Tag: B

Review:Trinity by Lauren Dane

On By MikaelaIn Paranormal Romance
The Particulars: Paranormal Romance, Samhain Publishing, available in print and e-book.
The Source: All Romance
The Grade: B-

The blurb:
Renee Parcell loves her life. Her smoothie/coffee cart business is successful, and she’s deeply in love with her boyfriend, Galen. He makes her laugh, he’s gainfully employed, and he satisfies her as only a sexy cat shifter can. He even puts the toilet seat down.
Yet they both sense something in the air. An anticipation that leaves them both unsettled.
Tall, blond and gorgeous Jack Meyers, Enforcer of National Pack and one of the most beautiful men Renee and Galen have ever seen. When he stumbles into Renee’s life, the riddle of their expectation is solved—Renee is Jack’s mate. What surprises them all is when the three of them touch, magick creates an unexpected triple bond of witch, cat and wolf.
Even as they learn to navigate the steamy intricacies of their bond, a threat looms over Renee. First in the form of resurrected memories, then in the shape of darker magicks someone is aiming at her. Set on stealing her inherent powers—even her life.
Renee can stand to lose almost anything, except her mates. But there seems to be no talking them out of laying everything on the line for her…

 The Review:
This review is a sign of the power of the re-read. I read Trinity for the first time last year, and I liked it. But, then out of the blue I was hit by an urge to read more of Lauren Dane’s Paranormal Romances, so I decided to re-read it.
I liked the World that Lauren Dane had created. It was intriguing and believable. From the close knitted way of both the jamboree and the National Pack, to the way not everyone loved Renee.
I also liked how well intigrated the supernatural was into the society. While they didn’t tell everyone they met that they were shifters, they didn’t struggle to keep it a secret.
I loved Renee. She was a wonderful mix of independence and generosity. I liked the glimpses I got of her past, even though they were heartwrenching.
Galen was hot, supportive and just the right kind of possessive. In other words: just like I want my alpha heros. Jack was hot, supportive, but I liked that he pushed Renee into opening up.
The plot was well written, and engaging. It hooked me from the start. I liked how Renee’s past and present got caught up with each other, but also how it gave rise to more questions, and more trouble. But I’ll admit that I wished that story had given a better glimpse into the reasoning of the villain.
That said, I had a lot of trouble with the swift transistions. One moment they were in a public place, the next they were somewere else and having sex. It might be that I simply missed the lines that took them home, but it was a bit confusing.

Review: The Shop of Shades and Secrets by Colleen Gleason

On By MikaelaIn Uncategorized
The Particulars: Contemporary Romance with a dash of mystery, Avid Press, avaible as ebook
The Source: Kobo
The Grade: B
The Blurb:
When Fiona Murphy inherits a small antiques shop from an old man she met only once, she’s filled with surprise, confusion and delight—and a little bit of terror at having a new responsibility in a life she prefers to be free and easy.

As she takes over ownership of the quaint shop, odd things begin to happen. Lights come on and off by themselves, even when they are unplugged…and there is a chilly breeze accompanied by the scent of roses even when the windows are closed.

H. Gideon Nath, III, is the stiff and oh-so-proper attorney who helps settle Fiona’s inheritance, and despite her flightiness and fascination with all things New Age, he finds himself attracted to her against his better judgment.

After she finds an unpleasant surprise in one of the shop’s closets, scares off an intruder in the store, and uses her skill at palmistry to read Gideon’s future–of which she seems to be a part–Fiona begins to realize that her free and easy life is about to change…whether she wants it to or no

The Review:
I read the first book in the Gardella Vampire Hunter series awhile ago, and couldn’t see what the fuss was. So, when I bought the To Die For bundle, primarily for the Jana DeLeon novel, I decided I might as well give Ms Gleason another try.
And I am glad I did.
This was a well written contemporary romance, with a dash of mystery and paranormal activity.
The story hooked me from the start, and I loved to the read about Fiona and Gideon. How their relationship developed, from a first tense meeting to a romance. On the outside, they were total opposites. Gideon was a stiff, proper attorney and Fiona was flamboyant and outspoken.
But I liked how they affected each other, in good ways. Gideon helped ground Fiona and Fiona helped Gideon relax.
What I liked was how their romance wasn’t easy. They both struggled with it, and wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do. Tossed into that mix, was the fact that someone was looking for something. There were plenty of unexpected plottwists, and I enjoyed how Fiona had to scramble a bit to get out of trouble, and each time the the villain got more and more desperate.
So what I didn’t like with this book… Fiona found the biggest clue to the mystery, purely by coincidence. Which felt a bit like cheating to me. I would have liked if her search had been a bit more active.

