Minis: Christie Ridgway, Jessica Sims, Carolyn Crane, Meljean Brook, Mary Balogh, Chris Owen

Since this last week's theme was "Fun Beach Reads," here are some short reads you can't go wrong with:

Beach House Beginnings (Beach House No.9, #5) by Christie Ridgway(HQN - Kindle Ed. $1.59) is a short novella that is just that, the introductory novella to Christie Ridgway's Beach House No. 9 contemporary romance series. It is quick, hot and just a bit angsty, with a too quick romance and a lusty couple who find a "happily ever after" years after they meet on the same island beach. She was in love with his cousin and has spent years agonizing over his death and drowning of his cousin and leading a stale life, while he spent those same years going forward and becoming a success just as his much admired cousin would have wanted him to. Coincidences abound, but they're attributed to the love woo woo that come from Beach House No. 9 where this couple meets again. This is cute, short, and a great beach read, even as everything happens too quickly. I like the premise, however, and am thinking of giving the first book of the series a try. Grade: C

If you like UF/PNR, there is always Fire and Frost with Jessica Sims, Conjuring Max by Carolyn Crane, Meljean Brook (Amazon Digital, Kindle Ed. $2.99). It begins with Speed Mating by Jessica Sims, a new-to-me author. I enjoyed this short piece about a female lyger (lion/tiger) shifter about to into heat. She goes to her sexy alpha for advice and decides to look for a mate/father for her cub through speed dating. What I liked the most about this is interesting world-building with shifters is that the female can choose her mate. Yes... she has a choice! The story is also hot and sexy too.

Then we have Conjuring Max by Carolyn Crane, a story set in the world of her Mr. Real series. This story works as a bit of a prequel and gives the reader an idea of how it all begins. I liked both characters, Max and Veronica, and the way magic and technology is integrated in a not-too-distant past. I really like how it ended.

Set in her Iron Seas world, my favorite piece in this three piece collection is Wrecked by Meljean Brook. Brook manages to add to her world-building by introducing new intriguing characters and interesting usage of the machines developed by the Horde, and also satisfactorily develops a believable romance with a happily ever after. Grade: B-

The Suitor by Mary Balogh (Dell - Kindle Ed. $1.99) is a very short prequel to The Arrangement (August 27, 2013), Balogh's next installment in The Survivor's Club series. Balogh uses The Suitor and Viscount Darleigh's reactions to drive him way and begin his romance (except of The Arrangement included), but this story is about Julian and Phillipa.

This is a couple who fell in love when Phillipa was only 16 and Julian a young, good for nothing, rakehell. Two years later she's of age and her family is actively trying to find her a husband. Julian is ready to make his move, but her parents have another man in mind. How will Julian and Phillipa find their happily ever after? The best I can say is that this is a too short, average read that provides an hour and a half of reading pleasure, but where all falls into place easily enough. As prequels go, we'll have to wait and see how Darleigh is affected by the events that take place in this novella. Recommended for those reading Balogh's new series or as a quick standalone historical romance treat without much of a conflict. Grade: C

If you're in the mood for some M/M Romance, there is always On the Clock by Chris Owen (Torquere Press, July 2013 - Kindle Ed. $4.99). Owen is a favorite M/M Romance writer and I couldn't pass up the release of this unread novella. Detective Strang finds himself investigating the murder of a lonely man with poor social skills and no friends. During the investigation he meets police officer Gallagher who first makes a move on him and then volunteers to help with the case. They flirt, hot steamy scenes ensue, and although Strang's focus becomes a bit clouded by his attraction to the handsome Gallagher, he is bent on catching the murderer, particularly since he feels a certain connection with the victim. This is an enjoyable, but too quick story, with some really hot scenes and a very good police investigative plot. My only niggle is that I wish it had been longer for better insight into the characters. Grade: C+

Review: He's The One with Linda Lael Miller, Jill Shalvis, Lucy Monroe, Kate Angell, Cat Johnson

He's The One is a contemporary romance anthology with short, sweet, sexy stories about finding him, the one. This book is perfect for the beach or a vacation because you can read one short story, put the book down, go have a good time, and get back to another story later on. Not all the stories and authors worked for me personally, but there's something here for everyone.

I have two personal favorites beginning with No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service by Kate Angell. Angell scores high with me by focusing her sexy romance on one couple from her already established Barefoot Williams world. I found this short story to be truly romantic, high on the sensuality scale, with a wonderful happy ending and an absolutely gorgeous summer atmosphere that really fits this anthology.

My other favorite is Fish Out of Water by Cat Johnson. Cat Johnson's contribution won me at "hello," or as soon as the handsome but rather nerdy and brilliant English professor was introduced. I love how passions run deep and wild once he meets his "cowgirl." She sees more under his pink polo shirt and lack of fishing/camping experience, and he sees more than the "cowgirl" trappings as they take each other for the ride of their lives. This is a sexy summer read that kept me engaged from beginning to end.

Less enthralling, yet still good enough for me, is Jill Shalvis' Captivated. In this novella, the married protagonists meet at their vacation cottage under highly unusual circumstances just after she serves him with divorce papers. This is a "hot, hot" signature Shalvis piece with chemistry between the couple, great atmosphere and a beautiful summer setting. On the minus side, there is a forced quality to the set up or unusual set of circumstances and the ending is a bit "over-the-top."

Seducing Tabby by Lucy Monroe comes in on the average side with a story about a gorgeous Englishman who sets his rather possessive sights on a curvaceous beauty who believes men only approach her to gather information about her classically gorgeous sister. This story begins with a great premise, but it doesn't quite deliver. It has a nice, slow, non-sexual seduction that I enjoyed, with sexual tension used to build up the relationship. However, for some reason, his quick claims of "love" feel more calculated than passionate, and the end is rushed and rather predictable.

The one short story that didn't really work for me is Batteries Not Required by Linda Lael Miller. In this romance a woman returns to a town where she lived years ago for a very short period of time and as soon as her feet hit the ground she meets the old boyfriend she ran away from. Things get moving and shaking between the two in the blink of an eye despite the rather superficial misunderstanding that kept them apart for years. Years when they "thought about each other" every so often. This romance and its quick, improbable happy ending felt wrong from the beginning and fell flat for me in the end.

As you can see, I liked some novellas more than others in the He's The One anthology, but the one winning factor they all have in common is the summer theme. I like that the settings for the romances are different, yet they all fit the theme perfectly. Our couples find love in a diner on a boardwalk, while on a fishing trip to a lake, stranded on a beautiful Mexican beach, discovering each other in a small coastal town, and meeting again in the beautiful west. All of these places help give this anthology that wonderful feel of sunshine, warm summer breezes and well... summer love.

Category: Contemporary Romance/Anthology
Series: None
Publisher: Kensington Books
Source: Kensington
Grade: B-

Review: No Strings Attached (Barefoot Williams #2) by Kate Angell

Balmy ocean breezes. . .sweet coconut oil. . .glistening tanned bodies. There's no better place for romantic sparks to fly than at the beach.

