PLAYING THE PART by Robin Covington portrays the difficulties inherent in having a genuine relationship while under intense scrutiny by paparazzi. Intense attraction and invasion of privacy make this a HOT romance - bordering on erotic romance - with a heat level rating of 4 for how often and how graphic the sex scenes are. Sex scenes aside, this was a well-written book, and I give it 4 stars.
In PLAYING THE PART, romance novelist Piper James is tasked by her publisher to consult on the film adaptation of one of her best-selling novels. The assignment is mandatory after a difficult year in Piper's personal life - she nearly had a very public breakdown after her fiancé cheated on her with her best friend. The problem with her assignment is that she must work with the hottest Hollywood hunk, Mick Blackwell, a man who will never settle down with one woman.
Afraid of having her heart broken, Piper does her best to keep from falling in love with Mick, but she fails miserably. Meanwhile the paparazzi has been following Mick, and when one of them publishes extremely personal and graphic photos of them, the money trail leads back to Mick. Is Mick just like Piper's ex-fiancé, or is someone else trying to sabotage Mick and Piper's relationship?
From the outset, PLAYING THE PART captures and takes the reader on an intensely emotional rollercoaster. The pace is quick and the dialogue believable. The novel only occasionally slips into the melodramatic repetition of hyperbolic narration that plagues typical romance novels. The characters' backgrounds supported their actions, so there was no question about their motivations.
I would have liked to see more of what Piper calls "ordinary, in between times." While there were a few of those scenes that helped establish a more credible romance, the sex scenes were so much more frequent and explicit. Sex scenes aside, I enjoyed the book.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=9854
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Dangerous Embrace by Dana Mason - 4 stars
DANGEROUS EMBRACE by Dana Mason contains both serious danger and lots of embraces, but could use a better title. The current title does not really reflect the domestic and random violence portrayed in the novel, and readers should be aware that if they are at all sensitive to violence against women, this is not the book for them. I give DANGEROUS EMBRACE four stars for the honest and real illustration of this grim topic.
DANGEROUS EMBRACE explodes out of the gate with the attempted rape of Sarah Jennings, an elementary school teacher in Santa Rosa, California. Sarah has some fight in her and is able to injure her attacker and escape, only to run into – literally – handsome ex-cop turned security specialist, Mark Summors. Sarah's attacker has both her house keys and address, and so Mark sticks by Sarah's side in order to protect her.
Sarah's past – abusive relationship with an ex-fiancé and a neglectful con artist mother – haunts her daily, and she does her best to keep Mark at arms' length. Between her nightmares, lack of familial support, and subsequent violent attacks, Mark must persevere to keep Sarah safe, but their proximity lends itself to an intimacy that neither one of them may be ready to accept.
Because of the subject matter, it somehow seems wrong to say that I enjoyed DANGEROUS EMBRACE, even though it is a well-written novel. It is certainly not light or happy reading. The heat rating is a serious 3 due to the graphic nature of attacks as well as the love scenes between Sarah and Mark. I appreciate the way in which the violence is handled, respectfully and honestly. The dialogue and narration are not cheesy in the least. The novel illustrates many aspects of rape survivors' psychological trauma as well as the obvious physical injuries. The plot is gritty, intense and complex; just when you imagine one issue is dealt with, another situation resurrects it.
On the technical side, I felt that the pace was a bit slow after the first attack, but perhaps this was a purposeful tool to illustrate a rape survivor's life immediately after the incident – almost painfully impressing upon the reader the "one day at a time" philosophy. The editing was fairly well done – no distracting grammatical issues or typos.
DANGEROUS EMBRACE is a well-written and serious portrayal of one woman's struggle to free herself from hurtful people, the injuries they inflict, and the inner demons of her own making. I recommend it, but reader beware: this is not a novel for the faint of heart or for the fun, summer reading list.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=7889
DANGEROUS EMBRACE explodes out of the gate with the attempted rape of Sarah Jennings, an elementary school teacher in Santa Rosa, California. Sarah has some fight in her and is able to injure her attacker and escape, only to run into – literally – handsome ex-cop turned security specialist, Mark Summors. Sarah's attacker has both her house keys and address, and so Mark sticks by Sarah's side in order to protect her.
Sarah's past – abusive relationship with an ex-fiancé and a neglectful con artist mother – haunts her daily, and she does her best to keep Mark at arms' length. Between her nightmares, lack of familial support, and subsequent violent attacks, Mark must persevere to keep Sarah safe, but their proximity lends itself to an intimacy that neither one of them may be ready to accept.