Review: Darkhouse by Karina Halle

On By MikaelaIn Uncategorized
The Particulars: Paranormal Suspense, Smashwords, available as e-book
The Source: Smashwords
The Grade: B+
The Blurb:
There’s always been something a bit off about Perry Palomino. Though she’s been dealing with a quarter-life crisis and post-college syndrome like any other twenty-something, she’s still not what you would call “ordinary.” For one thing, there’s her past which she likes to pretend never happened, and then there’s the fact that she sees ghosts.

Luckily for her, that all comes in handy when she stumbles across Dex Foray, an eccentric producer for an upcoming webcast on ghost hunters. Even though the show’s budget is non-existent and Dex himself is a maddening enigma, Perry is instantly drawn into a world that both threatens her life and seduces her with a sense of importance. Her uncle’s haunted lighthouse provides the perfect catalyst and backdrop for a mystery that unravels the threads of Perry’s fragile sanity and causes her to fall for a man, who, like the most dangerous of ghosts, may not be all that he seems

The Review:
Mandi at Smexybooks raved about Sins and Needles, which made me curious about Karina Halle. When I went to Smashwords, I discovered that this one was free so I downloaded it. I am glad I did.
I liked Perry a lot. She felt very normal with her complains about her boring job, her uncertainty what to do in the future and her family’s pressure. I also liked that she was scared to death while investigating the lighthouse.
This isn’t a romance, but I could sense something between Dex and Perry. I liked how she was torn between frustration that he didn’t call and hope that she might get a kick in her career.
The Oregon setting fit this story to the T, and I loved how the author used the history of the place to increase the suspense.
The plot hooked me from the start. The tension rose slowly, until I couldn’t keep on reading, since it was late and I feared I would get nightmares if I kept reading. Yes, it was that scary. Also, I’ll never look at flashbacks in the same way again. Normally, flashbacks makes me DNF a book, but not here. Here, the flashbacks were a vital part of story, and increased the sense of danger in the story.
That said, I felt that there was too many unanswered questions at the end of the story. But maybe I’ll find out more in the next book.

Review: Ten Ruby Trick by Julia Knight

On By MikaelaIn reviews

Ten Ruby Trick by Julia Knight:

The Particulars: Fantasy Romance, Carina Press, available as e-book
The Grade: B+
The Source: Kobo.
The Blurb:
Privateer Van Gast thrills in capturing treasure; delights in pulling off elaborate scams; and has an outrageous reputation with the ladies. But there is only one woman for him: fellow privateer Josie—seductive, brave and unpredictable. He’s hoping to make their relationship permanent, until he raids the wrong ship. Now slavers are stalking him, his crew is verging on mutiny and Josie has disappeared.
When she reappears with a new mark wanting Van Gast’s help running the ten ruby trick con, he senses trouble. It seems like Josie has joined up with mage-bound slavers to turn him over to their Master. Van Gast is about to take he biggest risk of all— and find out the true meaning of trust and betrayal.

The Review:

This book languished unread, until Carina Press offered the sequel at a discount this summer. And I decided to read this one first. I am glad I read it, and yes, I snapped up the sequel as well.

 The world was detailed, and felt very believable. I loved the nuances in this book. From the Pirates, and their sense of honor, to the crystal covered mages and the harsh hands of their rule.

The characters were both strong, yet at the same time they were deliciously flawed. I loved Josie for her courage, and Van Gast for his determination to figure out what was wrong. The other pirates were charming, but they weren’t perfect. They had temper, and they showed it.
The plot was fast paced, and filled with twists. What I liked was that the twists were the result of Van Gast’s actions. And while the Mages gave me the creeps, I loved the fact that the villain’s motivation made sense.
The only thing I wished was different, was that I missed Josie’s POV. The whole story was told for Van Gast’s or Holden’s POV which was both refreshing, and felt a bit odd.