As a professional volleyball player, Dune Cates attracts scores of pretty women who flock to his side. But only one has managed to get under his skin--Sophie Saunders. Unlike the skimpily-clad beach groupies, Sophie marches to a beat all her own. And though she's afraid of the surf, burns in the sun, has two left feet, that doesn't stop her from trying every daring sport available on the boardwalk. Dune knows Sophie spells trouble, and he should keep his distance, especially since he's a no-strings-attached kind of guy. But he can't ignore an overwhelming instinct to protect her. And with the promise of ice cream sandwiches, merry-go-round rides and dreamy sunsets, it's only a matter of time before Dune gives in to the temptation of Sophie's soft lips.

Love is always sweeter in the summer.

As with No Tan Lines, the first book of the Barefoot Williams series, Kate Angell again excels when it comes to setting and atmosphere. No Strings Attached is a quick, light, cute, beach read. For me, the best part of Angell's contemporary read is that she made me want to be on that boardwalk playing beach volleyball, eating ice cream cones, and enjoying some summer fun!

The romances, yes, there are two of them again, are okay, but again not on the sweeping side of the scale. The central romance between Sophie Saunders and Dune Cates is light, sweet and lacks real conflict. Sophie suffers from multiple phobias and Dune helps her get over them, which is cute at the beginning, but gets kind of tiring after a while. The same goes for Dune's protectiveness and rather unreal, unending, patience and sweet understanding -- those scenes with the hamsters pushed me over the edge as I found them to be over-the-top sugary sweet.

On the other hand, the romance between Dune's volleyball partner Mac and Jenna Cates is fraught with conflict and fun. Mac is a womanizer, a boy/man who has a tough time filtering what comes out of his mouth. Jenna is sharp-tongued, sarcastic, and not the type of woman to really put up with Mac. They seem not to like each other and argue. I like how she makes him work for a relationship. Mac is an obnoxious womanizer and a pain in the ass, but unlike Dune who at times seems more like a protective brother to Sophie than a lover, Mac is fun and falls passionately in love with Jenna. Yes, Mac has some of the best lines in this book. "He gives good fun."

Ms. Angell's No Strings Attached was a mixed bag for me. It's strange. I highly enjoy the atmosphere she creates in these contemporary romances and love Barefoot William as a setting, but there is something missing for me when it comes to her romances. Yet, I gobbled up this book in one sitting, just like I would a sweet ice cream cone. So do I recommend it? I recommend it for those of you looking for a quick, sweet, summery romance.

Category: Contemporary Romance
Series: Barefoot Williams
Publisher/Release Date: Kensington/ April 30, 2013
Grade: C

Reviews:
No Tan Lines, #1

June 2013 Recap: Books Read + Minis

June is over and we are already half-way through the year. The months are going by like sand through my fingers. June is a month I will remember for slow reading and slow blogging -- only 8 posts! That's the lowest ever for me. Yikes! Summer, work, family, and personal commitments. The eternal optimist, I'm hoping things will pick up in July. Following is my recap, plus minis for books not reviewed during the month.

Total books read: 11
Contemporary: 3 (Romance)
Historical: 0
SFFR/PNR: 2
Crime Mystery/Contemporary Western: 4
Poetry: 1 (LGBT)
Fantasy: 1 (LGBT)

Heart of Obsidian (Psy/Changeling #12) by Nalini Singh: A
The latest installment in Nalini Singh's Psy/Changeling series was my favorite read in June. I adore the Changelings, but the atmosphere that Singh creates with her Psy characters always grab me. Maybe it is because the science fiction/fantasy details of this series come to the forefront in those installments, and I love the way she integrates them with her hot romances. Or maybe it is because it is so tough to sell a romance between such cold characters and in the end Singh sells them so grandly to the reader. This one is a winner.

His Wife for One Night by Molly O'Keefe: B+
This category romance came highly recommended by Wendy The Super Librarian with an A Grade. What? So, I had to read it. If you read my review, I have no complaints about this romance at all. It is the best straight forward contemporary romance (without erotic content) I have read in a while. Definitely recommended.

Waxwings by Daniel Nathan Terry: B+
In my very short impressions of this poetry volume I posted that I'd read it three times. Well, make that four times now. Waxwings is only 68 pages long, but the more I read it, the more I find. It is one of those books where the pain, passion and love need to be absorbed one poem at a time.

Death Without Company (Walt Longmire #2) by Craig Johnson: B+

When Mari Baroja is found poisoned at the Durant Home for Assisted Living, Sheriff Longmire is drawn into an investigation that reaches fifty years into the mysterious woman’s dramatic Basque past. Aided by his friend Henry Standing Bear, Deputy Victoria Moretti, and newcomer Santiago Saizarbitoria, Sheriff Longmire must connect the specter of the past to the present to find the killer among them.

The first book of the Longmire series hooked me! Death Without Company cemented the love as he continues the series with an excellent mystery, great humor, and three dimensional characters. In this second installment Johnson expands on the characterization of already beloved characters, introduces new ones, and builds a mystery that begins with one death in the present but takes Walt back into the history of Absaroka County introducing the well-established Basque community. Walt unearths old truths, opens old wounds, and ends up questioning his sense of justice.

Kindness Goes Unpunished (Walt Longmire #3) by Craig Johnson: C+

Walt and Henry visit the City of Brotherly Love, where no act of kindness goes unpunished. Walt's wit and charm have helped him solve many crimes. But that can't prepare him for the savage attack on his daughter, Cady, a Philadelphia lawyer who has unwittingly become embroiled in a political cover-up. As Walt and Henry Standing Bear scour the city for clues, he gets help from his deputy Victoria Moretti and her family on the Philly police. But Longmire wasn't born yesterday. He's willing to pull out all the stops to find Cady's attacker.

In this third installment Walt's feelings for his daughter Cady are upfront and at the center of the story. Victoria Moretti's history also emerges giving her character a stronger background. However, although Vic and Walt's relationship takes an unexpected turn, this is not a favorite book in this series. Walt and Henry's involvement in the crime mystery feel forced, probably because they are out of their environment, and Vic's dysfunctional family relationships are less than entertaining -- particularly her mother.

Another Man's Moccasins (Walt Longmire #4) by Craig Johnson: B

When the body of a young Vietnamese woman is found alongside the interstate in Absaroka County, Wyoming, Sheriff Walt Longmire is determined to discover the identity of the victim and is forced to confront the horrible similarities of this murder to that of his first homicide investigation as a marine in Vietnam. Virgil White Buffalo, a homeless Crow Indian, is found living in a nearby culvert in possession of the young woman's purse. Two problems with what appears to be an open-and-shut case. One, Walt doesn't think Virgil White Buffalo, a Vietnam vet with a troubling past, is a murderer. And two, the photo found in the woman's purse looks hauntingly familiar to Walt.

I really enjoyed this solid installment in which Walt solves two crime mysteries separated by forty years. But, book 4 also serves to further give the reader an insight into Walt's and Henry's personal histories and background. Great wit and humor continue to make this series enjoyable as light moments are weaved in seamlessly with serious subjects. Additionally, Vic and Walt's relationship continues to change as Cady recovers at home.

