In Love with Romance

Lisa Renee Jones has a way with words. No doubt about that. This story was a little too short too fast for me. I'm used to LRJ's short stories. She always does a fabulous job of tying it all together so it feels like you get a full length novel, but on this one things went too fast too soon. Regardless, it's still great for bed time reading.

This is kind of funny and silly. It gives life to Pride and Prejudice in a small town called Summer Hill. I loved the opening scene where the hero and heroine are introduced. It's a great hook, but then it kind of gets lost with the multitude of characters and subplots. I've read most of Jude Deveraux's books. I'm a fan of hers, and know her writing style well. However, for some reason, at times it seemed as if this wasn't Ms. Deveraux voice--at least not what I'm used to with her novels. If you've been a fan of hers for as long as I have, then you'd know what I'm referring to once you read the book.

This book reminded me of The Mulberry Tree, which is one of my favorite books by Jude Deveraux.

This book started with a great storyline. One of my favorite scenes is when Charlotte meets Will, and he goes on about his business without realizing her intentions. Jacob, her nephew, is one of my favorite characters--though his dialogue seemed too mature for a 4 year old. I don't know what happened, but soon the story loses its flow. When Will realizes what Charlotte is up to he sort of pursues her in his own way, but at that point the story doesn't grab the reader like it does at the beginning. It feels a bit repetitive and it slows down by a lot.

Overall, I still enjoyed it. I love the hook of the explorer and the heiress, I just wished it would've kept the same pace/tone all throughout.

It's a psychological thriller not for every reader. One scene with a cat was sickening, and other times when the hero feels disgusted by the heroine I thought were a bit harsh. The ending was kind of funny.

This is a fun read by Shana Galen.

I don't usually read paranormal romance, but I enjoyed this one a lot more than I expected. It took me a while to get into this book. There were just too many characters and more than two POVs, granted the additional POVs provided more insight into what was happening in the story, still I'm not 100% sure those were needed.

There was quite a bit of action, which I thought was pretty good. The romance between the two main characters was great. I enjoyed how Rune struggled not to give into his feelings for Carys, and how Carys wouldn't be swayed to give up on him.

This was a really great read.

I wasn't too crazy about this book. I liked the characters but they annoyed me sometimes. Overall it is a good read, but having read this author before I'd expected to enjoy this one as much as I did another one of her stories.

I couldn't connect with the characters :(

I didn't know what to expect when I got this book. I saw it and kept passing it but every time I went back to NetGalley it was like it said "read me, won't you?" So, finally I figured what the heck.

O.M.G. Let me start by saying this isn't for the faint of heart. It says it's got BDSM and it sort of does, but it's super light. There's just one whipping scene, and there isn't a whole lot of description other than the lashes cutting her back and the blood Stella feels is starting to drip. In my book, that's pretty light BDSM compared to other books I've read.

Anyway, the story begins with Stella hoping her dad doesn't go to jail. But her dad's chances of not being convicted are minimal to none. The DA a.k.a. Sinclair Vinemont, has about 20 witnesses all there to testify how her dad stole their money. Still, Stella doesn't believe her dad is guilty of the crimes he's being accused of.

She wants to feel nothing but hate for Sinclair, only every time he looks at her, his searing gaze gets the best of her. Luckily for her the judge states he needs time to think about the ruling of her dad's case, and she feels relieved. That lasts until Sinclair shows up at her house and with a contract no less.

The deal he offers her in return for her dad's freedom is to sign a one-year contract where she accepts to be his slave. She declines of course, but then seeing that she has no other recourse to save her dad from jail she finds herself at Sinclair's doorstep and ensures he will keep his word.

Stella thinks she can handle a year until the enormity of the wrong decision she made sinks in. Sinclair doesn't want to get close to her, and he doesn't want to be mean and do any of the things he has to do to her but he must. He must be the winner and new Sovereign of the elite. The attraction between Stella and Sinclair can't be ignored. They give into it, damn the consequences. Stella talks herself into being able to do this slave thing, but just when she thinks she can do it she begins to see she's only a piece of the game and competition Sinclair is playing. She thinks the whipping she got is it until a woman who keeps her company in Sinclair's house tells her about what happens in fall, spring, and summer. As if that weren't enough Stella discovers her dad isn't who she's always thought him to be.

