Book Review: Start Me Up

Start Me Up by Victoria Dahl

Description: Lori had a chance to escape the small town that she has lived in her whole life. But she came back to help her father and hasn’t looked back since. She has reconnected with her old friend and her friend’s geeky (and yet incredibly cute) brother is back in her life.

Lori hasn’t been in a relationship in a while so what she wants more then anything is a no-strings attached relationship and Quinn is the perfect man for that. He always gets more involved with his work then the string of women that have paraded through his life. And he wants to get involved with her too.

But that isn’t everything that is going on in Lori’s life. It looks like her father was killed. Someone is creating havoc at her garage. And she is being contacted by people who will do anything to get some land that she was left by her father.


Thoughts: This is another of those romances that have hit the hot level. And I enjoyed it quite a bit (much like I loved the other Victoria Dahl book that I loved). The side story of the garage and Lori’s father was not something that I thought really needed to be a part of it. I was so concerned with the romance that I really didn’t concentrate on it all that much.

Despite this – the book is a quick read that you will love.

What genre would you consider this?
Romance

Overall:

Book Review: Burning Wild

Burning Wild by Christine Feehan

Description: Jake Bannaconni is not a normal man. He has had a horrible childhood that has scarred him in ways that he never could have imagined. He trusts no one – not even his family. And with good reason. When he meets Emma Reynolds he knows she must be in his life no matter what. So he will stop at nothing to make that happen.

But the two have trust issues. And Jake has a large secret that a normal person won’t be able to handle.


Thoughts: More than a normal paranormal romance it has a touch of erotica. It is a hot romance that keeps you entertained. You feel for him in terms of his family and you want Emma to make him happy. You understand her need to not ruin their relationship as his child is her child and hers is his.

I love Christine Feehan but even more I like her romances. She gives them to you with unique stories. Usually they have had rough childhood. And their romancec with someone else saves them.

What genre would you consider this?
Paranormal Romance

Overall:

Book Review: Lip Service

Lip Service by Susan Mallery

Description: Her whole life Skye Titan has done what her father has wanted her to do. Whether it meant marry the man he wanted or take care of the house. That has left Skye in a mansion, widowed, with a child. When her old love returns to town Mitch Cassidy she can't deny her attraction to him.

But will her old man ruin this relationship for her a second time? What about the half brother who will do whatever it takes to bring her down? Can their love survive this time around?

Thoughts: This is my first read in this series (even though it is book 2) and I enjoyed it (and plan to go back to book 1 and read that). There is definitely more then what it seems going on with Skye's father and brother. What is going on there? Will her dad redeem himself? Is he really as evil as he seems? (I am starting to think so).

What genre would you consider this?
Romance

Overall:

Book Review: Bending the Rules

Bending the Rules by Susan Andersen

Description: Poppy Calloway isn't a rich girl trying to help out some underprivledged kids. She had a very special youth herself. When several children get in trouble for tagging the local businesses - Poppy can't help but take them under her wing.

Detective Jason de Sanges had a rough childhood. And he believes that you are what you do. And these kids are trouble. He can't convince Poppy to stay away from them. Can he realize the true reasons that Poppy does what she has? What happens when violence threatens her and the kids?

Thoughts: I liked the first book in this series and I like this one even more. It is a fun read. It is great to see how the kids redeem themselves both in their own eyes and those around them. Add to that the romance and this book will keep you entertained from start to finish.

What genre would you consider this?
Romance

Overall:

Book Review: Hungry for More

Hungry for More by Diana Holquist

Description:Amy Burns is a gypsy who can tell who someone's "One True Love" is. It is a gift she has lived with for most of her life and it is one that she doesn't want to give up. Amy is more then just a psychic but she is also a conman and drifter. When her gift disappears she will do anything to get it back. When she hears rumors of a woman who works for Chef James LaChance who has the powers that Amy used to have she will do anything to track that woman down.

James loves women and women are his inspiration for his dishes. But when he meets Amy his creations take on a whole new complexity and tastiness that makes him want her even more. Can he convince Amy to give up what she thinks she wants most out of life?

Thoughts:
I thought this book was different and that is what I really enjoyed about it. Amy isn't the classic heroine who is good looking for a good man. In fact if anything Amy is a bit of a liar and a devil. But James brings out the best in her - just like she does for him.