A Serpent's Tooth (Walt Longmire #9) by Craig Johnson: B+

It’s homecoming in Absaroka County, but the football and festivities are interrupted when a homeless boy wanders into town. A Mormon “lost boy,” Cord Lynear is searching for his missing mother but clues are scarce. Longmire and his companions, feisty deputy Victoria Moretti and longtime friend Henry Standing Bear, embark on a high plains scavenger hunt in hopes of reuniting mother and son. The trail leads them to an interstate polygamy group that’s presiding over a stockpile of weapons and harboring a vicious vendetta.

I was blown away by the 9th or latest release of the Longmire series. Walt's budding romance takes a whole new direction ending in dire results. Of course we won't know the extent of those results until the next book. Ahhh! However, it is the complexity of the crime mystery and Walt's growing rage as the storyline develops that kept me glued to the pages. As a result of this case, the entire Sheriff's Department is affected... I can't say more, but I was floored. Definitely recommended to old and new fans!

Unraveling the Past by Beth Andrews: B-
My TBR Challenge read for the month of June turned out to be a mixed bag. I thought this romance may have been better categorized as a romance suspense, as I found the romance to be rather weak. However, I found a secondary storyline between the "hero" and his niece brilliantly executed by Andrews. Thinking back, this book should have been a C+ grade read because of the amount of quibbles, but I do enjoy Andrews' writing... hmm.

Tethered (Iron Seas #2.5) by Meljean Brook: C
Tethered is a novella that serves as an epilogue to the already written romance between Captain Yasmeen Corsair and Archimedes Fox. I don't know that this novella was necessary, but okay. Personally, I wish that this adventure and the realizations the two characters come to about their love for each other had been included in the original romance. But, this is a favorite author writing a novella set in a favorite world and Brook can certainly weave an adventure. For that reason alone I enjoyed it. Enough said.

Stand In Wife by Karina Bliss: C-
I've enjoyed Karina Bliss' contemporaries in the past. Stand In Wife, however, turned out to be a less than memorable contemporary romance. I believe it was enjoyable at the time because I finished it, but frankly after I turned that last page I couldn't remember names of characters or much about the storyline, except that well. . . the couple fell in love and had a happily ever after, blah, blah, blah. I hate when that happens.

Dust Devil on a Quiet Street by Richard Bowes: Upcoming review.

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That is it for my June reads! Of the books graded, there were quite a few favorite reads on my list: Heart of Obsidian by Nalini Singh was my top read, however,  His Wife for One Night by Molly O'Keefe, Waxwings by Daniel Nathan Terry, Death Without Company (Walt Longmire #2) by Craig Johnson, and A Serpent's Tooth (Walt Longmire #9) also join my list of favorite reads for the month. That is one nice list of great reads! A satisfying month.

His Wife for One Night by Molly O'Keefe

I enjoyed the second book of this two-book series, Unexpected Family, but this first book, His Wife for One Night, was a great, great read! It's not just that the romance works between the protagonists, childhood friends who marry out of necessity and do not consummate the marriage until one decides that it is time for a divorce, it is also that O'Keefe builds this story with characters that truly become three dimensional to the reader.

I love the premise of this story. Mia and Jack grew up together on a ranch, and they have been best friends forever. Jack married Mia when his crazy mother threw her mother Sandra and sister Lucy out of the property after her father died and Jack's alcoholic father, Walter, failed to stop it. Then as Mia took up the role of foreman in the ranch, Jack left to live his dream of bringing water to places like Darfur by using his engineering skills.

Mia and Jack see each other away from the ranch a few times throughout the years, and each time Mia is hopeful that Jack will see her as a woman, his real wife, that things will change between them, but that never happens. Not until she gives up. On that last meeting she asks him for a divorce and the two finally give in to their mutual attraction and end up having some explosive sex! It's one of those instances when you don't know what you have until you're about to lose it? That's what happens to Jack and it's not all about the sex for him either. Although he doesn't think he loves Mia at that point, he knows he doesn't want her out of his life. Mia on the other hand is done. She is a sucker for Jack and knows him better than anyone else. He is her friend, but she can't continue to hope. For her that sexual encounter was good bye and there is no more waiting or going back. And so the great battle begins.

Through the development of the romance the family history is explored, so that a secondary characters the family is important and the reader becomes invested in their lives, although truthfully the extent of their full history is not fully revealed until the second book, Unexpected Family. But His Wife for One Night is all about the romance and main characters.

I loved Mia. Mia is a strong heroine who develops fear of abandonment after five years of giving all she can to her marriage and a lifetime of loving a man damaged by childhood abuse, and clueless when it comes to recognizing her true feelings. And Jack? Well, as his life unravels -- both personal and professional -- Jack realizes that he must deal with the past in order to have a future and Mia is at the center of it all. Clueless? Yes. But smart enough to fight for what is important. I love this couple and the way O'Keefe makes her characters come alive with faults and strengths as they deal with the highs and lows on their way to happiness. I was truly happy when this couple's future finally clicked into place. Grade: B+

TBR Review: Unraveling the Past by Beth Andrews

June's theme for the TBR Challenge is books by RITA Award winners or nominees. Believe it or not, this was a tough category for me. I had more books in my TBR by RITA Award winners and/or nominees than expected and couldn't decide whose book to read! Then with Father's Day on Sunday, my time to decide ran out, so I chose a short book, Unraveling the Past by Beth Andrews. However, that was such a quick read that I found time to pick up His Wife for One Night by Molly O'Keefe, and Stand In Wife by Karina Bliss -- both really enjoyable reads too! This always happens to me when I pick up a Harlequin Romance, I can't stop at one! The good news? I cleared out three books from my TBR in one great swoop! But, going back to my TBR review, here it is:

Unraveling the Past by Beth Andrews (RITA Award Winner 2010 for A Not-So-Perfect Past)

This story is the beginning of a series about the Sullivan sisters, Layne, Tori, and Nora. This book covers a romance for the eldest sister, Layne, introduces the Sullivan family, and much more.

I found Unraveling the Past to be a bit ambitious. It has a romance at the center of the story, but the focus is stretched thin as Andrews also incorporates a cold case murder mystery connected to the Sullivan family. Along with the mystery and developing romance, there is a storyline about the hero's teenage niece. Jess has some serious mommy issues that parallel Layne's. Issues having to do with abandonment and neglect that lead both characters to doubt or not accept love when it is freely given. Mind you, I think that Andrews ties these threads together well. The mystery is used to bring the hero and heroine together, and the niece's issues allow the heroine to see her own, however as a result, the romance suffers from lack of focus -- the niece's thread in particular takes a lot of that focus away from the romance.

The hero of this piece Chief of Police Ross Taylor finds himself caught in a rather awkward situation. His attitude about justice and discipline is black and white, leaving little wiggle room for human error or understanding. This attitude makes the relationship with his troubled teenage niece a nightmare, and his attraction for Assistant Chief Layne Sullivan further complicates matters, particularly while the murder investigation takes place. Ross is not the most sensitive of men and a rather frustrating character until almost the very end. Layne is an accomplished woman with a strong personality she utilizes to hide secrets and vulnerable spots.

The initial relationship between Ross and Layne is hostile and prickly with an underlying attraction that neither acknowledges. As the story moves along, the attraction grows until once together, Ross and Layne steam up the sheets and then some! The deep feelings for each other, the love, needed a bit more cooking in order to work for me. What I did like very much is Andrews' handling of the storyline about Ross' niece Jess. Ross is irritating when unbending, but I found myself liking his very real frustrations with a troubled teenager in this novel -- he was very human in those moments. The love and care behind his irritating reactions to his niece, and his willingness to do what is right made me care for Ross.

