story, I’m going to be a very contented reader – and broke.

The hardest thing about writing this review is avoiding the spoilers. There are so many things I’d love to share! I’ll give hints: the explosion, the betrayal, the villain, the cool thing about the flowers, the boat, the explanation of ghouls and what happens to poor Maximus. And the rats! Oh good gravy, the rats! That’s just for starters. Twice Tempted is simply amazing because it’s meaty, diverse, enthralling and intense and is a real page flipper.

Twice Tempted blew me away and everything about the heroine totally rocked! Yes, I liked the dynamics between Vlad and Leila, and Vlad is one sexy, arrogant and complex hunk, but Leila’s character impressed me 100%. There were three times that the author could have written her actions as a typical cliché but instead she surprised me, pleased me and garnered my respect. The paragraph of introspection where Leila ruminated over life and living was a breath of fresh air and what came afterwards pushed all of my happy buttons. Twice Tempted is going on my keeper shelf just like its predecessor, Once Burned. I know there is one more book coming because of what was discovered in the last chapter of Twice Tempted and I guarantee it’s going to be an auto-buy. Ms. Frost is now on my short list of must read authors. She’s earned it with these Night Prince novels. I’m very happy to recommend this book, and indeed this series, to all paranormal romance fans. It’s high caliber writing.

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The Pirate Bride by Sandra Hill

November 13, 2013 By 2 Comments

BRIDE
The Pirate Bride by Sandra Hill
Publisher: Avon/ imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (248 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

A Viking to bed, not to wed!

Medana Elsadottir, known as the Sea Scourge, never planned to become a pirate, but there’s no denying her talent. Her female-only tribe has an island hideaway, food aplenty, goods to trade…everything except the means to breed. That’s where the strapping Norsemen tied up in her ship’s hold come in handy. Eight godly specimens—and Thork Tykirrson is the most virile of them all. Once their, eh, work is done, they’ll be free to leave. Medana had naught to due with this gods-awful plan, but she wouldn’t mind reaping the benefits.

Wed or bed…this Viking has plans of his own.

Renowned as the wildest Viking of his time, Thork was returning home to regain his father’s favor. Mayhap even (shudder) marry. His brazen—and very beautiful—kidnapper has likely done him a favor in preventing such an irksome fate. That doesn’t mean he’ll let her off easy. No one takes anything from a Viking that he’s not willing to give…not even a violet-eyed vixen who sets off the wildest fantasies.

The first thing that snagged my fancy was the idea that a woman could be a highly successful pirate – it’s about time! The second was the question of how in the world a woman could overcome and capture a well-muscled and experienced swordsman who was used to going a-Viking? By the time the first chapter ended, I had a partial answer and I had a goofy smile on my face. I could tell that this was going to be a very interesting story. I think it was the dialogue that clinched it.

This scares, excites and sometimes causes us to be have fun within worry furthermore. cute-n-tiny.com cheapest viagra tabs The Presence of these components in (super P force) acts marvelously, to ease down the difficulty of ED and PE (sexual disorder). on line cialis To make sure your body rejuvenates, it requires minimum 7 hours of sleep a levitra consultation day. Meals and alcohol: as opposed to cheap levitra which runs greater and more quickly on an empty stomach and won’t perform nicely right after the intake of high-fat foods, levitrarforms regardless on the foodstuff intake. Like most men who become pirates, Medana is also on the run. She’s a fugitive who has had to reinvent herself, learn to survive without a support system and somehow has prospered. In that, she’s a great role model. She proves that women can tough it out and rise above life’s challenges. The biggest challenge of her life is told within the pages of The Pirate Bride. I liked seeing her flustered, teased, taunted and although she has succeeded in the workings of being a pirate, the heroine has not lost her sense of what’s right and wrong. She does have a moral code. I like how she balances the rationality of the two. That was made very clear with the monk scene. The most frustrating thing that she’s ever had to deal with is a man. Not just any man, but Thork, the hero.

