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TITLE: Rogue Rider
AUTHOR: Larissa Ione
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/20/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The prophecies were there but no one listened. Until now. They are the Lords of Deliverance and they have the power to ward off Doomsday . . . or let it ride.
Jillian Cardiff came to this remote mountain town to forget the demon attack that almost killed her. Instead, she rescues – and falls for – a gorgeous stranger who has no memory of anything other than his name. Handsome, charming and protective, Reseph seems like the kind of man that Jillian can trust. But with hints of a troubling history of his own, he’s also the kind of man that can be very dangerous . . .
Reseph may not know his background, or why he mysteriously appeared in Jillian’s life, but he knows he wants to stay. Yet when Jillian’s neighbours are killed and demon hunters arrive on the scene, Reseph fears that he’s putting Jillian in danger. And once it’s revealed that Reseph is also Pestilence, the Horseman responsible for ravaging the world with death and destruction, he and Jillian must face the greatest challenge of all: can they forget the horrors of a chilling past to save the future they both desire?
REVIEW:
Is there a way to give this book more than 5 stars? I hope so because it deserves it. I absolutely loved this book and Reseph is now my favorite of all the Horsemen. If you have not read the Lords of Deliverance series then do NOT start with this book. Start at book one (Eternal Rider) or even better start back at the very beginning with the Demonica series but do not read this book as a stand alone because you will be missing out on so much.
The change in Reseph from the other books is delightful. We watched as he reigned down horrors on the world in the last three books and then within a couple chapters he is sitting in front of a fire with a cat named Doodle on his lap. I loved it! The way that Reseph changes is so fun to watch that it is hard not to fall in love with him and considering for the last three books we have hated him that is saying something.
Ione has once again shown us why she is the queen of paranormal romance. The world she brings us into is one that captures us from the first word and never seems to let go. If you have read her books I would doubt I would need to “recommend” this to you since you are probably waiting with baited breath to read it but I would recommend you start it on a Friday night because you will not want to put the book down.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: Return To Sender
AUTHOR: Fern Michaels
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/24/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
At seventeen, Rosalind “Lin” Townsend found herself pregnant and alone. Her deeply religious father threw her out of the house, and Nick Pemberton, her baby’s father, refused to marry her. Yet even at the lowest point in her life, Lin vowed to succeed on her own terms, and to give her son, Will, all the love and happiness she’d been denied. Nineteen years later, Lin has made good on her promises, and Will is about to start his freshman year at NYU. But when Lin visits New York with Will, she crosses paths with the one man she thought she’d never see again. Nick Pemberton, now a millionaire CEO, and the man who send back all her letters unopened. Seeing him fills Lin with anger, and she resolves to right the wrong he did to Will. If she succeeds, like she has with everything else, the cost of revenge may be the loss of a bright new future?
REVIEW:
While I usually like Fern Michaels books I do have trouble with the conversations she holds in them because it just does not sound the way a normal person would speak and I expected to feel that way about this book as well while none-the-less enjoying it. I was wrong. I really did not enjoy this book at all. It is so mean spirited and vengeful that I found no connection to the characters. Lin is so obsessed with revenge that it takes away from every other part of this story.
Nick is never a character that the reader decides is worth liking (at least not this reader) and while I have read a bunch of books where the main character is a jerk but low in behold by the end of the book they are a saint this is not one of those.
The book is also a reprint from 2010 which might not sound that long ago but with this book there are some references that date the book making it seem even older.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: Barefoot In The Rain
AUTHOR: Roxanne St. Clair
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/30/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
They say you can never go home again . . .
When “Life Coach to the Stars” Jocelyn Bloom is embroiled in scandal, the only place she can hide is the one place she wishes she could forget. She left Barefoot Bay-and the boy next door who knew all her secrets-years ago. Now nothing about the tiny island off the coast of Florida is quite how she remembers it, especially Will Palmer. He’s even more gorgeous and tempting . . . and still capable of turning her world inside out.
But what if someone is waiting for you?
To Will Palmer, Guy Bloom is more than the elderly, senile neighbor he looks after-he’s the last connection to Jocelyn, the woman Will loved and lost. But the reunion with Jocelyn doesn’t go smoothly. Shocked by the change in her father’s personality, Jocelyn struggles to reconcile her dark childhood with the sweet, confused man who has grown close to Will. Jocelyn has guided countless clients to happiness-but can she escape the rainy days of her past for a new sunny future with Will?
REVIEW:
Wow.. This book… Lets see… It is a really good book but a bit on the sad side. In short (and not giving anything away) Jocelyn returns to her hometown after a scandal in California. Her dad was abusive when she was young but now he is suffering from Alzheimers and doesn’t even recognize her. The man who she always loved but had to leave, because of her father, is now her fathers caregiver and Joss is trying to deal with everything.