It is unfortunate that the two sisters as secondary characters are not likable or interesting enough to make me run and buy their romances. However, I would love to find out if Andrew Sullivan and Ross' niece Jess end up together in the future, and of course, who doesn't want to know the resolution to a murder mystery? I want to know if I'm right in guessing whodunit!

June 2013 - Lovely RITA 

Category: Contemporary Romance
Series: The Truth About the Sullivans, #1
Publisher/Release Date: Harlequin/June 1, 2012
Grade: B-

Visit Beth Andrews here.

ETA: CLARIFICATION NOTE: My review is of a book by a RITA award winning author. This book by Beth Andrews did not win a RITA.

May 2013 Recap: Books Read + Mini & Updates

Is May over? It is! I'm afraid that time-wise, I paid a high price for my little vacation. I'm hoping that this next week I will be able to catch up with some reviews and posts.

Oh... first. I finally went through Feedly and realize that I missed out on lots of news including the results of the Lambda Awards. Although as always with these awards I suffered disappointments, -- Hello! Slow Lightning by Eduardo C. Corral in poetry or at least Looking for the Gulf Motel by Richard Blanco! And, what about A Horse Named Sorrow by Trebor Healy in Gay Fiction? What?! -- to be fair, I will have to read the books by the winners in these categories to compare and decide for myself. But, and this is a big but, I was quite happy to at least see one book that I loved in there. I am late, but better late than never:

Congratulations to Tom Cardamone! Winner of Lambda's LGBT Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror (in other words, Speculative Fiction) for his fantastic and creative, Green Thumb! This book was one of my favorite of 2012 and I pimped it to death last year for good reason. The recognition is well-deserved.

Second, due to my problematic schedule, I was unable to attend the Nalini Singh signing for Heart of Obsidian in NYC on June 6th. I rushed and read the book ahead of time to prepare too! Needless to say, I was upset and disappointed! Mariana went without me, had a great time, and was nice enough to sent me her notes and little tidbits of information. Thank you. :)

Now going back to the regularly scheduled program, here is my summary of books read for the month of May:

Total books read: 9
 Contemporary: 2
 Paranormal Romance: 2
 Mystery/Western: 1
 Classic Lit: 1
 Speculative Fiction: 1
 LGBT: 2 (1 Speculative Fiction; 1 Fiction)

Wallbanger by Alice Clayton: A-
Following is my short comment about Wallbanger from Goodreads:

Loved this book! What an insanely funny, sexy, contemporary romance... Such an unexpected and refreshing read! Lurved Sexy Simon, Crazy Caroline, and Conniving Clive. I will have to read this again. *g*

By the way, Clive is Caroline's cat. A few extras I would like to say about Wallbanger. First, the cover is deceiving, this is not an erotic romance per se, it is a sexy, comedic, contemporary romance. Why do I say that? Well, even though Caroline spends about half of the book bemoaning the loss of her "O"(and she bemoans it for a long time), the relationship that ensues is based on an established friendship and attraction. Second, this book is a blast, it's so funny. Sexual innuendos abound from beginning to end, and there is even a bit of slapstick that takes place -- just read the first over-the-top sex scene. And last, I found out after I read the book that this novel is a result of fanfic based on the Twilight novels. Since I never read Twilight, I did not, and would not, recognize the similarities unless (from what I've heard) there was a sparkly vampire stalking an underaged girl included, (there is not). If this matters to you as a reader, then take it into consideration before picking up the book. Regardless, I enjoyed the heck out of myself while reading this story and still say that Wallbanger is a fun contemporary with insane characters and even more insane circumstances. I needed that...

Wilde Stories 2013: The Best Gay Speculative Fiction ed. by Steve Berman: B+
With a combination of gay young adult and adult speculative fiction, this year's Wilde Stories volume is a wonderful addition to Berman's yearly collections. You will find adventure, camp, humor, horror, and stories that will make you think and wonder. I thoroughly enjoyed this anthology.

The Resurrectionist: The Lost Work of Dr. Spencer Black by E. B. Hudspeth: B+
Talk about a unique book! This is a book that I loved because the illustrations are not only beautiful and give the book a great look, but once you stop admiring them and read the short biography-style story, they become a key element to the whole. A great debut for the multi-talented Hudspeth.

The Cold Dish (Walt Longmire #1) by Craig Johnson: B+
Have you read a western mystery by Craig Johnson? If you haven't you should try one. Actually if you don't want to get addicted, maybe you should not. I became addicted after reading this excellent first book in the 9 book series and ended up reading FIVE books in a row, including the latest release! (Upcoming Post)

Hearts of Shadow (Deadglass #2) by Kira Brady: B-
I follow few paranormal romance series these days, but I really enjoyed the first book of Brady's Deadglass Novel trilogy. As the second book, Hearts of Shadow is not as gripping as that first book, however, it turned out to be a very good follow-up read for me and I'm looking forward to reading the last book of the trilogy.

Unexpected Family by Molly O'Keefe: B-
This book was my pick for May's TBR Challenge read. It was my first Molly O'Keefe read and as it turned out a very good one. I like how the author approached and developed her characters, and most of all how I came to care about them all by the end of the story. I will definitely read more books by Ms. O'Keefe!

Hearts of Fire (Deadglass novella) by Kira Brady: C+
This novella was included at the end of Hearts of Shadow. I enjoyed the extra information and background that it provides about Brady's world-building, even if the romance is too quickly executed.

Best Gay Stories 2013 ed. by Steve Berman (Upcoming Review)
This anthology released on June 1, 2013 and is an absolute winner! I can tell you that much right now. It is gay fiction and includes some magnificent writing and stories. More to come.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (Re-read)
Ahh, The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald! I re-read this book for my Internet Book Club for June! It's so short that I finished it too soon (in May)... I may, or may not, write my thoughts on this book here later. I can tell you that I had some very strong feelings about it the first I read it long ago, and have some pretty strong feelings about it now.
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That is it for my May reads! Of the books already graded, four of them stand out as favorites: Wallbanger, the Wilde Stories 2013 anthology, The Resurrectionist, and The Cold Dish. I will remember May 2013 for quality vs. quantity. That's a pretty good reading month in my book!

TBR Review: Unexpected Family by Molly O'Keefe

This month's theme for the TBR Challenge is "More Than One -- author who has more than one book in your TBR pile." I've had this Harlequin Super Romance by Molly O'Keefe in my TBR pile since last year, as well as a few of her other books. Since I have never read a book by O'Keefe, just purchased books because they appealed to me, I decided it is about time I read the first one! :)

Jeremiah Stone: rodeo superstar. Good-time guy. Father of three? That's one pair of boots Jeremiah never expected to fill. Then his three nephews are orphaned, and his entire life changes. Not only is he now playing parent, he's also running the family ranch. It's almost too much for this cowboy.

Until he encounters Lucy Alatore.