I had a ton of fun at Thork’s expense throughout a good portion of the book. It was interesting to see how the author told the story from his POV at intervals in the story. When I was seeing things through the hero’s eyes, I was greatly entertained. His frustration, amazement, gradual respect and continual determined machinations to reach his goal of escape were interesting to watch unfold. His dialogue with his men illustrated his solid and healthy relationship with them, even when it got weird and bit risqué. And when Bolthor, the worst skald in history, would share his latest poem, Thork’s reaction or thoughts about it gave me an insightful look at the hero’s personality. Anyone who could keep a straight face while being forced to listen to Bolthor is a saint. If anyone remembers the minstrel from Monty Python who plagued Sir Robin with his embarrassing lyrics, then they should get a kick out of Bolthor. That’s who he reminds me of. Fortunately, Thork is a HUGE improvement over Sir Robin. *grin*.

One of Ms. Hills’s strong points is how she uses dialogue between her characters. It’s always powerful. Through their discourse, I usually find moments of immense humor, consternation, enlightenment, and when the focus changes to interaction between the hero and heroine, well, sparks fly, passions soar and either someone is about to be seduced or tempers will explode. All of which contribute to an entertaining read. Certainly, it’s not boring.

Secondary characters were numerous. Fortunately, the author kept a handle on them and used them to make sure the hero and heroine slowly found ways to learn about the other and to foster their romance. It wasn’t an easy thing to do, what with one person having a great responsibility thrust upon them and the other wanting nothing to do with anyone. There is definite conflict between man and woman throughout the book.

As strong as Medana is as a character, she’s not perfect. Her relationship with Thork isn’t perfect. There were too many levels of mistrust still for her to overcome. The one thing that really stuck in my craw was her stubbornness. I understand she had to be written that way because she wouldn’t have survived as long as she did if she wasn’t stubborn. But I felt that she caved too fast, too easily at a critical point in the book. I couldn’t believe that she was so weak when she had ample proof to be strong. For most of the book she was strong. That whole area of the conflict when she made the choice for those under her care, to protect them, didn’t sit right with me. It was at that point that I felt she was being stupid, and clichéd. I wanted to yell at her.

A strong positive element is when Medana and Thork finally succumb to their desires. I found it quite satisfying to read, and fun too.

I can’t forget to mention Thork’s family. They play a very significant role later on in the book. And, as boisterous and larger-than-life personalities in their own right, you can imagine the extra confusion, fun and complications they represent. They also have a hand in mixing up the plot conflict. This book isn’t boring by a long shot.

The Pirate Bride is a winner for long time fans and a wonderful introduction to new readers. It’s a solid standalone read with a lot going for it. Even with my issues with the heroine, this is a strong story that provides a reader with all the best attributes Ms. Hill is capable of. There are characters I enjoyed getting to know, I laughed with them and at them, I groaned and giggled, gasped and had mild hot flashes, and am satisfied with the happy ever after. The author nailed all the most important parts of what readers look for in a romance book. The Pirate Bride is definitely a book to read when your frown needs to turn right side round. It certainly worked its charm on me.

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How to Tame a Wild Fireman by Jennifer Bernard

September 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment

FIREMAN
How to Tame a Wild Fireman by Jennifer Bernard
A Bachelor Firemen Novel
Publisher: Avon (HarperCollins Publishers)
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (291 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Firefighter Patrick “Psycho” Callahan earns his nickname every day. Fast, fit, and a furious worker, he thrives on the danger which helps him forget a near-tragedy that changed his life forever. But when his off-duty carousing gets out of hand, Patrick is sent back to Loveless, Nevada, where the wildfire threatening his hometown has nothing on sizzling Dr. Lara Nelson.

Lara would rather be thought of as the physician who returned to Loveless than as the misfit brought up at a hippie New Age commune. But right now she’s focused on her job at hand, patching up injured firemen…until the past hits her in the hard-muscled, blue-eyed form of Patrick Callahan. Now, the embers of their decade-old attraction have ignited into a full-on inferno, as the bad-boy firefighter and the good doctor take a walk on the wild side they’ll never forget.

It may sound trite that a first chapter could grab a reader’s attention so completely that they could not put a book down but that is exactly what happened to me. The author chose to set up a bit of history that showcased the relationship dynamic between the hero, the heroine and the hero’s brother. It showed the hero’s brashness, the burgeoning and unwelcome attraction the heroine was just starting to feel and the how the hero’s brother was the glue that kept the trio together, until circumstances tore them apart. It was a powerful beginning chapter because at the end I simply had to know how they turned out, how they survived and how it formed the people they would become. Is that a great hook or what?

