Review: And Then Forever by Shirley Jump

Posted July 29, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: And Then Forever
Series: Fortune’s Island #1
Author: Shirley Jump
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: July 28, 2015
Publisher: TKA Distributions
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Love is an extravagance Darcy Williams can’t afford. She prefers the simple life, which includes waitressing at The Love Shack and avoiding temptation. But when a forbidden part of her past steps off the ferry, her safe, guarded existence is turned upside down.

Kincaid Foster has never gotten over his first love. When he sees the wild, beautiful blonde again, dancing her way around The Love Shack, the memories of Darcy’s soft skin, gentle touch, and heated kisses come rushing back. As the privileged son of a wealthy family, Kincaid was too young to stand up to his overbearing father when he and Darcy were together. Now, he’s back on the island—free of the family shackles—and the chiseled, big-time lawyer wants a second chance.

But, Darcy made a promise to keep a secret from Kincaid—a secret that is now a six-year-old girl who looks just like her daddy. If Kincaid finds out about their daughter, Darcy could lose everything. But, she can’t resist the man who stole her heart all those years ago. And it doesn’t take long before both of them realize that anything can happen on a hot summer night.

Read on for my thoughts on And Then Forever. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Her Stand-In Boyfriend by Kelly Jamieson

Posted July 29, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Her Stand-In Boyfriend
Series:
Author: Kelly Jamieson
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: July 28, 2015
Publisher: Entangled Select Contemporary
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

This boyfriend business is about to get a whole lot more personal…

Event planner Lexi Mannis has a busy life in Chicago—too busy to have a boyfriend. For special occasions, she has her Stand-In Boyfriend, Mac Northrop. Mac offers (almost) all the perks of a real boyfriend—furniture assembly, a date to big events, and someone to cook for. But they’ve never been “with benefits”…until one wickedly hot night crosses the line.

Mac’s been in love with Lexi for ages. He knows he should probably end it, but dammit, he just can’t. When things get deliciously down and dirty, Mac is certain that he’s made the leap out of the friend zone…until Lexi decides she wants to remain friends. With benefits.

What Lexi doesn’t know is that she’s running out of time. And if she won’t promote Mac to Real Boyfriend, she might just lose her Stand-In Boyfriend to someone else.

Read on for my thoughts on Her Stand-In Boyfriend. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Dragon Fall by Katie MacAlister

Posted July 29, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Dragon Fall
Series: Black Dragons #1
Author: Katie macAlister
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Published: July 28, 2015
Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

YOU FLIRT WITH FIRE…

For Aoife Dakar, seeing is believing-and she’s seen some extraordinary things. It’s too bad no one else believes that she witnessed a supernatural murder at an outdoor fair. Returning to the scene for proof, Aoife encounters a wise-cracking demon dog-and a gloriously naked man who can shift into a dragon and kiss like a god. Now thrust into a fantastical world that’s both exhilarating and terrifying, Aoife is about to learn just how hot a dragon’s fire burns.

WHEN YOU DATE A DRAGON

Kostya has no time for a human woman with endless questions, no matter how gorgeous or tempting she is. He must break the curse that has splintered the dragon clans before more of his kind die. But his powerful attraction to Aoife runs much deeper than the physical-and there may be more to her than even his sharp dragon eyes can see. To survive the coming battle for the fate of his race, he needs a mate of true heart and soul.

Read on for my thoughts on Dragon Fall. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Baby’s Got Bite by Candace Havens

Posted July 29, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Baby’s Got Bite
Series: Take It Like A Vamp #2
Author: Candace Havens
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Published: July 28, 2015
Publisher: Entangled Covet
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Some consequences bite . . . big time.

Bennett Langdon has a firm no-relationships policy. Still, it doesn’t stop her from hooking up with a super-sexy bad boy at her best friend’s wedding. After all, it’s only one night—what harm could it do? Ten weeks later, a pregnant Bennett has her answer…

Linc Monahan can’t believe it. This wasn’t supposed to happen. He’s a werewolf, and shouldn’t be able to father a child with a human. Now Linc has to find some way to tell Bennett that not only do werewolves exist, but she’s about to have a baby with one.