Because of the subject matter, it somehow seems wrong to say that I enjoyed DANGEROUS EMBRACE, even though it is a well-written novel. It is certainly not light or happy reading. The heat rating is a serious 3 due to the graphic nature of attacks as well as the love scenes between Sarah and Mark. I appreciate the way in which the violence is handled, respectfully and honestly. The dialogue and narration are not cheesy in the least. The novel illustrates many aspects of rape survivors' psychological trauma as well as the obvious physical injuries. The plot is gritty, intense and complex; just when you imagine one issue is dealt with, another situation resurrects it.
On the technical side, I felt that the pace was a bit slow after the first attack, but perhaps this was a purposeful tool to illustrate a rape survivor's life immediately after the incident – almost painfully impressing upon the reader the "one day at a time" philosophy. The editing was fairly well done – no distracting grammatical issues or typos.
DANGEROUS EMBRACE is a well-written and serious portrayal of one woman's struggle to free herself from hurtful people, the injuries they inflict, and the inner demons of her own making. I recommend it, but reader beware: this is not a novel for the faint of heart or for the fun, summer reading list.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=7889
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Two Lairds, One Lady by John C. Ryan - 2 stars
TWO LAIRDS, ONE LADY by John C. Ryan tells the story of how Sir Thayer MacCourt finds and obtains the one woman to whom he compares all other women, Elspeth Mourney. Unfortunately, the novel has such problems with consistency, contrivance and credibility that it needs major revisions to be readable. I give it two stars and hope that it is revised so all readers can enjoy the plot ideas.
Six years separate Thayer and Elspeth's first encounter from their engagement, and after having seen battle, Thayer is not interested in making another widow. So he comes up with the brilliant plan to have his twin brother stand in his stead as the groom. Thayer figures that after about six months, he and Faolin can come clean with their mother. She'll see how great Faolin and Elspeth are together and won't cause a ruckus. The switch is made, and then Thayer begins to get jealous, finally promising his fiefdom to Faolin if he'll give Elspeth up. Then Elspeth's castle is taken by the English, Faolin and Elspeth's brother imprisoned, and drama ensues.
TWO LAIRDS, ONE LADY promises an intriguing story, but falls tragically flat. From the beginning, the story is bogged down by minutia, leaving the reader wondering if the story will ever pick up. Unfortunately, the story never does, and until the end holds onto its daunting pace. (The book ends nearly 100 pages after the climactic battle.) While I appreciate a book that doesn't rely solely on narration to move the plot along, here, many of the dialogue driven scenes can be trimmed down to ease the flow.
Also, stories in which two characters change places are classic, but it is important that the misconception is kept consistent. There were many places where Faolin's name was used where it should have been Thayer's, and vice versa. Even at the end, the big reveal only happens to one person. Every other character just automatically knows who is who. If it were really that obvious, one would think the original switch wouldn't have succeeded.
Aside from the glacial pace and inconsistencies, scenes in the book are often contrived or contradictory, defying logic, reason, common sense, and even the laws of physics. For instance, in the dead of night and without a torch, Elspeth goes out to collect herbs in the forest, and Thayer is able to discern her hair color, eye color, and lip color, even though there is only enough moonlight filtering through the trees to glint off of Elspeth's blade. Scenes such as this one strain credulity.
Many scenes also lacked continuity: Thayer is eating dinner with the mothers and leaves the table, citing a sour stomach. Several pages later, Faolin and Elspeth are coming into the dining room where dinner is waiting for the mothers' arrival to begin. Another scene has Elspeth on the ground giving physical support to her mother, and then suddenly Thayer is hoisting her off of his horse. It is one thing for the reader to have to suspend reality to believe a burgeoning romance, it is quite another when every facet of reality must be ignored to follow the book.
I was intrigued by the concept of twins switching places for a noble reason, only to have the reason fly out the window after the future bride has spent some time in the twins' company. It certainly puts the twins in a quandary with so many possible paths and outcomes. However, here, the book is in desperate need of thorough editing so that the concept can be realized.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=8035
Six years separate Thayer and Elspeth's first encounter from their engagement, and after having seen battle, Thayer is not interested in making another widow. So he comes up with the brilliant plan to have his twin brother stand in his stead as the groom. Thayer figures that after about six months, he and Faolin can come clean with their mother. She'll see how great Faolin and Elspeth are together and won't cause a ruckus. The switch is made, and then Thayer begins to get jealous, finally promising his fiefdom to Faolin if he'll give Elspeth up. Then Elspeth's castle is taken by the English, Faolin and Elspeth's brother imprisoned, and drama ensues.
TWO LAIRDS, ONE LADY promises an intriguing story, but falls tragically flat. From the beginning, the story is bogged down by minutia, leaving the reader wondering if the story will ever pick up. Unfortunately, the story never does, and until the end holds onto its daunting pace. (The book ends nearly 100 pages after the climactic battle.) While I appreciate a book that doesn't rely solely on narration to move the plot along, here, many of the dialogue driven scenes can be trimmed down to ease the flow.