This book is sick as in good. It ends in a cliffhanger and I hope Stella doesn't sleep with Lucius. If she does, it'd be weird because she's falling for Sinclair, who's Lucius brother. Also, just knowing that the competition for Sovereign is still running and that what's coming up next is worst than the whipping she got I'm already anxious to see what happens. The one thing that bothered me was that the author forgot the condoms. There was no talk of either of them being clean or Stella being on the pill. Unless that was part of the contract that's mentioned several times and signed but no details are provided other than it a) lasts a full year b) Sinclair can do with her whatever he wants c) her dad won't go to jail. Still. I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would.

I've been following Lisa Renee Jones since her Inside Out series. I've read every single book and I, and other readers, have always been intrigued about what happened to Ella.

Her disappearance has always been a mystery and sort of an unresolved item since Inside Out. Let me just say, Denial, doesn't disappoint and it's been worth the wait.

Ella wakes up in a hospital bed somewhere in Italy. She doesn't remember her name, how she got there, and who she's running from. Kayden, the stranger who rescued her, seems familiar but she can't place him. Her confusion only becomes worst when she finds there is a detective looking for her, trying to determine how she got to the hospital and her relationship with Kayden.

Gallo, the detective, is invested in her amnesia case and Ella can't understand why. But it doesn't take her long to find out there's beef between Gallo and Kayden and that neither men may actually want to help her without asking for something in return.

Kayden insists he wants to help her, but Ella suspects there's something else he isn't telling her. Kayden uses a scare tactic to make her remember her name, and that's all she remembers. Kayden and his friends create a complete different identity for her so she can hide in plain sight while her memories come back to her.

Little by little her memories begin to return -- not all of them though -- and each thing she remembers isn't better than the last. Her sad memories outweigh the good ones. Ella wants to leave, because she knows she's in danger and after finding out what happened to Kayden's friend and ex-fiancee in his own home she doesn't want to put him in anymore danger than she already is, and the danger that he is to her, to himself, and to others. The problem is every time she tries to place distance Kayden pulls her back in, and she can't say no. He weaves a fine weave and it'd be interesting to see how Ella escapes -- if she does -- unscathed.

I love, love, love this book. Denial is Lisa Renee Jones at her best. It's an erotic thriller written as only she knows how.

In this installment of the "A Billionaire's Club Story" by Mandy Baxter, Mandy introduces us to Carter Christensen. He's a widow, a father of 5-year old twins, a famous NFL quarterback, oh and a billionaire.

His wife died two years ago. She was his high school sweetheart and he can't see life without her. He's trying to do the best he can with his daughters but he knows he won't be enough. That when his daughters grow older they'll need someone. Yet the thought of him dating is kind of crazy for him. The only person he ever dated was his late wife.

Tess Adams moved into the cabin next door to his place at a vacation like area. Though most people go there to take some time off, Tess's situation is different. She inherited the place from her late aunt and after finding out that her ex-boyfriend cheated on her with her friend she decided to move from NY to Texas.

She catches a glimpse of Carter the same that he does of her but no one makes a move. Not until Carter's twins decide they've had enough of their dad and ran away. They ran away to Tess's barn.

Tess strikes a friendship with the girls, then goes off on Carter at his curt attitude. Though it doesn't last long because Carter decides Tess may just be who he needs.

Overall this is a cute read but now what I expected. The chemistry between Carter and Tess feels forced. They both have their own issues to deal with but in their interactions Tess just seems insincere toward Carter. When she finds that he's one of the famous Christensens, hence loaded, all the questions she asks and the thoughts she has make her sound almost like a gold-digger. In a nutshell, I didn't like Tess. Carter is also way too rough around the edges, and I guess he is meant to be that way. Perhaps if the heroine would've been different he wouldn't come across that way.

This is a super cute Christmas novella. It's perfect for anyone who likes feel-good Hallmark like stories. Piper is not looking forward to the annual Christmas dance at Echo Lake. There've been 49 weddings that have been celebrated since the dance was first introduced and she doesn't plan to be # 50. Though her aunt and cousin may think otherwise.

Piper's plans for the night are ruined when her aunt gives her the perfect dress to wear for the dance. Guilt gets the better of her and so there goes Piper putting up her best face to endure all the single dances with the same guys she's been dancing with for the past 7 years. The truth is she's never gotten over Noah and how he left.

