Tag Archives: Contemporary

New Release: High Risk by Vivian Arend

Leave a reply

15810148

LIFELINE: an elite search-and-rescue squad based out of Banff, Alberta. Specializing in high-risk rescue missions, this team goes wherever the job takes them…

Rebecca James was once revered for her devil-may-care attitude and backcountry survival skills. But ever since she lost her partner in a fatal accident, patches of her memory have been missing. And until she can recall those final, tragic moments before the accident, she can’t move on.

Since Marcus Landers was permanently injured during a mission, all his energies have been focused on his Lifeline team. When Becki—whom he had an intense affair with seven years ago—arrives in Banff, he’s inspired to reignite the spark they once had. Their mutual ardor slowly awakens Becki’s dormant, haunting memories.

New truths surface until Becki must at last confront her greatest fear. Remembering the past might mean a future without the man she loves…

New Release: Always on My Mind by Bella Andre

Leave a reply

16180457

Lori “Naughty” Sullivan finally falls in love in ALWAYS ON MY MIND, the new book in Bella Andre’s New York Times and USA Today bestselling series about the Sullivan family.

After a tragic loss three years ago, Grayson Tyler left his life in New York City behind and started over in the rolling hills of the California coast. He’s convinced himself that all he’ll ever need again is the blue sky, a thousand acres of pasture, and the crashing waves of the ocean. Until one day, Lori Sullivan barges into his life and promptly blows his emotionless and solitary world to shreds, driving him crazy as only a woman nicknamed “Naughty” can. But will Lori be able to convince him that it’s safe to love her…and that forever isn’t actually out of reach?

ARC Review: The Wanderer by Robyn Carr

1 Reply

The Wanderercover22355-medium

Robyn Carr

Harlequin

Pub Date   Mar 26 2013

Description

From Robyn Carr, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the popular Virgin River novels, comes Thunder Point-the highly anticipated new series that will make you laugh, make you sigh, and make you fall in love with a small town filled with people you’ll never forget.

Nestled on the Oregon coast is a small town of rocky beaches and rugged charm. Locals love the land’s unspoiled beauty. Developers see it as a potential gold mine. When newcomer Hank Cooper learns he’s been left an old friend’s entire beachfront property, he finds himself with a community’s destiny in his hands.

Cooper has never been a man to settle in one place, and Thunder Point was supposed to be just another quick stop. But Cooper finds himself getting involved with the town. And with Sarah Dupre, a woman as complicated as she is beautiful.

With the whole town watching for his next move, Cooper has to choose between his old life and a place full of new possibilities. A place that just might be home.

My Thoughts

I’m a huge fan of Robyn Carr’s other series and I was scared to start another one. I mean really, Virgin River was soooooo good. What if this one didn’t match up?

Well, hell, boy was I wrong.

This book was amazing! The small town setting along the cove along with the fantastic array of characters set up a series that’s sure to be a hit. Yes, it’s a slight spin off of her original series, but it’s a mind of its own with the familiar tone that Ms. Carr loves. Cooper and Sarah are the main couple, but there are many other characters, couples, and story lines that take hold and really show us readers what an amazing mind Ms. Carr has. She set up an amazing series in a town that I want to live in.

Cooper is a lost soul, one who after war has lived on his own without a set address. He’s come to Thunderpoint to say goodbye to an old friend and instead finds a woman, a friend, and a family in this small town. Sarah has come to Thunderpoint to start over after a horrible marriage and because she wants to take care of her teenage brother. I loved the chemistry between these two and the way they not only took care of each other, but the people around them.

I loved the side stories of the teenagers who I hope get their own book when they’re old enough. Ms. Carr has done it before, so I can’t wait. There was also and older couple who I loved and a few others that I know are coming up in the series.

The Wanderer showed us how much Ms. Carr can show us how a series can be a home for us. I am in love with it and I can’t wait for more.

I received an ARC of this novel via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

–Review by Nicole

 RS-sample1Magic book

ARC Review: Medium Well by Meg Benjamin

2 Replies

Medium Wellcover24895-medium

Meg Benjamin

PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL / Signet Romance, DAW

Pub Date   Feb 5 2013

Description

Danny Ramos has always had a gift when it comes to selling houses; it’s as if the homes talk to him. When his jealous boss, Araceli, assigns him to an old and neglected carriage house, he discovers that perhaps his abilities are more than simple intuition. Danny sees and feels the history of the house and the bloody murder that happened there while Biddy, his assistant, feels nothing. If Danny’s going to sell this house, prove to his boss that he isn’t crazy, save his job, and get the girl, he’s going to need all the help he can find, especially when the demon inhabiting the house possesses a client.  Lucky for Danny, his sixth sense runs in the family.

My Thoughts

When I first heard Meg Benjamin was doing a paranormal element romance, I was worried since I loved her contemporary series. But after reading Medium Well, I’ll take back any worries I had. Meg Benjamin writes characters we love and want more of—that’s why I can read anything she writes.

Danny and Biddy had a chemistry that swelled, not burned. I liked that they didn’t jump into bed the first time they met, but rather Danny didn’t notice her. Yes, he was a cad, but quickly grew out of that. Thank God. Biddy was unique—and totally rocked. I hated her sister and I hope that she isn’t the heroine of Danny’s brother’s book. Biddy just wanted to be herself, but couldn’t because of guilt and responsibilities. What I loved was that as soon as Danny found out, he wanted her to be her not what she felt she needed to be.

The paranormal aspect of this novel left me in chills, even though I’ve read scarier. I loved the familiar history and the suspense that came with it. I don’t know if I’d have reacted any differently than Danny when faced with those choices.

Medium Well is a great start to a new trilogy by Meg Benjamin and I can’t wait to read the other two books in the series. If you like a lighter paranormal romance with a character driven plot, then Medium Well is for you.

I received an ARC of this novel via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

–Review by Nicole

 RS-4

ARC Review: Playing the Part by Darcy Daniel

Leave a reply

Playing the Partcover24521-medium

Darcy Daniel

Carina Press

Pub Date: Feb 4th, 2013

Description

Anthea Cane is a successful actress—well, action star. Her films are mostly about how hot she looks silhouetted by fiery explosions. But Anthea is determined to prove she’s more than just a body. With the role of a lifetime up for grabs—a serious adaptation of her favorite novel—Anthea sets off to her small hometown in the name of research.

Cole Daniel is a blind farmer with no patience for divas, especially one who mercilessly teased him as a young boy. When Anthea shows up using a fake name and pestering him into letting her stay, he can’t pass up the opportunity to torment her just a little.

But Anthea won’t let the stubborn farmer deter her from her goal, even if he is hotter than any man she’s ever met. Cole finds his form of payback less than satisfying when Anthea keeps turning the tables on him, proving her mettle and gaining his respect. Will Anthea’s research land her a man, as well as the part?

My Thoughts

Playing the Part is the first book I’ve read by this author and showed a lot of promise. When Anthea finds herself in need of a job to change her image, she uses Cole to get there.

I really don’t know how to write this review because I’m not a fan of relationships based solely on lies. Yes, the chemistry was off the charts and the characters eventually grew up and changed to act like adults, but for most of the story, I didn’t connect.

However, I did read this book in one sitting, because despite all of that, it told a decent story that I wanted to know how it ended. Each character grew into someone I could like, it just took a while to get there.

Playing the Part is a nice novel and I will be looking into more books by this author, even if I didn’t like the plot based on lies.

I received an ARC of this novel via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

–Review by Nicole

RS-3