Also, stories in which two characters change places are classic, but it is important that the misconception is kept consistent. There were many places where Faolin's name was used where it should have been Thayer's, and vice versa. Even at the end, the big reveal only happens to one person. Every other character just automatically knows who is who. If it were really that obvious, one would think the original switch wouldn't have succeeded.
Aside from the glacial pace and inconsistencies, scenes in the book are often contrived or contradictory, defying logic, reason, common sense, and even the laws of physics. For instance, in the dead of night and without a torch, Elspeth goes out to collect herbs in the forest, and Thayer is able to discern her hair color, eye color, and lip color, even though there is only enough moonlight filtering through the trees to glint off of Elspeth's blade. Scenes such as this one strain credulity.
Many scenes also lacked continuity: Thayer is eating dinner with the mothers and leaves the table, citing a sour stomach. Several pages later, Faolin and Elspeth are coming into the dining room where dinner is waiting for the mothers' arrival to begin. Another scene has Elspeth on the ground giving physical support to her mother, and then suddenly Thayer is hoisting her off of his horse. It is one thing for the reader to have to suspend reality to believe a burgeoning romance, it is quite another when every facet of reality must be ignored to follow the book.
I was intrigued by the concept of twins switching places for a noble reason, only to have the reason fly out the window after the future bride has spent some time in the twins' company. It certainly puts the twins in a quandary with so many possible paths and outcomes. However, here, the book is in desperate need of thorough editing so that the concept can be realized.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=8035
Monday, July 1, 2013
Midnight Sun, Inc. by Debbie Vaughan - 3 stars
MIDNIGHT SUN, INC. by Debbie Vaughan is a fun read that will keep you fascinated. I give it three stars for its compelling plotline and hope this is only the first book in a series.
MIDNIGHT SUN, INC. tells the tale of how human Connie Bennett and her boss, vampire Tom Thornton, fell in love. The book is set in a world where vampires have come out of the coffin, and legislation and commerce cater to vampires as well as humans. Tom Thornton owns Midnight Sun, a tanning salon that caters to "all persuasions." The night manager, Rafael, is also a vampire, or is he? Connie becomes housemates with Rafael, who it turns out also lives with Tom.
As Connie gets to know Rafael and begins a romantic relationship with Tom, the three of them have to deal with strange events, a dead body in the salon's dumpster, spells on the tanning salon, revelations about Rafael's life, and Connie's odd health issues.
I enjoyed MIDNIGHT SUN, INC. The plotline is interesting and keeps you wondering what could happen next. The narration and dialogue are filled with humor and wit. I found myself laughing out loud several times.
A few issues detracted from my enjoyment of the book. I would have liked the pacing to be better. It seemed a bit off, as there was too much time spent on transitional and background scenes, and too little on the major plot and climactic scenes. The same applies to the development of the romantic relationship between Connie and Tom. That part of the plotline was a bit unbelievable and needed some extra attention.
The book also needed another round of editing. The typo and grammatical errors were distracting, and at times the storyline was a tad confusing. These issues can be overlooked, though, because the paranormal aspects of the book were so interesting.
Given the adult content, this book has a heat level rating of 3, appropriate for those 18 years of age and over.
MIDNIGHT SUN, INC is a fun read, and I highly recommend this book to all who enjoy the paranormal genre.
*Original review written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=9833
MIDNIGHT SUN, INC. tells the tale of how human Connie Bennett and her boss, vampire Tom Thornton, fell in love. The book is set in a world where vampires have come out of the coffin, and legislation and commerce cater to vampires as well as humans. Tom Thornton owns Midnight Sun, a tanning salon that caters to "all persuasions." The night manager, Rafael, is also a vampire, or is he? Connie becomes housemates with Rafael, who it turns out also lives with Tom.
As Connie gets to know Rafael and begins a romantic relationship with Tom, the three of them have to deal with strange events, a dead body in the salon's dumpster, spells on the tanning salon, revelations about Rafael's life, and Connie's odd health issues.
I enjoyed MIDNIGHT SUN, INC. The plotline is interesting and keeps you wondering what could happen next. The narration and dialogue are filled with humor and wit. I found myself laughing out loud several times.
A few issues detracted from my enjoyment of the book. I would have liked the pacing to be better. It seemed a bit off, as there was too much time spent on transitional and background scenes, and too little on the major plot and climactic scenes. The same applies to the development of the romantic relationship between Connie and Tom. That part of the plotline was a bit unbelievable and needed some extra attention.
The book also needed another round of editing. The typo and grammatical errors were distracting, and at times the storyline was a tad confusing. These issues can be overlooked, though, because the paranormal aspects of the book were so interesting.
Given the adult content, this book has a heat level rating of 3, appropriate for those 18 years of age and over.
MIDNIGHT SUN, INC is a fun read, and I highly recommend this book to all who enjoy the paranormal genre.