Noah returns to Echo Lake to check out a business venture. But he's uneasy because he's never forgotten Piper and it'd kill him to see that she's married and probably has like 6 kids.

But when his friend Luke tells him Piper is still single, Noah decides to get closure. When he dances with her at the event he realizes he's never gotten over her and he's willing to pick up where they left off but Piper doesn't want to risk it. She's worked too hard to move on and knows that giving him a day or two or giving him the chance he's asking for can only lead to a broken heart yet again.

Like I said, this reminded me of those Hallmark holiday movies. It's a clean romance with lots of of laughs. Yes. It's a bit predictable but still it's one I recommend for anyone who's in the mood for a holiday read. I promise you won't regret it.

You know that feeling when you find a book that you want everyone to read because then you can talk about it all the more? Well, that's this book for me.

Kate just graduated college and she decided to go to Paris and explore the city. Her goal is to find herself and make the decision(s) she needs. She doesn't have a lot of time to make up her mind and her savings, unfortunately for her, do have a limit. Nonetheless she's deemed spending whatever little money she has is worth it.

She's got great plans and is a bit frustrated because her time is Paris will soon come to an end and she's yet to find herself. She wants to find what makes her unique, and sets her apart from all other artists. She must find her voice. While she's at a coffee shop making plans, and trying to remember how to order a coffee latte in French, she's robbed of what money she had to spend. Fortunately not all her money is stolen. Then again she becomes nervous because she doesn't know how to explain to the cashier she no longer wants the coffee.

Before she can utter a word the handsome guy behind her pays for her coffee and invites her to sit with him. She obliges only because she wants to be nice to the guy that just saved her from an embarrassing moment, but she's also keeping her guard up because the handsome stranger could either be: a) a serial killer or, b) he simply wants to get in her pants. She's having none though. Before she knows it. Rylan, talks her into spending the rest of the afternoon with him. She's not stupid and knows his end game and she's game.

Rylan isn't sure he wants to do a lot of heavy lifting to get Kate in his bed. The thing is the way she looks at him is more than he can take. His flirtation turns into something more serious. Before he knows it he ends up proposing to her to spend together what time she has left in Paris. She agrees not knowing what she's really agreed to. What starts as a game ends up not being one. Rylan doesn't tell her about all that he is, or who he is. And by the time he figures he should've told her is a bit too late. No matter what he does the outcome will be the same --> Kate walking out on him.

"My pickup crap never worked on you."

She shook her head. "It worked so much better than you ever would have imagined. I just pretended it didn't because--"

He gave her a beat before asking, "What?"

"Because I knew you were going to break my heart."

While Rylan helps her discover who she is and shows her all the sexual pleasures he can think of, Kate teaches him to see inside himself and accept who he is. He can't run away from his destiny and all that makes him. He learns this last the hard way and is willing to do what it takes if she allows him back into her life.

"Thank you," she whispered. "You asshole. For everything."

That last part made me chuckle. This was an enjoyable read. There was plenty of sexy time as there was story. Even though the sequel "eight ways to Ecstasy" doesn't come out until April 2016, this is an HFN. I thought the end dragged on a little too long, and the characters seemed to like "humming" quite a bit when they did or were about to say something. Would I recommend this book? Of course! I will definitely be reading more of Jeanette Grey.

The Irresistible Rogue (Playful Brides, #4)I'll start by saying Valerie Bowman reminded me why I'm a historical/regency romance junkie. I'll read anything but if I'm given a choice between a historical/regency and a contemporary, I'll pass on the latter.

I love, love, love Rafe Cavendish. He's funny, smart, with a nice rear view (according to Lady Daphne, the heroine). I don't care that he isn't titled or that he isn't rich (and neither does Lady Daphne).

Though blue blood doesn't run through his veins, Rafe is close friends with the aristocracy. Well, he's actually married into the aristocracy except only few know of his secret marriage to Lady Daphne. It turns out that Lady Daphne's deceased brother had agreed that she help Rafe in a mission a year ago, but only if she married him. Daphne can't stay away from trouble and she wants to serve her country like the men do, so she accepted to marry Rafe for all the wrong reasons, though at the time they all made sense.