But if you are still getting dilemma, then no require to be concerned as these tablets are available on-line also, so get relaxed. cheapest cialis Although it does not enjoy the popularity of some try these guys order tadalafil other brand arrangement focused around Sildenafil. This is an essential drug that is to be included in next browse around this unica-web.com buy viagra no prescription month’s budget. REQUIREMENTS: Height: 5.2″-6.1″Dress Size: 12-14 These requirements will vary depending on the individual needs and dosage used.This medicine calms the muscles within the female reproductive system, therefore the arteries in this area gets open cheap tadalafil pills unica-web.com and the blood supply into reproductive region and provides stiffness to the organ. This book series is about sexy bachelor firefighters. Since I’ve read quite a few of these, I can safely say that this is a wonderful standalone read. In fact, Patrick, the hero, has to face his demons and the only way to do that with any effectiveness is to leave the safety of the fire house and fight fires in an environment and place he’d never thought he would – his home town. There is hardly anything being carried over from the previous books in the series except Patrick’s bad-boy attitude and his determination to be the top at whatever he does. Okay, there are a few spotlights on the other guys in the beginning but it’s in passing, like buddies slapping each other on the back as they head off to do whatever they are heading off to do. In a way, that gives a reader that sense of what kind of firefighting family Patrick belongs to, how important it is to him and why going away was a good thing/bad thing for him. And the journey he’s about to embark upon will have him battling the fires of the forest as well as the fires of passion that have been simmering since the day he left home, he just didn’t know it.

The person who will fan those glowing embers is Lara, the heroine. She’s the woman from his past that he never truly forgot. She’s moved on with her life and she’s made something of herself which is quite the accomplishment. Wait until readers get a load of her unusual upbringing. She thinks it’s horrid but in the long run, I think it served a purpose. It made her aware of certain aspects of herself and kept her wary so she didn’t fall prey to unscrupulous men. That was a double edged sword because like a pendulum, she swung the other way and avoided men as much as she could. She was a career woman 100%. That is until fate decided to reintroduce her to her first infatuation, Patrick, in a way and manner that she could not ignore. It was adorable, dramatic, special and pivotal.

Emotions are strong in this book. The author was able to effectively convey whatever Lara and Patrick were feeling and it drew me in too. There was a lot of laughter, consternation, fun, drama, stress, sadness, joy and determination. The determination comes from the angle of Patrick’s family. If a reader enjoys the conflict of a man overcoming the challenges of a dysfunctional family then this bit of drama delivers. Once I was made to understand the family dynamic, it explained so much of why the hero was the way he was. But you know what? He’s a better man than the man he calls Big Dog. I really admired Patrick and felt he was a wonderful, robust hero. The author’s use of descriptive language sure made him sound yummy. The best part, he’s delicious inside and out. Another personality trait that I admired was his capacity to love. That was showcased by how he treated, related and cared for his brother. It was endearing and caused no end of emotional angst, and ultimately, one of the greatest surprises.

Did I mention that this story has humor? It’s in the dialogue. There were so many moments when I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. I enjoyed the repartee between Patrick and Lara and I believe it provided insight into their budding romance. They were good together and it was a pleasure to watch their relationship take off. Speaking of “taking off” – there are some incredibly sexy antics between the two that were wonderfully entertaining and fun. The author wrote those scenes extremely well and are a credit to the story.

Secondary characters are important too. They provide a wonderful flavor to the environment and were great sounding boards for the hero and heroine. At times they even provided comic relief. The only person that surprised me was Patrick’s mom. There’s also one aspect of the book that I felt could have been handled better and that was when I finally got to meet the hero’s brother, Liam. I’m not too sure what could have made it better but it didn’t resonate with me as I’d hoped. The only thing I can think of to say was that it was anticlimactic. It didn’t seem so powerful a moment as I was led to believe it might be. It had its cute moments but I just expected a bigger impact.

How to Tame a Wild Fireman is a classic character driven romance that entertains and enchants on so many levels. I was greatly affected by the conflict because I felt it was tragic. One man’s arrogance and belligerence poisoned a whole family, and for what? It was terrific to see Patrick and Lara rise above it all and to not only fall in love, but to heal, grow and finally have a future that promises to be as exciting and beautiful as a romance reader could wish. This is a book well worth spending time with. As for the ending, it has a happy ever after that’s almost as hot as any fire. Read it and see.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich

September 9, 2013 By 1 Comment

PANTIES
Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich
Publisher: Harper Collins
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full length (336 Pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Foxglove

They say that big girls don’t cry. But when the chips are down and the dip is gone, what can you do? Pull up your BIG GIRL PANTIES and change your life.