*Original review written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=9833
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Capital Bride by Cynthia Woolf (Matchmaker & Co. #1) - 2 stars
CAPITAL BRIDE by Cynthia Woolf tells the story of how Sarah Johnson agreed to be a mail order bride and fell in love with her husband. While the plot has promise, the book unfortunately delivers unbelievable dialogue and contrived scenes. I give this book one star, but hope that a revised version will be published soon so that I can enjoy the interesting plot.
Sarah Johnson was engaged to a man who died at Bull Run. They were not able to get married before he was unexpectedly called up to war, but the time they had was used to make a baby, MaryAnn. Sarah's parents kicked her out of the house when they found out she was pregnant, but her Aunt Gertrude took her in. Five years later, Aunt Gertrude dies leaving everything to Sarah's cousin, William, except a small amount of money. Without Gertrude, Sarah is homeless.
William is obsessed with Sarah and tries many times to get her to marry him, but she says no every time he asks. Sarah is considered an outcast by society due to her state of unwed motherhood and hopes that being a mail order bride will help her start over. When Sarah marries John Atwood, William changes tactics and follows her to Colorado to "bring her home." Drama ensues with fire and guns. Even Sarah is armed for protection, and the entire family has to do their part to keep the family together.
I was intrigued by this novel when I read the plot summary and was really looking forward to a feel good kind of book. Unfortunately, the book did not deliver. There was a happy ending, for sure, but the story was all bare bones. It lacked character development and realistic dialogue. The pace was slow. I kept expecting it to get to the good part, but "the good part" was a let down because it was so sudden, almost as if this were the Cliff Notes to the full-length novel. The storytelling was stilted and didn't really flow. It needs transitions between scenes and dialogue.
For instance, the part of the story covering Sarah's relationship with MaryAnn's father is told quickly via narration and referenced a few times via dialogue, but this part of the story would absolutely add much needed character development and depth to the book. I vote for an expansion of this part of the story.
Also, the part about William's obsession with Sarah could easily be developed to show his increasingly insane thoughts. When Sarah leaves for Colorado, the reader just thinks he is being a loving cousin wanting the best for her, when in reality he's already been plotting for a while about how to win her.
I would also have liked there to be some more flesh on the ending. The resolution of the Atwood family's problems are wrapped up a little too neatly and could be fleshed out to add tension to the story. The expansion of these parts of the book would add depth and credibility to the romantic relationship between husband and wife, showing the development of the characters' feelings.
Finally, the book needs another round of editing for grammar, spelling and punctuation in order to convey the story clearly.
Issues aside, I think the ideas behind the plot have merit and would make a great book. I would definitely be interested in reading any revised versions that are published.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=9002
Sarah Johnson was engaged to a man who died at Bull Run. They were not able to get married before he was unexpectedly called up to war, but the time they had was used to make a baby, MaryAnn. Sarah's parents kicked her out of the house when they found out she was pregnant, but her Aunt Gertrude took her in. Five years later, Aunt Gertrude dies leaving everything to Sarah's cousin, William, except a small amount of money. Without Gertrude, Sarah is homeless.
William is obsessed with Sarah and tries many times to get her to marry him, but she says no every time he asks. Sarah is considered an outcast by society due to her state of unwed motherhood and hopes that being a mail order bride will help her start over. When Sarah marries John Atwood, William changes tactics and follows her to Colorado to "bring her home." Drama ensues with fire and guns. Even Sarah is armed for protection, and the entire family has to do their part to keep the family together.
I was intrigued by this novel when I read the plot summary and was really looking forward to a feel good kind of book. Unfortunately, the book did not deliver. There was a happy ending, for sure, but the story was all bare bones. It lacked character development and realistic dialogue. The pace was slow. I kept expecting it to get to the good part, but "the good part" was a let down because it was so sudden, almost as if this were the Cliff Notes to the full-length novel. The storytelling was stilted and didn't really flow. It needs transitions between scenes and dialogue.
For instance, the part of the story covering Sarah's relationship with MaryAnn's father is told quickly via narration and referenced a few times via dialogue, but this part of the story would absolutely add much needed character development and depth to the book. I vote for an expansion of this part of the story.
Also, the part about William's obsession with Sarah could easily be developed to show his increasingly insane thoughts. When Sarah leaves for Colorado, the reader just thinks he is being a loving cousin wanting the best for her, when in reality he's already been plotting for a while about how to win her.
I would also have liked there to be some more flesh on the ending. The resolution of the Atwood family's problems are wrapped up a little too neatly and could be fleshed out to add tension to the story. The expansion of these parts of the book would add depth and credibility to the romantic relationship between husband and wife, showing the development of the characters' feelings.
Finally, the book needs another round of editing for grammar, spelling and punctuation in order to convey the story clearly.