Now a year has passed. Her brother died on a mission that went wrong and she's still married to Rafe, but she wants an annulment. They were supposed to get an annulment a long time ago, but she'd been so furious with Rafe that time slipped through her fingers. The problem now is that she's ready to move on. Her family is hosting a ball for her as everyone expects her to become engage with Lord Fitzwell. Rafe shows up and asks for her help on another mission, and in return he'd her the annulment she so wants. Except she doesn't. Rafe's return brings back memories of the time they spent together a year ago, their almost kiss, and the blonde she found in his bed, who he swears he'd never met.

She agrees to help him yet again and only because her help will serve two purposes. One: they'll find out where her brother's killers are. Two: she'll get the annulment she doesn't want but needs anyway.

I had so much fun reading this book. I can't make up my mind on who is my favorite character. Valerie Bowman made me laugh so hard. Delilah, a precocious twelve-year old, is hilarious. I sure hope Valerie writes Delilah's story some day when she's all grown up. The other characters in the book, though their appearances weren't constant, they had such a great role I wanted to know more about them. I haven't read the other books in this series but now I will. I'd read a short story by Valerie Bowman before and I'd had her on my TBR forever. I'm glad I finally got around to it because she's now one of my go to authors for historical/regency romances.

The Irresistible Rogue is one story I'd recommend. Will I read it again? You bet I will.

Jess is minding her own business, filling in for his dad at work, when she receives a call she never once imagined she'd get. To her surprise, it turns out she has grandparents. Grandparents she never knew she had.

She doesn't waste any time in packing up her stuff, and flying from San Diego to Boston. She doesn't know how she'll introduce herself to her grandparents because she's positive they don't even know she exists.

She's prepared for everything except love and care. When she meets her grandparents they're nothing like her dad had described his parents. They don't question if she truly is their grand-daughter. They welcome her with open arms and she has no idea what to do.

She also finds that they have a tenant. A very good looking tenant named Rick, who just so happens to be a firefighter. She doesn't know what to make of it other than perhaps keep her distance because the guy is just too hot to handle.

Rick is surprised the same as Jess to learn his tenants have a grand-daughter. He wants to keep his distance but he can't. He wants to make sure Jess isn't there to take advantage of his landlords and so he sticks around. The thing is his plan backfires because the more he knows about Jess the closer he wants to get.

Controlled Burn is a sweet story, with some sexy time thrown in between. I don't really get the title because it doesn't exactly tie with the story, other than Rick is a hot firefighter. It doesn't even tie to the sexy time because there was very little of it, and it wasn't that hot either. But putting that aside, overall this is a nice contemporary romance around the holidays. The holidays don't take a big part in the story, Christmas is more kind of a background noise. The story is really centered around Jess and finding her grandparents, and bridging the gap her father built between them and her. It's also about Rick and Jess finding love. It seems both haven't been very lucky in love until now. There are several things I think were unresolved, unless the author's intent is for the reader to pick the scenario they prefer for the unanswered questions.

This book sucked. I had high hopes for it. I can’t even say I wasn’t in the mood to read this kind of book, because I totally was. I’d been on a historical & other contemporary binge and was looking forward to an erotic read. I should’ve just kept on my binge or picked up some other book.

The prologue hooked me. I liked both Ari and Jason. I thought there was something to them beyond their banter. But hell, was I wrong?

Jason seemed to have a boner 24/7. Ari couldn’t walk in the room without him wanting to have sex with her. You’d think this would be hot and make you want to keep reading. But the line between hot and repetitively boring got blurred in no time.

I didn’t keep a tally but I’d say about 90% of the book is sex and only about 10% story. Ari was annoying beyond belief. She claims to want to be independent and make her own decisions, but the way she goes about it it’s just um, not believable. I lost track of the number of times I rolled my eyes at her antics.

Jason was the more likable of the two but he also did not portray the character he was meant to be. He doesn’t want commitments, but he wants Ari. He’s sort of afraid of her brothers, then it turns out he envies them. His own brother shows up only for revenge and Jason can’t do anything about it because by the time he finds out is too late.

Secondary characters had their own POV and did things that did everything but help the story progress. All in all I’d say SKIP this book unless you don’t mind reading a sex scene in EVERY.SINGLE.CHAPTER.