Review: Angel by Johanna Lindsey

On By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations


The Particulars: Historical Romance, Avon, available as e-book and in print.
The Source: The bookshelf
The Grade: B
The Blurb:

Hoping to cool off a twenty-five-year-old feud between two neighboring families, Cassie Stuart only succeeds in pouring kerosene on the flames. Both sides have warned her to get out of Texas pronto. . .or they will burn her father’s ranch to the ground. What Cassie needs is a peacemaker but she ends up with a widow-maker instead.
He is called Angel, a ruggedly handsome hired gun with eyes as black as sin. Unwanted and unwelcomed by his ungrateful employer, he would just as soon leave Cassie to fend for herself. But a stubborn sense of duty, and a desire to taste the sweetness of her kiss steels Angel’s resolve to make Cassie want him, come hell or high water. . .and for more than his gun alone.


The Review: 
This is one of the classic, old skool, historical romances. I bought it years ago, and had forgotten about it when I found it in the wardrobe at my mum’s place. (My wardrobe there is BIG and filled with books.)
I know from experience that some books doesn’t survived the test of time. But I was happily surprised when I started to re-read this one.
I fell in love with the characters, especially Angel and Cassie. Cassie’s nosiness and tendency to poke her nose into other people’s business made me laugh. Angel had a core of honor that I liked, even though I had to blink away tears when .he spoke about his childhood.
And the setting.The setting felt well researched. It was interesting to get a glimpse of the wild west, and one that at least felt believable. In fact, it felt so believable that I sometimes could feel the burning sun, and taste the dust in the air.
The plot was fast paced. I admired Cassie for her refusal to back down, and do the sensible thing which would have been to head back to Wyoming. I loved how Cassie’s stubbornness kept Angel on his toes. There were plenty of plottwists that took me by surprise, yet in hindsight they made sense.
I enjoyed this book, for ¾ of the book ,but after awhile I started to get a bit annoyed, since it felt  like their road to their HEA was stretched out a bit too long. But it was a good read, and one I plan to re-read.

Review: Yorkshire by Lynne Connolly

On By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations, reviews

The Particulars: Historical Romance, Samhain, available as e-book and in print
The Source: Amazon freebie ( also available at BN and Sony)
The Grade: B+
The blurb:
Rose Golightly is a country girl who thinks her life will continue on its comfortable course, but a series of events changes that for good. On a visit to the ancestral estate of Hareton Abbey, Richard Kerre, Lord Strang, enters her life. A leader of society, a man known for extravagance in dress and life, Richard is her fate. And she is his.

Richard is to marry a rich, frigid woman in a few weeks, and has deliberately closed his heart to love. Then a coach accident throws his wounded body into Rose’s arms.

With one kiss, Richard and Rose discover in each other the passion they thought they’d never find.

But the accident that brought them together was an act of sabotage. Somewhere, in the rotting hulk of a once beautiful stately home, a murderer is hiding. Richard and Rose set out to solve the mystery, and find the layers of scandal go deeper than simply determining who is guilty. And that doing the right thing could separate them—forever.

The review:

Lynne Connolly have been on my To check out list for awhile, so when I discovered that Samhain offered the first book in the Richard and Rose series as a freebie, I decided to download it.
And I am glad I did. This story hooked me from the start. I loved the setting. The derelict manor, and how she with small touches showed how bleak life had been there for Lady Harcourt.
I also liked the down to earth way Rose and her family is described. They are in the upper echelons of the middle class, and they are happy to be middle class.
This was an stark contrast compared to Richard and his family. They are nobles, and it showed.
I could understand the worry Lizzie felt when she realised that Rose was attracted to Richard, since Richard had a certain reputation. Not to mention that he was engaged.
A lot of the enjoyment with this book stems from the characters.
Most of the focus is on romance between Rose and Richard. How they struggled with the attraction they felt to each other, and how they decided to act on it. I liked that both of them knew that their relationship would have an hard path towards their HEA.
Then there is Rose’s family. I loved quiet feelings between Jacob and Martha. The bubbly excitement of her sister Lizzie.
That said, this novel has its weak spots. While the romance is fascinating, the mystery subplot felt a bit predictable, both when it came to what happened, and who caused it. The major problem I had was that it felt likethey stumbled upon the biggest clue purely by coincidence.
Still I do plan to read more books by Lynne Connolly in the future.

Review: Lady Maggie’s Secret Scandal by Grace Burrowes

On By MikaelaIn Uncategorized

The Particulars: Historical Romance, Sourcebooks, available in print and as e-book
The Source: Pre-ordered at Allromance
The Grade: B
The Blurb
Maggie Windham, oldest of the Windham sisters and a by-blow from His Grace’s pre-marital wild oats, finds herself in desperate needs of an investigator to help her retrieve a missing reticule. Benjamin Hazlit knows the Windham family secrets, and can be trusted to keep them to himself, so Maggie turns to Benjamin, though it means ignoring his too-broad shoulders, his too-knowing smile… and his too-skilled kisses.