Issues aside, I think the ideas behind the plot have merit and would make a great book. I would definitely be interested in reading any revised versions that are published.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=9002
One Small Touch by Denise McGee - 4 stars
ONE SMALL TOUCH by Denise McGee is a wonderfully unique combination of paranormal romance and crime drama. For a debut novel, Ms. McGee demonstrates her own special gift of storytelling. I give ONE SMALL TOUCH 4 stars and highly recommend it to any lovers of the paranormal or crime drama genres.
In ONE SMALL TOUCH, noteworthy architect Nathan Edwards and his mistress du jour are murdered, and the murderer is still out for blood. Nathan's wife, famous romance writer Laurel Wentworth, is in danger, and Lieutenant Aaron March is also drawn into the fray while investigating the murder and the subsequent related crimes. Each of the main characters has some kind of extraordinary talent: Aaron can see the history of certain objects, and Laurel can taste others' emotions. Using their talents, and with a little help from the dead, the characters strive to determine why Nathan was killed and why someone is still after Laurel.
I enjoyed ONE SMALL TOUCH immensely, partly because of the novel's structure. Each chapter tells the story from the perspective of either Aaron or Laurel, and sometimes the chapters overlap giving the reader both perspectives of one scene. This writing method produces the character development effortlessly, leaving few questions regarding characters' motives or thoughts.
The supernatural element is also uniquely illustrated, adding to the mystery surrounding the attacks on Laurel and those around her. The supernatural isn't overly described; it is elegant in its subtlety. The flip side to that coin is that the characters' talents lack context. The reader has no idea whether the characters live in a world in which *every* person has a special talent, whether the characters' individual gifts somehow brought them together, or how it is that they can accept each others' gifts so easily. I have so many questions like this that I had to verify more than once that this book was Ms. McGee's first. For a moment I thought perhaps this was the second book in a series. Nope, this is the first one. If you can contain your curiosity, the book is easy to enjoy.
On the technical side of things, the novel is fairly well-edited, as there are only a few distracting typos or grammatical issues. The novel also has a nice pace, quick, but not hasty.
Overall, I really liked this book, and I look forward to reading more of Denise McGee's work when it is published.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=9639
In ONE SMALL TOUCH, noteworthy architect Nathan Edwards and his mistress du jour are murdered, and the murderer is still out for blood. Nathan's wife, famous romance writer Laurel Wentworth, is in danger, and Lieutenant Aaron March is also drawn into the fray while investigating the murder and the subsequent related crimes. Each of the main characters has some kind of extraordinary talent: Aaron can see the history of certain objects, and Laurel can taste others' emotions. Using their talents, and with a little help from the dead, the characters strive to determine why Nathan was killed and why someone is still after Laurel.
I enjoyed ONE SMALL TOUCH immensely, partly because of the novel's structure. Each chapter tells the story from the perspective of either Aaron or Laurel, and sometimes the chapters overlap giving the reader both perspectives of one scene. This writing method produces the character development effortlessly, leaving few questions regarding characters' motives or thoughts.
The supernatural element is also uniquely illustrated, adding to the mystery surrounding the attacks on Laurel and those around her. The supernatural isn't overly described; it is elegant in its subtlety. The flip side to that coin is that the characters' talents lack context. The reader has no idea whether the characters live in a world in which *every* person has a special talent, whether the characters' individual gifts somehow brought them together, or how it is that they can accept each others' gifts so easily. I have so many questions like this that I had to verify more than once that this book was Ms. McGee's first. For a moment I thought perhaps this was the second book in a series. Nope, this is the first one. If you can contain your curiosity, the book is easy to enjoy.
On the technical side of things, the novel is fairly well-edited, as there are only a few distracting typos or grammatical issues. The novel also has a nice pace, quick, but not hasty.
Overall, I really liked this book, and I look forward to reading more of Denise McGee's work when it is published.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=9639
Monday, June 24, 2013
Then, Again by Karen Stivali - 4 stars
THEN, AGAIN by Karen Stivali is a quick and convincing drama highlighting the tension between work and play in regards to relationships. Ms Stivali again delivers an excellent illustration of modern day relationships. I give it 4 stars and recommend it to anyone who had an unrequited love interest in high school.
In THEN, AGAIN, Manhattan-based travel photographer Kay Turner returns home early from an assignment due to the death of her grandmother, who raised her. Instead of returning home to comforting boyfriend Todd, Kay arrives home to find another woman in her kitchen and in Todd's clothes. Kay gathers her things and moves to her grandmother's beach house on the Jersey shore.
Almost immediately, Kay runs into an old unrequited love interest, James Margolis, who is seriously good-looking, successful in his businesses, and available. They hit it off, and soon their summer romance turns into something more serious. Add some drama from their exes along with work conflicts, and the reader gets some great reading.