Holly Brennan didn’t expect to be a widow at thirty-two. She also didn’t expect to be so big. Through her husband Bruce’s diagnosis and death, food was the one thing she could always count on. Now, those extra pounds make flying coach more than a little mortifying-especially since she’s sitting next to Adonis himself, aka Logan Montgomery, a personal trainer to the country’s most famous pro athletes.

Though Holly doesn’t make the grade on his first-impression meter, Logan finds himself intrigued by her sharp wit and keen insight-a welcome change from the beautiful bubble-headed dolls he usually dates-and impulsively offers to get her back in shape. Ready to make at least one positive change in her life, Holly agrees.

To Logan’s (and her own) surprise, Holly turns out to be a natural in the gym. Throwing herself into exercise, the red head with the blazing wit and welcoming smile slims down into a bonafide looker with killer curves-and a new kind of hunger. Soon, the easy intimacy and playful banter of their training sessions lead Logan and Holly into the bedroom where they share their most intense and steamy workouts yet.

But can a man whose whole life depends on looks commit himself to a woman who doesn’t fit his image? Now that Holly’s turning other men’s heads, does she even need Logan anymore? Are they a couple built to last . . . or is this sizzling affair going to burn out fast?

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Holly Brennan hates to fly, but after concluding some business concerning her late husbands estate in Canada, she has no choice. She was one of the last to board, and as luck would have it, her seat was next to an Adonis of a man. The look he gave when she was led to her seat said it all; ‘not the fat chick’. Holly had heard it before, although to be fair, Mr. Handsome didn’t open his mouth, just got a resigned look on his face, as though he was used to the best in everything, including women.

For Logan Montgomery, getting bumped from first class was just the beginning of a bad day, then his seat mate turns out to be an overweight, slightly messy woman, he has to bite his tongue. As a fitness trainer to celebrity athletes, Logan is very much in demand, but something about the white knuckles of the woman seated next to him can’t be ignored. After chatting throughout the flight, Logan decides to help Holly get in shape, and convinces her to let him work with her. Holly agrees, because she knows she hasn’t taken proper care of herself for a long time, probably since she escaped her home and parents for college, then her marriage. As Holly works with Logan, she starts to gain a bit of self esteem, something that has been missing in her life for some time. But could a woman like Holly ever hope to fit in the high profile life of someone like Logan? As they grow closer, will Logan realize what he has found in Holly? Or will he let appearances ruin the best thing to ever come his way?

This is a book of discovery, not just for Holly, but for Logan too, as he discovers that he has been a shallow and insensitive person, and that he was missing out on the best of life in the process. I liked the characters in this; both the primary and secondary characters were strong and, in some cases, extremely outspoken and opinionated. Stephanie Evanovich has sprinkled humor throughout this story, along with some healthy romance and some undercurrents of sadness and self doubt. I like this world, and the people in it are folks I’d enjoy meeting.

Holly Brennan is a strong and sensitive woman. When first we meet Holly, she has been widowed, and has been letting life kick her around. She’s never met a snack she didn’t like, and food is her comfort and her solace. As she begins to make changes, she gains self esteem, and becomes stronger, and determined not to slip back to her old ways. I liked watching as Holly found out who she was and what she wanted from life, including her desire for a new direction, hopefully including Logan. But I liked that she became someone who didn’t need him, if things didn’t work out.

Logan Montgomery is a successful, handsome and determined man, sure of himself and what he wants. When he meets Holly, at first all he sees is a ‘fat woman’ in need of help. As he gets to know her, he begins to admire her inner strength, and her willingness to do what she needs to succeed. But at first, Logan is shallow and less than sincere, and when he and Holly become involved, he hides his feelings and doesn’t even realize he is doing it. I liked watching as Logan learned what true value feelings could have, and watching as he finally ‘grew up’ into the kind of man he should always have been.