As Benjamin starts the search for Maggie’s missing purse, he realizes two things: First, whatever was in that purse, its loss has Maggie not just rattled, but terrified. Second, Benjamin will go to any lengths to see Maggie’s peace of mind restored, even if it means he must keep himself in very close proximity to the shy, secretive lady who says she wants nothing to do with him.

The Review:
After the disappointment I felt over Lady Sophia’s Christmas Gift, I hesitated but I decided to purchase it. In fact, I did more than purchase it. I decided to use one of Allromance ebooks 10th for free discounts, and pre-ordered it. And l am glad it did.
This book reminded me why Grace Burrowes is on my auto buy list. It has everything I want in a good novel. Both Benjamin and Maggie are fascinating characters. None of them are intrested in waltzing around in ball rooms.
One thing that I like is that the fact that Maggie is on the shelf. She have fought for her independence, and won it. It was fascinating to see how the wall of isolation she had built around her to keep her secrets hidden came crumbling down when Benjamin started to poke his nose into her life.
Benjamin is the perfect compliment for Maggie. He is curious, strong and trustworth. It was touching to watch how he gradually coaxed out Maggie her secrets.
But what I liked the most were how tightly intervoven Benjamin’s search for Maggie’s purse and their romance was. Often, the mystery plot feels tacked on but not in this case. No, in this novel Benjamin’s search is what propels the novel forward.
I also liked that the romance developed gradaully through the book, and that even when they have revealed the secrets to each other their path isn’t easy.  
The end was touching on so many levels, and changed a lot of the family dynamics within the Windham family.
So what I didn’t like.
I had a lot of trouble with believing that Benjamin could keep the fact that he was titled a secret from a big part of the Ton. Yes, he might be from Cumbria but still. I thought there were some sort of calendar that listed all eligible Lords? Or maybe I am mixing things up.

Review:Mad Maria’s Daughter by Patricia Rice

On By MikaelaIn reviews

The Particulars: Historical Romance, Regency Reads, e-book.
The Source: Fictionwise
The Grade: B+
The Blurb:
Daphne Templeton knows society has stigmatized her because of her mad mother, so she decides to leave London and live with her Aunt Agatha in the country. On the way she’s abducted by a highwayman, whom she insists see her to safety. Meeting neighbor Lord Griffin, Daphne finds him vaguely familiar and wonders at the connection between him and the highwayman. But Lord Griffin’s twin is dead-isn’t he?
The review
This is another book from the unread pile, or in this case folder, that I purchased months ago. It languished unread until a couple of days ago when I suddenly craved a Patricia Rice book. I had two unread historical romances and I decided to read this one.
And I am glad I did.
This book was a hoot, from the open scene to the end.
A big reason was Daphne. She knew that she was one the shelf, and she accepted it. More than that, it allowed her to be blunt, and outspoken. She argued with Evan, and Gordon. I kept wondering who she would pick: the proper Gordon, or Evan that was a rogue.
Mixed in with the romance was a good dose of mystery. The mystery propelled a lot of the plot. From Daphne’s arrival to the end. I giggled when Daphne poked her nose into places a proper lady would have stayed away from. Evan and Gordon got a bit exparated at her, but she had a heart of gold. She coax the truth out of Evan and Gordon. And promptly comes up with a plan to lure out the villain.
And of course everything goes wrong. I loved how all of them got twisted into lies and part truths. There were moments of hilarity, like when Gordon’s grandfather showed up. Not to mention the
arrival of Daphne’s protective father and brother.
The end.. was surprising, and fitting. I felt compassion with Daphne since that must have been her worst nightmare.
So what I didn’t like. Even though I admired Daphne for her courage, it sometimes felt like she stepped over the the thin line between being brave, and being reckless.
Still, I am definitely buying more of Patricia Rice regencies in the future, since this book was a blast.

Review: Copper Lake Secrets by Marilyn Pappano

On By MikaelaIn reviews

The Particulars: Romantic Suspense, Harlequin, available as e-book
The Source: Purchased at Allromance
The Grade: B-
The Blurb:
 “What happened that summer?”

The ill-fated vacation Reece Howard spent at her grandparents’ Georgia home long ago changed her in ways her mind still refuses to remember. She forgot about the man she once knew as “Jones,” but she can’t ignore the flashes of desire she now feels toward him. With her family estranged, she doesn’t have a good reason to return to Fair Winds. Until now.