He recognizes that look in her eye and knows a steamy fling could make him feel more like himself. But the intense heat between him and Lucy is distracting him from three little boys who need his undivided attention. He's forced to choose one over the other…unless he can convince Lucy this family isn't complete without her!

I enjoyed Unexpected Family. Molly O'Keefe weaves a romance where both the main and secondary characters are flawed and in dire need of love and support. Jeremiah is "playing" parent to his three orphaned nephews, but misses his life as a rodeo superstar and resents giving up the limelight. Lucy and her mother Sandra returned to the ranch they called home, but Lucy is lying to everyone about her business failure in Los Angeles. Jeremiah's nephews, Aaron, Ben, and little Casey miss their dead mother and feel unloved by their uncle. Ben in particular is resentful, angry and acting out. It soon becomes clear that Jeremiah doesn't know what he is doing with the boys, and when Lucy attempts to help, she's not great at it either! Jeremiah's life is a mess and a half. Additionally, Lucy and Sandra live with Walter who not only owns the ranch but is an alcoholic refusing help and in love with Sandra. So there you have it, a mess all around.

O'Keefe makes some great lemonade out of these lemons though. Lucy may be deceitful and crazed over the failure of her business, but she's a loving daughter, a caring woman, and straightforward in what she wants from Jeremiah, plus when the time comes she calls him out on his bullshit too. Jeremiah is lost when it comes to the boys, which I like because what the heck does a self-centered, single, rodeo superstar know about parenting? Particularly since he is repeatedly advised not to seek help from outsiders. I like that he tries and is vulnerable and insecure about his role as a parent. I also like that Jeremiah is human enough to resent the sudden changes in his life, but still takes the responsibilities seriously. That doesn't mean he doesn't make an ass of himself with Lucy and the children more than a few times, he does.

Lucy is crazed and sometimes rather immature, but she's fun and her humor and straightforward wickedness with Jeremiah made her character likable. I mean this girl just goes out and seduces that man until he is a puddle of nothing! This is a Super Romance and there are not too many bedroom scenes, but the ones included in the book are hot! Extra points for the excellent kissing scenes, and building sexual tension. Yeah...

This is the part I wasn't sure I liked though. I don't know exactly when Lucy and Jeremiah fell in love. The "I love yous" felt rushed and not quite organic -- Lucy's thoughts of love definitely were! I believe Lucy and Jeremiah liked each other, became great friends who cared for one another, and had delicious, passionate chemistry. In other words, this was an excellent beginning to something more. O'Keefe finds a satisfactory resolution with a "happily for now" not resolved until a year later in an epilogue. So, the reader goes through the initial conflicts, but the real work that takes place to build love between our romantic couple is not part of this story.

You know what I really like about this romance? I like how O'Keefe handles a complex family situation with a large cast of characters while building a romance. The characters came alive for me in this story and kept me reading. I came to care for them! All in all this was a very good read for me.

May 2013 - More than one

Category: Contemporary Romance
Series: None
Publisher/Release Date: Harlequin/June 5, 2012
Grade: B-

Visit Molly O'Keefe here.

Update + The Best Man by Kristan Higgins

My poor blog! I'm afraid that real life is kicking my butt and my time is limited at the moment. I'm actually doing most of my reading during my commutes in and out of work and right before bedtime. But, I am still also suffering a bit from "reader's block," which is not good. Sigh... Anyway, here are a few blog-related updates.

Since Google decided to discontinue the much loved and nifty Google Reader in July, (Why? Does that make sense to anyone but Google?) I took the time to look around this last Saturday and signed up with The Old Reader. I'm liking it so far because it sort of works like the old Google Reader used to before they upgraded it (just in time to discontinue it). So, I'm all set up and following all my favorite blogs there already. However, I'm not married to it yet, so if anyone has a better recommendation for a FREE reader, please let me know in this post!

I also found the whole "Amazon Buys Goodreads! extra, extra read all about it" piece of news a bit disturbing. I'm hoping that Goodreads policies won't change. I do love keeping track of my books, updates and notes on what I'm currently reading there. Plus, I love interacting with friends at Goodreads. It would be a shame if all that changed. Additionally, linking Goodreads and Amazon accounts (reviews) would be a total deal breaker for me, so I'm going to "wait and see" how this develops.

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The Best Man
by Kristan Higgins

But going back to reading, I decided to give "romance" a shot and picked up a couple of books, one of them was Kristan Higgins' latest contemporary romance, The Best Man. Now, this is only the second book I have read by this author, the first one didn't necessarily work for me because although Higgins' portrayal of relationships between family and friends was highly enjoyable, I did not enjoy her style of writing in the first-person point of view perspective and the 'chick-lit' flavor that overwhelmed the story. Additionally I found the romance in that book to be more of a side story. However, I heard some great things about Higgins' latest books, and the fact that she switched to the third person point of view perspective encouraged me to pick up this romance.

There are a few aspects of The Best Man that I liked. It is true that Higgins excels when writing from the third person point of view. The premise of this story drew me to it. Small town girl Faith falls in love with her high school sweetheart Jeremy, the perfect man and after eight years, during their wedding, the best man Levi encourages Jeremy to tell Faith the truth about himself. Jeremy comes out of the closet and tells her that he is gay. Three years later Jeremy is the small town's doctor, Levi the Chief of Police and Faith lives in San Francisco. But all that changes when after many personal romantic failures, Faith is called home by her sister to save their widowed father from an "unscrupulous woman." Faith will have to deal with seeing the "love of her life" Jeremy, with townspeople who still feel sorry for "poor Faithie," and worst of all with that "stiff hemorrhoid" Levi.

It sounds interesting, doesn't it? Well, it is and it isn't. Faith and Levi's romance begins with an antagonistic edge that grows before it changes to passion and love. Higgins binds all the characters in this contemporary romance, Jeremy, Levi, Faith, their families as secondary characters, and periphery characters by providing a deeper and detailed background for the central characters and a general history of the town and its social structure, including how this social structure deeply affects its citizens or featured characters. This is all quite relevant and well done, as is the slow development of the relationship that ensues between Faith and Levi and the strong and true friendship between Levi and Jeremy.

Family relationships and humor are also quite important to the plot and, from my previous experience, this aspect of the story is usually well done by Higgins. Unfortunately in The Best Man, I found Faith's family members and friends to be an extremely unlikable lot (this includes the highly unlovable grandparents who can't stop arguing and calling each other names!), and the overall humor is in poor taste. For example: I didn't find this scene funny at all. Faith is obliviously on a date with a married man when his wife shows up with her toddler to confront her, and both this woman (and the toddler) proceed to call Faith a whore over a dozen times. What is that? This made me uncomfortable while reading it, but in addition I really disliked the way the women related to each other and others in this story. This was a problem for me, but there is more.

I always look for LGBTQ characters when reading mainstream books: romance, science fiction, fantasy, literary fiction... whatever! When well done, it makes for a more realistic and well rounded read. However, in my opinion, the author should at least do his/her homework in order to develop or to incorporate LGBTQ characters successfully into their stories. Making one of them the butt of jokes as Higgins does with a trans character in this book is a major fail and doesn't work. Making the one gay character (Jeremy, the perfectly gorgeous, perfect man) into the town's lovable mascot and Faith's faithful puppy-like, adoring BFF, but giving him no love life to speak of is stereotypical and just down right unrealistic. Additionally, for me, the overall dialog between various characters when discussing Jeremy and Faith's situation is more than disappointing, and Faith's general attitude about her botched wedding is highly frustrating.