I really enjoyed THEN, AGAIN, as I have other works from Karen Stivali. It is not surprising that Ms. Stivali enjoys richly character-driven books and movies; it shows in the flawless character development in her own novels. There is never a question mark over her characters' motives, thoughts or actions; it all makes perfect sense. The characters also have real issues, to which readers can easily relate. Here, the issue of life priorities takes center stage. Today, women often have to make the difficult decision whether to pursue their careers or romantic relationships. THEN, AGAIN is an excellent example of that kind of tension, as well as the difficulties couples face in communicating what they want and need in their relationships.
On the technical side of the novel, the pacing of the book was excellent, and the editing was also well done – no typos or grammatical errors to distract or confuse the reader. My only issue with this novel is the number of sex scenes. The physical aspect of Kay and James' relationship is detailed in numerous sex scenes, giving this book a heat level rating of 3, appropriate for those 18 years of age and over. I could have done with fewer detailed scenes. With the exception of two sex scenes, they become unnecessary to move the plot along. For readers who enjoy guilty pleasures, though, THEN, AGAIN delivers.
If you are a fan of real-life dramas that lack contrived issues or dialogue, this book is for you, and I highly recommend THEN, AGAIN for your summer reading list.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews at
http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooksreview.php?bookid=9771
In THEN, AGAIN, Manhattan-based travel photographer Kay Turner returns home early from an assignment due to the death of her grandmother, who raised her. Instead of returning home to comforting boyfriend Todd, Kay arrives home to find another woman in her kitchen and in Todd's clothes. Kay gathers her things and moves to her grandmother's beach house on the Jersey shore.
Almost immediately, Kay runs into an old unrequited love interest, James Margolis, who is seriously good-looking, successful in his businesses, and available. They hit it off, and soon their summer romance turns into something more serious. Add some drama from their exes along with work conflicts, and the reader gets some great reading.
I really enjoyed THEN, AGAIN, as I have other works from Karen Stivali. It is not surprising that Ms. Stivali enjoys richly character-driven books and movies; it shows in the flawless character development in her own novels. There is never a question mark over her characters' motives, thoughts or actions; it all makes perfect sense. The characters also have real issues, to which readers can easily relate. Here, the issue of life priorities takes center stage. Today, women often have to make the difficult decision whether to pursue their careers or romantic relationships. THEN, AGAIN is an excellent example of that kind of tension, as well as the difficulties couples face in communicating what they want and need in their relationships.
On the technical side of the novel, the pacing of the book was excellent, and the editing was also well done – no typos or grammatical errors to distract or confuse the reader. My only issue with this novel is the number of sex scenes. The physical aspect of Kay and James' relationship is detailed in numerous sex scenes, giving this book a heat level rating of 3, appropriate for those 18 years of age and over. I could have done with fewer detailed scenes. With the exception of two sex scenes, they become unnecessary to move the plot along. For readers who enjoy guilty pleasures, though, THEN, AGAIN delivers.
If you are a fan of real-life dramas that lack contrived issues or dialogue, this book is for you, and I highly recommend THEN, AGAIN for your summer reading list.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews at
http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooksreview.php?bookid=9771
Sunday, June 16, 2013
The Boss' Fake Fiancee by Inara Scott - 4 stars
THE BOSS' FAKE FIANCÉE by Inara Scott provides authentic enjoyment and elicits genuine emotion. While the title may give the novel a cheesy feel, the plot is anything but cheesy, as it illuminates a major medical and social issue - autism. I give it 4 stars and recommend that readers not overlook this novel when browsing their online bookstores.
In THE BOSS' FAKE FIANCÉE, employee Melissa Bencher allows her cheating, dirtbag ex-boyfriend to believe that she is dating her boss, billionaire Garth Solen. The paparazzi get a photo of Garth dropping Melissa off at home after a late night of work, and by the morning, their families and friends, not to mention gossipmongers across the country, believe that they are engaged. Garth's eighty-five year-old grandmother, who raised him since he was five, is attempting to recover from a bout of pneumonia, and Garth believes that disabusing her of the notion that he is engaged will literally kill her. So he persuades Melissa to act as if they are in fact engaged. Only neither of them is ready to deal with the very real emotions that accompany their fake engagement.
I enjoyed THE BOSS' FAKE FIANCÉE. The plot was not complicated, but the writing definitely draws you into the complicated emotions that arise from the characters' proximity, pasts and personal problems. The pace is steady and comfortable, and the dialogue is absolutely believable, especially when it comes to the characters' trying to express things they've never before put into words.