I also enjoyed a touch of the supernatural twist in it that Amy is psychic. But the thing is Amy is so much more then just psychic and in some ways she feels like knowing "Ones True Love" is more of bad thing then a good one. It can change your life for either but in some ways it can destroy relationships.

What genre would you consider this?
Romance

Overall:

Star bright

Star bright by Catherine Anderson

Description: Lorraine Hall has had a horrible marriage. Her husband is manipulative and evil. He will do anything he can to kill her so that he can have her money. She has spent the last years in constant fear that he will beat her again – and he does – over and over again.

Rainie has figured out a way out of the situation. She will stage her own death and escape to a small town in Oregon that she has found. She doesn’t know what she will do when she gets there – other than stay out of the spotlight and away from her husband. For Parker Harrigan, Rainie is a confusing person. She seems to be a kind and caring person –but he can tell that beyond her bright exterior are a lot of secrets (and a lot of fear). He soon realizes he wants to help her and keep whatever is scaring her – away from her. But can Rainie trust in Parker? Can she trust herself as she begins to fall in love again?

Thoughts:Catherine Anderson takes the classic romantic tale and weaves it in a way that keeps you intrigued.

You don’t feel at all upset by the fact that Rainie is still married when she gets involved with Parker. I totally agree with Papa Harrigan in this one – that a relationship like the one she lived in is not a marriage.

While Catherine Anderson tells the story she keeps an undertone of religion and the Catholic faith that is not overwhelming but instead just a part of the story. It isn’t preachy or something that distracts from what is going on – instead it adds to the realism of the relationship. I am sure that many people had similar thoughts and discussions (like what religion to raise their children).

What genre would you consider this?
Romance

Overall:

Smart Girls Think Twice

Smart Girls Think Twice by Cathie Linz

What was this book about?

The last sister to be single – Emma Riley is surrounded by weddings. She is used to being the youngest, the smartest, and not exactly known for her good looks. But she is back in her hometown and ready to help her sisters plan their weddings – and – doing something good for her career. Emma is involved in a research project about her hometown.

In walks dangerous and sexy Jake Slayter. Jake has secrets and many of them involve why he came to this town. He is a bartender now – but he used to be an extreme sport superstar. Jake doesn’t usually like the smart ones but he can’t help but be attracted to Emma.

Will the secrets Jake is keeping tear them apart?

What did you think about the book?

I liked it. I always like to see the bookish girl get the non-bookish guy. Emma had so many interesting people surrounding her in her life. They brought out the fun part of the story. An interfering mother, a father who is misunderstood, an ex boyfriends little brother – not to mention her two sisters and brothers-in-law that we met in previous books.

Surrounded by weddings and her career Emma learns to focus on what is the most important to her.

What genre would you consider this?
Romance

Overall:

Question for You!
Have you done any extreme sports? What one would you love to do?

Fire and Ice

Fire and Ice by Julie Garwood

What was this book about?

Sophie Rose is a reporter who loves her job. She grew up the favored daughter of a man she didn’t really understand (but definitely loved) – the famed Bobbie Rose. Bobbie is the Robin Hood of the Chicago area – simultaneously loved and hated – which definitely puts Sophie in a tight spot.

After quitting her first job because she refused to give in to pressure to out her father – she now has a job at a small paper that leaves her doing human interest stories – but they don’t pressure her about her father.

Her best friends since grade school are there to support her –Regan and Cordie. When something new happens in the news with her father – she starts getting death threats and attempts on her life. In comes friend of Regan’s Jack MacAllister. Jack is FBI – and Sophie knows to not trust the FBI.

Meanwhile one of the stars of a human interest story she was going to write turns up dead. Dead and in Alaska. Sophie wants to find out what really happened and in doing so starts a rollercoaster of a ride for her and Jack.

What did you think about the book?

Let me start off by saying I love Julie Garwood’s historical romances. I have many of them on shelves in my house (or packed away – a girl only has that much room for books). But I have read them over and over (and really am wondering if I should read them again so that I can post reviews for them – even if they are not newer books). I just really enjoy those characters. I love how they interact and re-meet each other. They just are books that entertain me no matter how many times I read them.

So this made me start wondering – what leads an author to staying in the same vein of writing – romance – but switching genres almost in terms of time periods and types of stories. I really don’t know. I liked this book. I liked her other contemporary work – but I love her historicals and wish there were more of them so that I could eat them up.