Levi is an interesting and strong male protagonist with an excellent backstory that gives him depth. His feelings for Faith are believable in the end. I also enjoyed Levi's close relationship with his sister and thought his strong, loyal friendship with Jeremy as one of the best of this book. However, the negatives outweighed the positives for me. It is unfortunate that I chose to read this particular romance by Higgins. The Best Man began with a good premise, but unfortunately the execution was not to my taste. Grade: D+

Contemporary & LGBT Releases: April/May 2013

Here are a few recent and/or upcoming releases already in my possession that I'm hoping to read soon!

CONTEMPORARIES:

Contemporary Romance
The Best Man by Kristan Higgins (Harlequin HQN)
February 26, 2013

Sometimes the best man is the one you least expect…

Faith Holland left her hometown after being jilted at the altar. Now a little older and wiser, she's ready to return to the Blue Heron Winery, her family's vineyard, to confront the ghosts of her past, and maybe enjoy a glass of red. After all, there's some great scenery there….

Like Levi Cooper, the local police chief—and best friend of her former fiancé. There's a lot about Levi that Faith never noticed, and it's not just those deep green eyes. The only catch is she's having a hard time forgetting that he helped ruin her wedding all those years ago. If she can find a minute amidst all her family drama to stop and smell the rosé, she just might find a reason to stay at Blue Heron, and finish that walk down the aisle.

Women's Fiction
What Tears Us Apart by Deborah Cloyed (MIRA/Harlequin)
March 26, 2013

Love lives in the most dangerous places of the heart. The real world. That's what Leda desperately seeks when she flees her life of privilege to travel to Kenya. She finds it at a boys' orphanage in the slums of Nairobi. What she doesn't expect is to fall for Ita, the charismatic and thoughtful man who gave up his dreams to offer children a haven in the midst of turmoil.

Their love should be enough for one another-it embodies the soul-deep connection both have always craved. But it is threatened by Ita's troubled childhood friend, Chege, a gang leader with whom he shares a complex history. As political unrest reaches a boiling point and the slum erupts in violence, Leda is attacked …and forced to put her trust in Chege, the one person who otherwise inspires anything but.

In the aftermath of Leda's rescue, disturbing secrets are exposed, and Leda, Ita and Chege are each left grappling with their own regret and confusion. Their worlds upturned, they must now face the reality that sometimes the most treacherous threat is not the world outside, but the demons within.

Contemporary Romance
Love Irresistibly by Julie James (Berkeley)
April 2, 2013

A former football star and one of Chicago’s top prosecutors, Assistant U.S. Attorney Cade Morgan will do anything to nail a corrupt state senator, which means he needs Brooke Parker’s help. As general counsel for a restaurant company, she can get a bug to the senator’s table at one of her five-star restaurants so the FBI can eavesdrop on him. All Cade has to do is convince Brooke to cooperate—and he’s not afraid to use a little charm, or the power of his office, to do just that.

AND WHAT HE WANTS IS HER

A savvy businesswoman, Brooke knows she needs to play ball with the U.S. Attorney’s office—even if it means working with Cade. No doubt there’s a sizzling attraction beneath all their sarcastic quips, but Brooke.

Contemporary Romance
Big Boy by Ruthie Knox (Samhain)
April 2, 2013

A Strangers on a Train Story
Meet me at the train museum after dark. Dress for 1957.
When Mandy joins an online dating service, she keeps her expectations low. All she wants is a distraction from the drudgery of single parenthood and full-time work. But the invitation she receives from a handsome man who won't share his real name promises an adventure--and a chance to pretend she's someone else for a few hours.

She doesn't want romance to complicate her life, but Mandy's monthly role-playing dates with her stranger on a train--each to a different time period--become the erotic escape she desperately needs. And a soul connection she never expected.

Yet when she tries to draw her lover out of the shadows, Mandy has a fight on her hands...to convince him there's a place for their fantasy love in the light of day.

Contemporary Romance/Fiction
Changing Lanes by Kathleen Long (Brilliance Corporation)
May 14, 2013

Abby Halladay has the perfect life. Or, rather, she will, as long as everything goes exactly according to plan. Abby never leaves anything to chance --- not her job as a syndicated columnist, not her engagement to her fiance, Fred, and certainly not her impending wedding in Paris (New Jersey, that is). Unfortunately for Abby, even the best-laid plans often go awry, like when Fred runs away to Paris (France, that is), her column is canned, and her dream home is diagnosed with termites.

Forced to move back in with her parents and drive her dad's cab, Abby's perfect life has now officially become the perfect disaster. Then a funny thing happens. Slowly but surely, Abby begins letting go of her dreams of perfection. As she does, the messy, imperfect life she thought she never wanted starts to feel exactly like the one she needs.

Poignant and heartfelt, Changing Lanes celebrates the unexpected joys of everyday life and the enduring promise of second chances.

******



LGBT:

M/M Romance
An Ordinary Boy by Brian Centrone (Seventh Window Publications)
February 23, 2013

Tom Grove’s family is rich, his grandparents are famous, and he’s beautiful. He can have anything he wants, but all Tom really wants is to be an ordinary boy. Like his best friend, Marissa, Tom wants to fit in, make friends and date sexy boys. It would also help if he could be free of his father’s weighty expectations, his mother’s insane demands, and his older brother’s snide remarks.

When Tom begins his first year of college, he believes he’s going to come out and start a new life. But Tom’s plan to come out of the closet and meet hot college boys isn’t exactly foolproof. His new roommate is a straight jock, the gay club at school is made up of outcasts, and the lines between going out to dinner and a date are blurry at best.

If that isn't challenge enough, Tom has to learn how to navigate drunken college parties, the campus social hierarchy, and the attentions of the wrong sort of boys. What begins as a journey to independence turns into a series of mishaps, love, heartache, soul searching, awkward situations and the realization that life is less like an Abercrombie & Fitch catalog and more like the everyday low prices of Wal-Mart.

And to make matters worse, he still has to make it through freshman year.

Historical Gay/General Fiction
My Dear Watson by L.A. Fields (Lethe Press)
April 4, 2013

One of the most famous partnerships in literature yields, over time, to a peculiar romantic triangle. Sherlock Holmes. Dr. John Watson. And the good doctor’s second wife, whom Doyle never named. In L A Fields's novel, Mrs. Watson is a clever woman who realizes, through examining all the prior cases her husband shared with the world's greatest consulting detective, that the two men shared more than adventures: they were lovers, as well. In 1919, after the pair has retired, Mrs. Watson invites Holmes to her home to meet him face to face. Thus begins a recounting of a peculiar affair between extraordinary men.

“You are such a unique person,” Holmes says poisonously. “What a shame that history will most likely never remember your name.”

The question Mrs. Watson faces: Did Holmes simply take advantage of her husband’s loyalty and love, or did the detective return those feelings? And what to do now that the pair are no longer living together at Baker Street and Watson has other claims on his affections? My Dear Watson offers readers a romance that requires as much reasoning to puzzle out as it does passion. Mrs. Watson proves a worthy opponent—in intellect, in guile, in conviction—for the great detective.