But when word of their surprise conception gets out, the fur hits the fan. There are people who don’t want this baby to be born—even if it means killing. Now Bennett and Linc aren’t just fighting each other . . . they’re fighting for their lives.

Read on for my thoughts on Baby’s Got Bite. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Take It Like A Vamp by Candace Havens

Posted July 29, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Take It Like A Vamp
Series: Take It Like A Vamp #1
Author: Candace Havens
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Published: July 21, 2012
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: Owned, Kindle Edition
Cover Description:

Vampire Nick Christos might’ve been born in the Middle Ages, but the good old days seem tame compared to the last eight years he’s spent ruling the Supernatural Council. His only respite is with his cute neighbor Casey Meyers, a woman he wants more than any undead man should. Sure, he’s forced to take a cold shower after every encounter, but there’s no way he’ll test his own strength by getting too close to a human, and he’s not willing to risk her life—not with bloodthirsty family on the prowl out to ruin Nick’s life.

When said Nick’s kin shows up, the innocent Casey is caught in the middle of a centuries old fight, and Nick’s biggest fear is realized. Now, instead of keeping his hands off his neighbor, he’ll risk everything to save the human he’s come to love.

Read on for my thoughts on Take It Like A Vamp. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Never Die Alone by Lisa Jackson

Posted July 28, 2015 by Marsha in Mystery / 0 Comments

Title: Never Die Alone
Series: New Orleans #8, A Bentz/Montoya Mystery
Author: Lisa Jackson
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Published: July 28, 2015
Publisher: Kensington Books, Zebra
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Never Drop Your Guard

It should be the best day of their lives. Too bad they never get to see it. On the cusp of their twenty-first birthday, he strikes. His victims are always twins, their ritualistic murders planned in exquisite detail, down to the moment when they breathe their last together. . .

Never Close Your Eyes

An innocent man is in prison, and Brianna Hayward needs to convince the New Orleans police. Not just to free her cousin, but to save others who will suffer until the true culprit is found. Reporter Jason Bridges is intrigued. It’s a story that could make his career–as long as Brianna never guesses the secret in Jason’s past. . .

. . .Or You’ll Never See Him Coming

Detective Rick Bentz had doubts about the “21” conviction when he worked the case in L.A. Now the real murderer may be loose in Bentz’s backyard. Twin sisters from LSU have vanished, days before their birthday. And as Bentz and his partner, Reuben Montoya, desperately follow the trail, a killer prepares to unite his next victims in death forever.

Read on for my thoughts on Never Die Alone. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: A Touch of Chardonnay by Pamela Gibson

Posted July 28, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: A Touch of Chardonnay
Series: Love In Wine Country
Author: Pamela Gibson
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: July 28, 2015
Publisher: Entangled Bliss
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Cultural archeologist Lindsay Reynoso is in a small seaside town in California to evaluate an old mansion. When the home’s owner shows up to “help” the evaluation along, Lindsay is furious. Especially as the owner is former bad-boy tennis star Christopher Brandt…her one-time fling and the father of Lindsay’s son. Only he doesn’t know it.

As far as Chris is concerned, the old mansion is tied to a past he’s better off leaving behind. He’d rather bulldoze the thing and move on. If only his gorgeous consultant would let him. Even while fighting over the demolition, the chemistry that once brought them together is smoldering stronger than ever.

But honesty is very important to Chris, and Lindsay has an eight-year-old secret.

Read on for my thoughts on A Touch of Chardonnay. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Summer of Fire by Kitty Pilgrim

Posted July 28, 2015 by Marsha in Mystery / 0 Comments

Title: Summer of Fire
Series: John Sinclair Mystery #3
Author: Kitty Pilgrim
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Published: May 19, 2015
Publisher: River Grove Books
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

When nature takes charge, sparks fly

On the beautiful island of Capri, a royal princess begins a secret love affair, oblivious to the dangers that surround her.

Internationally renowned novelist Kitty Pilgrim chronicles a modern thriller based in the historic volcanic region of Southern Italy.