This is a story of one woman finding out who she is and what she wants out of life, and what she will accept to be truly happy. There are some rough spots for Holly and Logan, and for a time I believed Holly would be better off leaving him. I enjoyed watching how things were handled, always with a touch of humor, and with strength of character. There are some very emotional scenes in this, and there were some places that brought tears to my eyes. Do Holly and Logan have their happy ever after? After several false starts and some misunderstandings, and some very funny episodes, they finally find their way.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

Dangerous Refuge by Elizabeth Lowell

June 28, 2013 By Leave a Comment

REFUGE
Dangerous Refuge by Elizabeth Lowell
Publisher: Harper Collins
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (373 pgs)
Heat: Spicy
Rated 4 Stars
Reviewed by Poppy

On the surface beautiful, quiet Shaye has little in common with dark, dangerous Tanner. He’s a suspicious big city cop come home to the historic Davis family ranch to settle his uncle’s estate. She’s working for an environmental conservancy that acquires and protects old ranches-and she wants to preserve the Davis homestead.

When the suspicious death of Tanner’s uncle at his ranch throws the two opposites together, tempers flare and sparks fly. While they have trouble seeing eye to eye, Shaye and Tanner agree on one thing: they need to uncover the truth.

Combining their unique skills-Shaye’s low-key approach and local connections and Tanner’s experience as a homicide detective-the unlikely pair share long nights in the pursuit of justice. Before they know it, the friction they generate turns to heat, igniting a burning love neither ever expected to find.

They believe passion this intense cannot last. But when Shaye becomes a killer’s target, Tanner realizes he’d give up anything to protect her-including his life.

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The two main characters, Shaye and Tanner, met at the very beginning, and there was immediate attraction. The mystery was the most important thing, however, so they both tried to keep this at bay. The author was very clever as she led these two through the step by step investigation into the death of Tanner’s uncle.

Each of the two had different skills and by combining them became stronger. They didn’t often see eye to eye, yet they were able to work together in searching for clues even as sparks flew between them.

Usually I can figure out most of the guilty parties and the reasons for the mystery, but in this case, even though they found some of the guilty parties, I could not figure out the rest of the plan until the last chapters.  The resolution was a surprise and was exciting and suspenseful.

There were, however, a couple of things that bothered me. I felt that the author did not follow up on a couple of clues that were thrown out. Also at the conclusion, although Tanner was so injured that he could barely walk, he was suddenly able to fight a healthy, strong person and win. Then the next step in the ending was told after the fact, and I felt cheated in not being able to participate in the conclusion.

Overall, though, this was a really good mystery and I enjoyed reading it.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

And Then She Fell by Stephanie Laurens

June 27, 2013 By Leave a Comment

THEN
And Then She Fell by Stephanie Laurens
Publisher: Harper Collins
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (344 pgs)
Heat: Spicy
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Poppy

The only thing more troublesome than a Cynster man…is a Cynster lady who believes love is not her destiny. Famously known in London society as “The Matchbreaker,” Henrietta Cynster’s uncanny skill lies in preventing ill-fated nuptials – not in falling victim to Cupid’s spell.

But then she disrupts one match too many and feels honor-bound to assist dashing James Glossup in finding a suitable bride for a marriage of convenience.

A task infernally complicated by the undeniable, unquenchable attraction that flares between James and Henrietta, who continues to believe she will never fall…

Every time I get the opportunity to read another Cynster Book, I cross my fingers in hopes I wouldn’t be disappointed. I mean, how can Stephanie Laurens keep on writing such really awesome stories time after time? Well, she did it again and I was not disappointed.
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This time the Cynster being written about is Henrietta, sister to Simon. She is twenty-seven years old and a confirmed spinster. She has no desire at all to be married to the fops she meets who are prancing around looking for rich wives. Instead, she spends her time using all her many skills, breaking up couples who are not compatible. Such fun to read about how she does this.

Then she breaks up a potential marriage only to realize that the gentleman, a friend of her brother’s, must marry in four weeks or lose his inheritance. Knowing that she is responsible for breaking up his almost nuptial, she offers to find him a suitable wife in that time.

As these two go on the hunt, they find that they have much in common. However, Henrietta is not about to give up her spinsterhood for any man, and he does not want to become involved with his best friend’s sister.

There is much, much more to this story than just a romance. There is a magical necklace which Henrietta must wear at all times. You will have to read the story to find out why. There are murder attempts and these two must find out who the murderer is, and solve the mystery. Of course this will involve other Cynster wives and it’s fun to revisit characters from previous stories.

I found that I could not put this book down, once I started. This is a wonderful Regency romance/mystery and another great Stephanie Lauren story. I just have to give this book 5 Stars.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,
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