The development of the romantic relationship in the novel was believable, surprisingly so. It isn't often that authors persuade me to accept the love at first sight idea, or as it is here, love in 18 days, but the relationship here was very well done. I believed the characters' feelings for each other. Their romance isn't forced into a neat little box; it is real, gritty and occasionally heartbreaking. As for the romantic scenes, I would give this a heat level rating of 3, appropriate for those 18 and older. The editing was also done fairly well; there were only a few grammatical issues/typos, but nothing that significantly disrupts the flow of the story.
Overall, I really liked this book, especially the twist near the end. (I won't give it away!) THE BOSS' FAKE FIANCÉE is an enjoyable contemporary romance that I recommend to all avid fiction readers. Don't miss out!
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=9641
In THE BOSS' FAKE FIANCÉE, employee Melissa Bencher allows her cheating, dirtbag ex-boyfriend to believe that she is dating her boss, billionaire Garth Solen. The paparazzi get a photo of Garth dropping Melissa off at home after a late night of work, and by the morning, their families and friends, not to mention gossipmongers across the country, believe that they are engaged. Garth's eighty-five year-old grandmother, who raised him since he was five, is attempting to recover from a bout of pneumonia, and Garth believes that disabusing her of the notion that he is engaged will literally kill her. So he persuades Melissa to act as if they are in fact engaged. Only neither of them is ready to deal with the very real emotions that accompany their fake engagement.
I enjoyed THE BOSS' FAKE FIANCÉE. The plot was not complicated, but the writing definitely draws you into the complicated emotions that arise from the characters' proximity, pasts and personal problems. The pace is steady and comfortable, and the dialogue is absolutely believable, especially when it comes to the characters' trying to express things they've never before put into words.
The development of the romantic relationship in the novel was believable, surprisingly so. It isn't often that authors persuade me to accept the love at first sight idea, or as it is here, love in 18 days, but the relationship here was very well done. I believed the characters' feelings for each other. Their romance isn't forced into a neat little box; it is real, gritty and occasionally heartbreaking. As for the romantic scenes, I would give this a heat level rating of 3, appropriate for those 18 and older. The editing was also done fairly well; there were only a few grammatical issues/typos, but nothing that significantly disrupts the flow of the story.
Overall, I really liked this book, especially the twist near the end. (I won't give it away!) THE BOSS' FAKE FIANCÉE is an enjoyable contemporary romance that I recommend to all avid fiction readers. Don't miss out!
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=9641
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Shadow's Soul by Jami Gray - 5 Stars
Jami Gray delivers another fantastic action-packed novel with SHADOW'S SOUL, book two in the Kyn Kronicles series. Carve out some time, sit down and buckle up because SHADOW'S SOUL will take you on a wild ride through the world of magic. As with book one, I had a difficult time putting SHADOW'S SOUL down. I highly recommend this book… along with a nice strong cup of coffee.
SHADOW'S SOUL continues the story of Raine McCord, Gavin Durand, and others from the Pacific Northwest Kyn community. This time, trouble within the Southwest Kyn community threatens Raine and her friends. Her mentor, Cheveyo, is kidnapped while investigating Kyn deaths and disappearances in the Southwest, and Raine nearly dies trying to protect him. Fellow Wraiths, Gavin and Xander, get involved, and Kyn community politics isn't the only thing they have to battle. Add a Soul Stealer, spirits of dead witches called chindis, a land-hungry corporation and a few burgeoning romances, and the result is an explosive plotline ready for the big screen.
SHADOW'S SOUL keeps the exciting pace introduced in book one. The characters and scenes are similarly well written. The development of the romantic relationships and the associated dialogue are believable and compelling. This book introduces a new phase in Raine and Gavin's relationship that causes this book to have a level 2 Heat Rating. The book also introduces a new relationship that I predict will be a main part of the plotline in book three. There were some typos and grammatical issues that were a bit distracting, but the reader can easily get past them and enjoy the book.
I seriously cannot tell you how great this series is. You will just have to experience it for yourself. I give SHADOW'S SOUL 5 stars and eagerly await the next installation of the Kyn Kronicles.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooksreview.php?bookid=7330.
SHADOW'S SOUL continues the story of Raine McCord, Gavin Durand, and others from the Pacific Northwest Kyn community. This time, trouble within the Southwest Kyn community threatens Raine and her friends. Her mentor, Cheveyo, is kidnapped while investigating Kyn deaths and disappearances in the Southwest, and Raine nearly dies trying to protect him. Fellow Wraiths, Gavin and Xander, get involved, and Kyn community politics isn't the only thing they have to battle. Add a Soul Stealer, spirits of dead witches called chindis, a land-hungry corporation and a few burgeoning romances, and the result is an explosive plotline ready for the big screen.
SHADOW'S SOUL keeps the exciting pace introduced in book one. The characters and scenes are similarly well written. The development of the romantic relationships and the associated dialogue are believable and compelling. This book introduces a new phase in Raine and Gavin's relationship that causes this book to have a level 2 Heat Rating. The book also introduces a new relationship that I predict will be a main part of the plotline in book three. There were some typos and grammatical issues that were a bit distracting, but the reader can easily get past them and enjoy the book.