Lesbian/General Fiction
Broken in Soft Places by Fionna Zedde (Bold Strokes Books)
May 14, 2013

Some mornings, Sara Chambers wakes in bed next to her girlfriend and her girlfriend’s lover wondering how she ended up there. Beautiful, successful, and a force to be reckoned with at her Atlanta law firm, Sara is still powerless in her attraction to the rebellious and reckless, Rille Thompson.

As college girlfriends, Sara and Rille’s relationship had been incendiary, burning away Sara’s innocence and self-respect even as it widened her world beyond her wildest imagination. Now, almost twenty years later, Rille still pushes Sara beyond her limits, bringing a third lover into their bed and domestic lives when their monogamy gets stale. The hold Rille has over Sara—and their new lover—becomes as powerful as it is dangerous. Can Sara pull herself free in time, or will her life turn to cinders in the wake of Rille’s powerful flame?

******

AND, looking forward to the release of:

Contemporary Romance/Suspense
Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts (Putnam Adult)
April 16, 2013

For more than three hundred years, Bluff House has sat above Whiskey Beach, guarding its shore—and its secrets. But to Eli Landon, it’s home…

A Boston lawyer, Eli has weathered an intense year of public scrutiny and police investigations after being accused of—but never arrested for—the murder of his soon-to-be-ex wife.

He finds sanctuary at Bluff House, even though his beloved grandmother is in Boston recuperating from a nasty fall. Abra Walsh is always there, though. Whiskey Beach’s resident housekeeper, yoga instructor, jewelry maker, and massage therapist, Abra is a woman of many talents—including helping Eli take control of his life and clear his name. But as they become entangled in each other, they find themselves caught in a net that stretches back for centuries—one that has ensnared a man intent on reaping the rewards of destroying Eli Landon once and for all…

Minis: Ruthie Knox, Courtney Milan

Lately, I've read a few enjoyable books. These fall under the short format category ranging from a 100 page novella to a 230 page book. I chose to read works by Ruthie Knox and Courtney Milan. Ruthie Knox is an author that fellow blogger Nath has been recommending to me for a long while, and by now everyone has heard praises about Courtney Milan's writing and works, right? Well, here are my quick impressions.

About Last Night by Ruthie Knox

I decided to give Ruthie Knox's work a whirl and picked up her contemporary romance About Last Night. I love that this romance is set in London, but the most attractive aspects of this novel are its characters and my reluctance to reduce this story to a specific trope. My one quibble is a rather rushed ending that needed just a touch to make this book the perfect contemporary romance read for me.

Nev, or City as Cath call him, is an excellent example of a male beta character. He is giving and loving without coming off as a pushover. Nev is in control when need be, but gives Cath the space she needs to work out personal insecurities. Does he push? Yes, but Cath needs a little push in order to see herself for the woman she has become despite the multitude of challenges she has faced in her life. This is not a one way relationship though... Cath helps Nev come to terms with what holds him back from achieving true happiness.

Initially, there doesn't seem to be much depth to Cath as a character except that she's trying to be a 'good girl' after having been a 'bad girl' in the past. However as the romance moves along, there are layers and layers to this woman. I really love how Knox uses humor, personal angst, sensuality, and passion to reveal this character. Cath doesn't come off as a brooding, broken, or depressing character.

The tattooed American girl from Chicago and the wealthy buttoned-up Brit may seem like they don't fit, but in the end they are perfect for each other. About Last Night by Ruthie Knox is a lovely and a passionate romance with a great balance between humor and heavy conflict, a rather imperfect and unique heroine, and a gorgeous beta hero whose passion and love win the day. Grade: A- 

Ride With Me by Ruthie Knox

After finishing About Last Night I just had to pick up another contemporary romance by Ruthie Knox and settled down with Ride With Me. This romance involves Lexie, a female cyclist who wants to ride cross-country from Oregon to Virginia and needs a male partner to accompany her. Tom is set up to ride with an unwanted partner by his sister, and doesn't find out Lexie is a female until they are about to take off. Needless to say, their first meeting is not a good one. He's a grumpy man with a complicated past and just wants to be left alone to enjoy the road at his own pace. She is pretty much a happy-go-lucky woman with a  set path and just wants to enjoy the ride and meet people along the way.

Lexie and Tom's road trip romance was fun, hot and really enjoyable. I love the growing sexual tension that builds between these two, the fun, fun moments on the road, as well as reading how Tom's grumpy personality slowly melts and changes into that of a man that Lexie considers a viable partner. Lexie's own change from an uptight woman to one who enjoys the moment is also a wonderful experience. In this romance, I love the fights between Lexie and Tom just as much as the hot and passionate love-making. Another lovely contemporary romance by Ruthie Knox. Grade: B+

The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan

The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan is currently being offered free of charge and it is only 100 pages long, so why not read it? What a gorgeous little novella this one turned out to be!

Serena Barton is a governess who lost her position when she was compromised by the Duke of Clermont when he visited her employer's home. She decides to seek compensation from the sleazy Duke even if she has to sit in front of his London residence until everyone who matters notices. Hugo Marshall, also known as the Wolf of Clermont, is the Duke's man of business. An ex-pugilist, Hugo is also known for his ruthlessness in dealing with those who dare cross the Duke. What happens when the ruthless Hugo and the determined Serena meet? There lies the conflict and the romance.

Oh Hugo! I fell a little in love with this ruthless man who turns into a passionate bit of mush after he meets Serena. He's an 'ordinary' man with ambitions and a keen mind, but what a soft touch! And Serena is damaged, but she's a stubborn, determined woman who refuses to stand down. Hugo's soft touch combined with his honesty wins her over, just as Serena's backbone and admirable stand win him. I loved them both. Milan gives both Hugo and Serena backstories -- a lovely surprise in this quick 100-page romance. This is a short historical romance that I will probably re-read in the future.

Favorite Moments: The sexy hairpin exchange bedroom scene, and the letters and notes exchanged between Hugo and Serena. Grade: A-

Mini: How to Misbehave by Ruthie Knox

How to Misbehave
by Ruthie Knox

How to Misbehave is a novella that serves as a prequel to the new Camelot contemporary romance series by Ruthie Knox planned for release on March 2013.

Tony Mazzara has a well-earned "bad boy" reputation, and Amber Clark suffers from the "good girl" syndrome. Amber is the director at the Camelot Community Centre for the small town and Tony works for the family construction company along with his brother Patrick. The two get stuck alone in the center's basement during a tornado warning and not only do they get to know each other through conversation but a mutual sexual attraction ignites and explodes. After all of it is over they consummate the attraction, but Tony has some heavy baggage that prevents him from seeking happiness while Amber falls for him hook, line, and sinker.

This is a short novella that packs heat and then some. It also packs emotion which elevates the somewhat predictable storyline. Knox works the short format with a deft hand by developing her characters and giving readers an understanding of what is really behind Tony's self-imposed punishment and Amber's need to misbehave. Knox wisely ends the novella with a possible future for this couple. It is the perfect ending, particularly for Tony's character who accepts the possibility of happiness and not more.