The first thing when I started “thinking” about this book was that. The second was wow – I remember reading about the Buchanan’s – I think I need to reread the book of Alec and his wife.

I liked this book. The characters easily could have been unlikeable (daughter of mob boss and FBI agent). They were both strong characters who needed to rely on each other. The plot was interesting and different and it was just a twist of fate that put Sophie and Jack in danger.

What genre would you consider this?
Contemporary Romance

Overall:

Question for You!
Why do you think author’s move from genre to genre?

Her Best Christmas Ever

Her Best Christmas Ever by Judy Duarte

What was this book about?

Country music star Greg Clayton just wants to return home for the holidays. So he can’t help but be surprised when the only person there to greet him is his Grannie’s housekeeper Connie Montoya. At first Greg is excited, he had an instant attraction to her the last time he saw Connie. Then he realizes Connie is very, very pregnant.

Trapped in a storm Greg is the only one there to deliver the baby. Does the experience bond the two? Can a single mother of a newborn really have a relationship with a country music star? Connie had dreams of her own but has given them up – why? How will that affect their budding love for one another?

What did you think about the book?

The feelings one gets when a child is born – whether the child is theirs biologically is something that the main “hero” finds surprising. He immediately bonds with the child. Did that make his relationship with the mother something he was more willing to follow through with? Possibly?

With these Silhouette books I usually feel the story is too quick. I barely get started and it is over. Sometimes that is a sign of something that is really good – and I don’t want to let go – and other times it is a sign that I didn’t like the book. With this book I didn’t feel that feeling of too quick or too slow. It seemed generally just right. I enjoyed the story. (I mean who wouldn’t want to be rescued by a country music star and swept away with their newborn baby and turned into their very own superstar?)

What genre would you consider this?
Contemporary Romance

Overall:

Question for You!
What is your favorite part of the holidays?

Cutting Loose

Cutting Loose by Susan Andersen

What was this book about?

Jane, Ava, and Poppy inherit a mansion and all of its contents from a dear old friends of theirs. Their own friendship had been formed many years before when they got everything they needed from each other – if not from their families.

Each woman has a task to help bring this mansion back to order. Jane, a museum curator, is in charge of taking all the old collections that had been donated to her museum and catalog them – getting them ready for an exhibit. But once she meets Devlin she can’t keep her mind on the job. Dev is everything she always told herself she didn’t want – and yet she can’t stop thinking about him (neither can he).

Can Jane put aside her preconceived notions and let herself be in a relationship with him? What about her collection? Where are some of the pieces going to? Is there someone out to get her and ruin this for her?

What did you think about the book?

For a fun, flirty, romance novel – this was just what the doctor ordered. The main character was someone you could identify with. She hadn’t had the perfect life, she has best friends who love her so much, and she has ideas of where her life is going. Of course that isn’t how life usually works. Throw in a believable sub-plot of a mystery/theft going on and a man who is hot and you have this book in a nutshell.

You like her and you like Dev. In fact while reading the book I was sad that so many of his family were married (it meant we couldn’t see more books about them). They were so much fun! I love the back and forth snarky comments that were between Jane and Dev, and even their families.

So if you are looking for something light and entertaining this will definitely be the book for you. I was even a little disappointed when I went to Susan Andersen’s website and found out I have till next Summer before I will get Poppy’s book. I wanted it now!

What genre would you consider this?
Romance

Overall:

Question for you:
Do you have a big family? Or small family? How does that impact how you view relationships?

Line of Scrimmage

Line of Scrimmage by Marie Force

What was this book about?

Ryan Sanderson is about to lose his wife of several years. The divorce is just about to be final. So he decides to make a last minute play to keep her in his life. But it isn’t that easy for Susannah. She is ready to move on and is already engaged to old boyfriend Henry.

They have had a dramatic history together and Susannah has always felt as if Ryan has put football before her. Is she willing to let them try one more time? Can they trust each other with their past?

What did you think about the book?

I really enjoyed this book. In some ways it was a light hearted contemporary romance where two people who belong together did the best they could to make it happen. But add into that realistic twists – losing a child, an abusive boyfriend, family who doesn’t like the choices you made and you have a recipe for an interesting and fun romance.

What genre would you consider this?
Contemporary Romance

Overall:

Questions for you!:
Do you think that Ryan’s choice to retire from football had at least something to do with getting his wife and family back?