Her characters, archaeologist John Sinclair and oceanographer Cordelia Stapleton, team up once again for a tale of glamour and romance that spans every level of society—from the dangerous criminal underworld of Naples to the jet set of Europe.

Read on for my thoughts on Summer of Fire. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: MacKenzie Fire by Elle Casey

Posted July 27, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: MacKenzie Fire
Series: Shine Not Burn #2
Author: Elle Casey
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: July 28, 2015 (original June 2014)
Publisher: Montlake Romance
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Still bitter about his failed engagement and life on the family ranch, Ian MacKenzie has been cranky for nearly three years. His brother Mack’s married bliss hasn’t helped, and now his pregnant sister-in-law’s airhead best friend is coming for a visit.

Candice arrives to help with the new baby, even though it means swapping her Louboutins for snow boots and her flat irons for flannel. She’s far from prepared for the freezing cold and she certainly wasn’t expecting the sizzling heat of her attraction to a certain green-eyed cowboy. Ian may be rude and infuriating, but he looks sinfully good in those jeans of his.

The two clash at every turn, but there’s one thing they can both agree on—if they do give in to their undeniable chemistry, then it’s just a fling…because he’s a country boy and she’s a city girl, and their zip codes are on opposite sides of the map.

Read on for my thoughts on MacKenzie Fire. No true spoilers, promise.

And The Winners of the 2015 RWA Awards Were…

Posted July 27, 2015 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 0 Comments

May I wish a warm congratulations to all the winners of the various Romance Writers of America awards. And may I wish an equally warm congratulations to all of the nominees as well – to my mind, as a reader, it seems an amazing thing to be nominated.

I read a lot of books, all different types of genre – so I don’t have any trouble picking up something that I’ve not tried before. I got to thinking while watching the live stream of the awards (well, most aside from a few tech. difficulties *cringe*) ,and following the chatter over on Twitter that it might actually be fun to read and review the 2015 RWA award novels. There’s a variety of length and genre, and best of all romance is at the center. So that is a project to come. But in the meantime, I’m going to list the Categories and the amazing authors who were awarded for their work this year… not only an acknowledgment of the novels and their authors, but a handy list to go by as I read and review those winners.

Here are the 2015 RWA winning authors and their novels:

Best First Book – Run To You by Clara Kensie

Contemporary Romance: Long – Baby, It’s You by Jane Graves

Contemporary Romance Mid-Length – One In A Million by Jill Shalvis

Contemporary Romance Short – A Texas Rescue Christmas by Caro Carson

Erotic Romance – The Saint by Tiffany Reisz

Historical Romance: Long Romance – Fool Me Twice by Meredith Duran

Historical Romance: Short Romance – Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare

Inspirational Romance – Deceived by Irene Hannon

Paranormal Romance – Evernight by Kristen Callihan

Romance Novella – His Road Home by Anna Richland

Romantic Suspense – Concealed in Death by J. D. Robb (Nora Roberts)

Young Adult Romance – Boys Like You by Juliana Stone

And by now we all know that Carole Mortimer was awarded the RWA Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award... and so very well deserved. Ms Mortimer is an amazing author and I have spent many years in her stories – and hope to have many more enjoyable hours with the products of her imagination.

Review: Shine Not Burn by Elle Casey

Posted July 26, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Shine Not Burn
Series: Shine Not Burn #1
Author: Elle Casey
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: July 28, 2015 (original July 2013)
Publisher: Montlake Romance
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Andie Marks, known as “Party Girl” in her college days, is now a whip-smart lawyer on the fast track to success. Determined to move on from a bad break-up, she joins her girlfriends for a wild bachelorette weekend in Las Vegas, promising to let her hair down just this once.

Vegas is a blur of cocktails and blackjack, and in the middle of it all she meets Mack, a real-life cowboy with a winning hand and an irresistible body. They get lucky in the casino and luckier back at the hotel, a hot night of passion that was definitely not part of Andie’s life plan.

By dawn Mack is gone and all she has to remember their one-night romance is a hangover and a pile of casino chips. Or so she thinks…

Read on for my thoughts on Shine Not Burn. No true spoilers, promise.