Category: Contemporary Romance
Series: Camelot (# 0.5)
Publisher/Release Date: Random House/January 28, 2013
Format: eBook, 96 pages
Grade: B+

Visit Ruthie Knox here.

Review: The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley is a combination historical fiction and contemporary with romances taking place during both time lines and running parallel to each other. Kearsley uses one central character, Carrie McClelland, to tie both storylines and romances together.

James VIII of Scotland
(1688 - 1766)  

Carrie McClelland is a seasoned historical fiction author writing a historical fiction romance that took place in the midst of the failed Jacobite conspiracy to return James Stuart or James VIII to the throne of Scotland in 1708. Unfortunately, Carrie is suffering from writer's block, but while visiting Scotland fate takes a hand and she ends up at a place that calls to her, Slains Castle in Cruden Bay and there meets a man with winter sea eyes. Carry moves to a cottage within sight of the Slains Castle and begins the process of writing her story from the perspective for a fictional woman as the central character, one she names after a long-dead Scottish ancestor, Sophia Paterson. At first her story seems to spill out of her with characters and situations so vivid and real that she can't seem to stop writing, but slowly Carry's research shows that her characters and events, down to the smallest details, were indeed true. Carry ends up with more questions than answers. How can this be happening?

Admiral Thomas Gordon
(1658-1741)

This is where I fell in love with this book. Kearsley seamlessly weaves two beautiful stories together. She focuses the historical fiction romance of the young, orphaned Mistress Sophia Paterson whose kinswoman the Countess of Erroll, mother to the Earl of Errol takes her in to live as her companion in Slains Castle at Cruden Bay. Soon, Sophia is embroiled in a Jacobite conspiracy to return James Stuart or James VIII to the Scottish throne and meets the young and loyal Jacobite John Moray who already has a price on his head for treason against the crown. Kearsley then proceeds to weave a gorgeous romance between these two characters that is full of danger, betrayal, excitement, angst, and timeless love.

James, 4th Duke of Hamilton
(1658 - 1712)

I love that within this romance Kearsley includes historical characters John Moray, Nathaniel Hooke, Captain Thomas Gordon, the Duke of Hamilton, the Earl of Erroll, his mother the Countess of Erroll, and more. However, these characters are not portrayed as two-dimensional historical figures but become viable characters in the novel that contribute to both the story and the romance. I was particularly taken by the Countess of Erroll whose characterization is extremely well-rendered, as is Thomas Gordon. Sophia and Moray's romance made me sigh out loud, bite my nails at the danger they both faced, and cry. . . Yes, this was an emotional read for me.

But Kearsley's main character is Carrie McClellan and she is a historical fiction romance writer, so think of this as a romance within a romance. By setting up the story this way, Kearsley uses her character's portrayal as a writer to incorporate pertinent historical background and deftly avoids making it feel like info-dump, instead history becomes a key element of the exciting romance/story Carrie is weaving. However, this set-up also serves to give readers an intimate view into a writers world: how they conduct research, the writing process, and even little details like daily routines, and even relationships with readers. I loved that little peek into a writers' world.

All of those details are an intrinsic part of the contemporary storyline which includes a straight forward romance with Carrie as the female protagonist. This romance narrated in the first point of view from Carrie's perspective has little angst and not much conflict, but it includes some of my favorite secondary characters and it ties in quite well with the historical fiction story and romance. Additionally, in Mariana I loved how Kearsley executed the time-travel aspect of her story, in The Winter Sea although on the surface the end result of how Carrie gains knowledge about a different period in time may sound similar, in reality it is quite different and if not necessarily as arresting to me, how Kearsley develops this aspect of the story is definitely intriguing.

Kearsley's writing swept me away to Scotland, both to 1708 and contemporary times. This is only my second read by this author, but I'm loving her writing style, the excellent fusion of historical fiction romance and contemporary romance that she uses to whisk me away to another time while simultaneously keeping me grounded to the present, and her talent for bringing historical characters to life and creating a romance that stays with me. So, the end result is that I will definitely continue to explore her backlist with pleasure.

Slains Castle, Cruden Bay, Scotland

Part I: Group Read: The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley hosted by Christine of The happily ever after...

Part II: Group Read The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

Review: Taking the Reins by Kat Murray

Taking the Reins by Kat Murray

Taking the Reins by Kat Murray in a contemporary romance set in a ranch with a feisty heroine and a loner for a hero. This is my kind of romance.

Peyton Muldoon has been working the M-Star all her life. She inherits when her mother dies only to find out that her long absentee siblings Trace and Bea each co-own one-third of the ranch. She must get in touch with them to make big decisions but needs a horse trainer now. Redford Callahan is that man.

Red's reputation with ranch owners as a horse trainer is impeccable and now that he is free to accept a new contract he can pick and choose. His head tells him that accepting a job at the badly mismanaged M-Star is a mistake and shouldn't even consider it, not with the beautiful Peyton as its manager, but when Peyton personally offer him the job, his gut tells him otherwise. Red accepts, but knows he is in for a bumpy ride.

Peyton is one of those feisty heroines with a stubborn streak a mile long. She carries lots of personal baggage caused by neglect from a mother with a reputation too busy sleeping around with anything wearing pants and no knowledge of how to run a ranch, and a loving father who died too soon. To Peyton the ranch and family always come first and her needs come last, if that. She is attracted to Red big time! And slowly that attraction turns to lust and need. But she's not willing to trust or better yet place her reputation and that of the M-Star on the line for whatever it is that is going on between them. The ranch comes first.

Red on the other hand can't help but admire Peyton's hard work and business sense as well as her beauty. He lusts after her, yes, but everything about Peyton seems just perfect to him, even her feisty and sometimes over the top pride and stubbornness. Red falls in love with Peyton. He is a sweet and sexy man memorable for his patience and heartwarming nature -- because believe me, Red had to be patient with Peyton! The thing is that while working the ranch Peyton is the boss who rules (sometimes she's a bit too insecure about this point), but in bed Red and Peyton together are hot! I like how by the end this relationship slowly balances itself out in and out of bed.

Murray's conflict in this romance is mostly internal between the two protagonists, but aided in part by external circumstances. The internal conflict is excellent, creating the necessary push and pull or tension that makes the happy ending worth it at the end of a romance. The external conflict although used as a device to advance the storyline seemed weaker throughout with a predictable resolution.

Murray creates great atmosphere in this story by providing the necessary ranching details that place the reader right there on that barn with the horses. I really enjoyed that aspect of this novel. The secondary characters are also a contributing factor, although they do not take the focus away from the main couple. The ranch hands become more than just characters as do some of the townspeople, and Peyton's siblings Trace and Bea are key figures in this story that stay enough of a mystery in preparation for their own upcoming romances.

Taking the Reins by Kat Murray is a solid contemporary romance read. I enjoyed the pacing and writing style, but most of all the atmosphere and characters that Murray creates in this romance. Now I'm really curious to find out how cowboy Trace really ended up as a single father, and why Bea left behind her career as an actress and is now sneaking out on those midnight rides!

Category: Contemporary Romance/Western
Series: Roped & Wrangled #1
Publisher: Brava/January 1, 2013
Source: Kensington Publishing
Grade: B

Visit Kat Murray here.