After many season pass her by without the hint of actual love, the super wealthy Minerva Dodger embraces her spinsterhood. But the idea of a club called The Nightingale might be a way to blow off some steam. She can mask her identity while getting some much needed pleasure…based solely on desire, not her dowry. Meanwhile, the Duke of Ashebury (called Ashe), a worldly adventurer and photographer (read: sexy rake) is there. He will do … Continue reading Falling into Bed with a Duke by Lorraine Heath →
This is one of the most difficult reviews I have ever written–simply because I have such mixed feelings about Sarah M. Anderson’s The Nanny Plan. When I was reading the book, there were actual moments that the love story put a cheesy grin on my face. And there were some elements that were executed really well. But then there were moments, after I finished the book, that I couldn’t help but cringe at the some … Continue reading The Nanny Plan by Sarah M. Anderson →
Chance of a Lifetime is the third in the Anderson Brothers trilogy. I chose it at random, being unfamiliar with the series, but once I’d read it, I immediately sought out the earlier books. This series entry stands on its own very well. There is no sense that the reader is missing any vital background, but some details (e.g., Michael’s dogs) are definitely teasers. I really enjoyed this novel. It worked for me on a … Continue reading Chance of a Lifetime by Marissa Clarke →
I think almost everyone has felt to be the outsider at some point in their lives and I think everyone would love a second chance. In Secrets of a Scandalous Heiress, Theresa Romain brings together two outsiders who live in the shadows of the glittering ton during the Regency and gives them the opportunity for second chances. At the beginning of the story, heiress Augusta Meredith is posing as a cheerful and not wealthy widow … Continue reading Secrets of a Scandalous Heiress by Theresa Romain →
So immediately after I read the glorious synopsis of this novella, I gleefully messaged every friend I thought would care about how I was currently reading a corpse-possession romance novel. Unfortunately, despite my initial delight, the “reaper trapped in her estranged husband’s body” element ended up being my main issue with what could have been a solid supernatural romance. First off, though, let the record reflect that I don’t consider reapers to be outside the … Continue reading The Resurrection of Sam Sloan by Erin Quinn →
This year is my year to review stuff that I am mostly unfamiliar with. I tried to choose titles that no one else had yet signed up for (all but one), and lest you think me puffing off my virtue, I’ll admit that just about every slot for historical anything was filled before I even saw the list. But—what the hey—I’m up for a challenge! “One Little Kiss” is a novella that takes place in … Continue reading One Little Kiss by Robin Covington →
I applaud the effort but “Desert Heat” didn’t work that well for me. Novellas can be a difficult format to write. Longer than a short story, not quite a novel. With a short story, you can do a tightly focused tale focused on a single incident or subject. A novel gives you a chance to explore a story – dig into the characters or plot, even add sub-characters and sub-plots. With a novella, it’s hard … Continue reading Desert Heat by Merline Lovelace →
Before reading this, I had only heard good things about this novella. Scratch that – amazing things. So I was prepared to be either blown away or severely disappointed. Thankfully, it was the former. This book induces Good Book Noise™ something fierce. It is both deeply harrowing and one of the sweetest books I have read in a long time – and both those aspects are melded seamlessly throughout the story. The story is set … Continue reading Let It Shine by Alyssa Cole →
I bought this book on the release date in March 2015, but then put off reading it. Unsure why as I’ve really enjoyed all of the author’s earlier books. Perhaps it’s the fact that this book is the last of a multi-author series (Bachelor Auction) and I didn’t feel like reading all of the other authors’ contributions. Or the fact the book is also the first book in Latham’s Wild Montana Nights series and each … Continue reading One Night with Her Bachelor by Kat Latham →
I’ve slowly been dipping my toe in the contemporary romance pool, and I’ve read another Kat Latham novella before, so I felt safe taking this one on to review. Plus the idea of a railroad engineer heroine and a park ranger hero (one of my high school dream jobs!) made Three Nights Before Christmas even more intriguing. Spoilers full steam ahead! (train pun #1) The book opens with Lacey starting her very last hours in … Continue reading Three Nights Before Christmas by Kat Latham →
I have been in a major reading rut lately, and have had a hard time finding a story I could get lost in. I picked up “Her Secret Prince” because it was (a) short, and (b) combined the second-chance/reunited lovers trope with a secret royal heir, neither of which are my usual fare. This story is the second of four novellas in the Royal Holiday series. Each book is written by a different author, and … Continue reading Her Secret Prince by Madeline Ash →