Jones is looking for answers…answers he can find only at the plantation he left behind years before. By surprise, he discovers Reece there—all grown up and beautiful—never imagining he might be able to help chase away her demons. And neither of them expects an attraction as combustible as the secrets surrounding them.

But falling in love might be the most dangerous thing they can do…

The Review:
I love Marilyn Pappano’s Copper Lake books. I don’t rush out and buy the latest immediately, since I am not keeping track of her release schedule, but I buy them when I am in the mood for Romantic Suspense, set in the South. This book is no different. Or actually, it is. It has the additional element of a haunted plantation filled with secrets.Which is another thing that I love.
The atmosphere gave me goosebumps. Part of it was because it could be taken from a historical novel, set in the south. From the house, to Miss Willa’s manners. Just about everything.
It was nailbiting to follow Reece and Jones search for the truth of what happened that summer 15 years earlier. Their search shed new light on what happened all those years ago. From Reece arrival, to the foggy memories that she have dreamt nightmares about.
The characters felt like mirror images of each other. They were estranged from their families, both of them had lost something during their Summer in Copper Lake. It was touching to read about their unfolding romance. 
So what I didn’t like. If this had been release as a Paranormal Suspense, I would have given it an A. Since it is published as a Romantic Suspense, I cannot give it an A. Why? The romance between Reece and Jones are sweet and touching, but there is no obstacles for them to overcome in their relationship. Or if it is, it was swallowed by the Suspense part of the book.
Still, I enjoyed it and I plan to read more by Marilyn Pappano in the future.

Review: Becoming Miss Becky by Shannon Stacey

On By MikaelaIn reviews

The particulars:  Historical Romance, Samhain, available as e-book and in print.
The Source: Purchased, but cannot remember were.
The Grade: B

Blurb:
A sheriff with a stone-cold reputation. An innocent madam hell-bent on disturbing his peace. Who will be the first to give in?
Rebecca Hamilton passed through life as bland as biscuits—until the day she buried her father and fled out West with a fortune in stolen jewelry. She arrives in Gardiner, Texas to find her aunt has bequeathed to her the only whorehouse in town.
With no other prospects except a proposal from a tall, dark stranger wearing a badge, Rebecca decides to embrace her vibrant aunt’s legacy and never again live under the thumb of an overbearing man.
After years of cultivating a reputation as a ruthless lawman, Adam Caldwell can’t believe he’s offered to marry the quiet, rather plain new madam. Even more perplexing is the fact she turns him down, choosing instead to become a sass-talkin’, sashay-walkin’ vision in feathers and lace.
With an innocent madam wanting him to teach her to be as wicked as she looks and rowdy townsfolk split over the scandal, the sheriff figures his cup of troubles is about full. But a man from Rebecca’s past catches up with her, and Adam has to decide just how much he’s willing to sacrifice for the woman who refuses to give up on becoming Miss Becky.

The Review:

I read and enjoyed the Kowalski books by Shannon Stacey, so when I discovered that she had written historicals, I decided to buy one of them.  It took awhile before I read it, but in the end I am glad I did.  This was an fun read. It was fascinating to follow Adam’s and Becky’s relationship. From the start, when she is a bland mouse, through her determination to rule her own life, to their HEA. 
I loved the characters.  Becky might look like a  mouse, but she have a lot of courage.  Both when it comes to travelling alone all the way to Texas, and the way she refused to give in.  I admired  the way she refused to let anyone decide how she should dress and behave.  It made sense. She had blended in all her life, and now she didn’t have to.  And then there is the fact that she is living in a whorehouse.  Even if she isn’t a whore.

And Adam. He was a fascinating mix of stubbornness, jealousy and honor.  He was ruthless when it comes to keep order in town.    And keeping order was a part of the plot.  Since Becky’s arrival split the town in two. Some liked her, some didn’t. 

All this took place in the town of Gardiner ( the name made me giggle, since it mean curtains in Swedish).  The setting felt realistic, from the biblethumping characters ( some of them) to the Mercantile and the horsetrough.  I could sometimes smell the horses, and the dust in the air.

So what I didn’t like. Sometimes, it felt… shallow.  I don’t expect  to read a philosophic essay when I  open an e-book, but I do expect to feel some sort of connection to the characters. 
Yes, I enjoyed the book, the banter, the setting.  But I didn’t feel a tug at my heart.  Still, it was a fun read, and what I needed right now.