I seriously cannot tell you how great this series is. You will just have to experience it for yourself. I give SHADOW'S SOUL 5 stars and eagerly await the next installation of the Kyn Kronicles.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooksreview.php?bookid=7330.
Friday, June 7, 2013
Shadow's Edge by Jami Gray - 5 Stars
SHADOW'S EDGE by Jami Gray will definitely keep you on the edge... of your seat, that is. This fantastic paranormal action novel is quite possibly the best book I've read this year. I could not put it down, and had to exercise serious self-control to keep from staying up all night to finish it. If you like anything even remotely categorized as paranormal or fantasy, do not miss out! You will love this book. It is definitely a keeper, and I highly recommend it to all.
SHADOW'S EDGE stars Raine McCord (part Fey, part Unknown). She and her Fey mother were subjected to scientific experiments when Raine was only 15 years-old. Her mother didn't make it out alive, but with the help of her maternal uncle, Raine escaped from the lab where she was being held. Still, even though she has escaped physically, years later, the effects of the twisted and brutal experimentation continue to haunt her. She has serious trust issues, beginning with a lack of trust in her own abilities, which are mostly unknown and untapped. She works for Taliesin Security, officially as a corporate and personal security officer, a convenient cover for her real job as a black ops agent, and she is tasked to eliminate threats to the Kyn community, which includes Fey, Demons, Witches/Wizards, and Shifters.
Trouble is brewing within the Kyn community. A wizard and a witch have disappeared after being approached by a human biogenetics company seeking, among other things, to create an anti-virus developed from Kyn DNA that will cure human maladies, such as cancer. There have also been inquiries into how Taliesin is organized and functions, and into the clandestine black ops Wraiths themselves. Raine is tasked to look into the disappearances and internal security breach with Gavin Durand, a Fey and every woman's dream man.
From the beginning, I was on the edge of my seat. The book picks you up and carries you away immediately. The characters and scenes are so well written that I had no problem imagining the world in which Raine and Gavin live. The character development was flawless; the plot was unique and intriguing, and the dialogue was absolutely believable. The reader can actually feel the emotions of the characters, especially Raine's insecurities and fears, and the action is intense! This book could easily be a Hollywood blockbuster.
The only issue I had with the book was on the technical side. There were enough typos and grammatical issues to distract, and a couple places where the issues were a bit confusing. I would recommend another round of line editing. Even so, the reader can get past those issues and easily enjoy the book.
Seriously, I cannot wait to read the next book in the Kyn series, SHADOW'S SOUL. I haven't read a book this fascinating since A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. Love, love, love SHADOW'S EDGE, and will now happily start reading SHADOW'S SOUL.
SHADOW'S EDGE stars Raine McCord (part Fey, part Unknown). She and her Fey mother were subjected to scientific experiments when Raine was only 15 years-old. Her mother didn't make it out alive, but with the help of her maternal uncle, Raine escaped from the lab where she was being held. Still, even though she has escaped physically, years later, the effects of the twisted and brutal experimentation continue to haunt her. She has serious trust issues, beginning with a lack of trust in her own abilities, which are mostly unknown and untapped. She works for Taliesin Security, officially as a corporate and personal security officer, a convenient cover for her real job as a black ops agent, and she is tasked to eliminate threats to the Kyn community, which includes Fey, Demons, Witches/Wizards, and Shifters.
Trouble is brewing within the Kyn community. A wizard and a witch have disappeared after being approached by a human biogenetics company seeking, among other things, to create an anti-virus developed from Kyn DNA that will cure human maladies, such as cancer. There have also been inquiries into how Taliesin is organized and functions, and into the clandestine black ops Wraiths themselves. Raine is tasked to look into the disappearances and internal security breach with Gavin Durand, a Fey and every woman's dream man.
From the beginning, I was on the edge of my seat. The book picks you up and carries you away immediately. The characters and scenes are so well written that I had no problem imagining the world in which Raine and Gavin live. The character development was flawless; the plot was unique and intriguing, and the dialogue was absolutely believable. The reader can actually feel the emotions of the characters, especially Raine's insecurities and fears, and the action is intense! This book could easily be a Hollywood blockbuster.
The only issue I had with the book was on the technical side. There were enough typos and grammatical issues to distract, and a couple places where the issues were a bit confusing. I would recommend another round of line editing. Even so, the reader can get past those issues and easily enjoy the book.
Seriously, I cannot wait to read the next book in the Kyn series, SHADOW'S SOUL. I haven't read a book this fascinating since A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. Love, love, love SHADOW'S EDGE, and will now happily start reading SHADOW'S SOUL.
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