Here is the hard part. How does a person forgive an abusive father even when that father is not the man he used to be? There is so much anger/hurt in this story but when you realize that people have to deal with this situation every day you wonder how they can do it.
And the relationship with Joss and Will is sweet and heartbreaking at the same time. The reader wants so badly for Joss to trust Will and yet the reader understands why trust and love can be so foreign to her.
This book is a wonderfully sad story. It is not a light read at all. However, it is written really well and is really a interesting story. It is just not a light-hearted feel good kind of story. But worth the read. It is the second in the Barefoot series but while you can tell there was a previous story with other characters it can stand alone.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: Dark Knight
AUTHOR: Donna Kauffman
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/10/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
As the head of a secret government task force, commonly referred to as the “dirty dozen,” Scottie Giardi is as tough as she is professional. But this skilled operative has her hands full keeping Logan Blackstone in check while his brother completes a dangerous mission. Logan is big, strong, sexy, and determined to find the twin brother he’s never met. More amused than intimidated by Scottie’s undercover games, he’s ready to play, offering a taste of sweet temptation in the bargain.
An ex-cop on a deeply personal mission, Logan isn’t about to tolerate interference, even if Scottie is gorgeous and could easily make him forget his business. She may have the upper hand while they’re locked up in his mountain cabin, but the fire in her eyes tells him the desire she feels is real. Their mutual attraction is about to take them into the dangerous, vulnerable places of the heart, where there’s no turning back.
REVIEW:
I so enjoyed this book. I had just finished the other three in the series (Santerra’s Sin #1, Silent Warrior #2, Light My Fire #3) and was thinking I would take a break and come back to this book later but something made me start reading it and I think it is the best of the series.
To be honest though there is no suspense in this romantic suspense but there is a lot of romance. The character of Logan is so intense and mesmerizing that it is hard not to fall for him right away. Scottie is a tough woman but the author has been able to match her up to someone equal to her and yet complimentary to her. Not any man would have been good for Scottie but Logan is perfect.
This is a great short story and one that any romance fan will enjoy. You do not need to read the others in the series but I think as a fan you will enjoy them. Pick up the first one and you will not be able to put any of them down.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: Surrender The Dark
AUTHOR: Donna Kauffman
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/08/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
They call themselves the Three Musketeers: three lifelong friends, men who will put it all on the line in the name of honor and loyalty. Jarrett McCullough values those bonds as seriously as he values his job heading a covert group of operatives skilled in handling sensitive international information. But his current mission has suddenly gone very wrong—and he finds himself wounded and near death in the last place he ever expected to be.
Rae Gannon is stunned to find her ex-boss bleeding from a gunshot wound, mere paces from her front door. It has been two years since her move to the remote Blue Ridge Mountains, where she tried to erase the memories and the pain she suffered from having been part of McCullough’s team. Yet as Rae tends to Jarrett’s battered body she realizes that the air between them is still sizzling with a slow-burning need. But this time there are more than just hearts at stake. The mission that almost got Jarrett killed threatens to put Rae back in harm’s way. And if they surrender to their desires, it may cost them their lives.
REVIEW:
This is a reprint of an earlier work from Donna Kauffman. As with all her books I enjoyed this one. The characters are interesting. The women in Kauffman’s Loveswept novels always prove to be independent and capable, yet, willing to find love. The men are dangerous and a diamond in the rough. This book was no different. This is the first in the Three Musketeers series. It is a good short read. Perfect for cuddling up in front of the fire or on a beach.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: Fated (Serendipity 1.75)
AUTHOR: Carly Phillips
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/04/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Kate Andews is the original rebound girl. But she has had enough and has vowed to never be someone’s second choice again. Unfortunately, her undeniably intense desire for Nick Mancini is testing her best laid plans because Kate has carried a torch for Nick since high school– but she’s always been permanently in the friend zone.
Lately, Nick has definitely noticed Kate. Unfortunately he can’t get her to take him seriously. He knows he’s made some stupid moves in the past but he’s determined to get Kate to act on their obvious and mutual attraction. However Kate’s stubborn and she’s been hurt before, which means Nick will have to pull out all the stops in order to convince her he’s not the same boy she used to know, and she’s not second best… she’s everything.
REVIEW:
This is a very short but very sweet novella. It is only about 25 pages but worth the read. I have not read the rest of the Serendipity series (I want to though) so I was unsure if this would be confusing but it is not at all. Yes you can tell there is a full story about Faith and Ethan that involves Nick but this is such a sweet story that it doesn’t matter. You won’t be confused but you will be delighted to read it.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: Kissing Under the Mistletoe
AUTHOR: Marina Adair
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/16/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS: Regan Martin stopped believing in Christmas miracles six years ago when she lost everything–her house, her job, and her impeccable reputation in the wine industry–after she fell in love with a man she had no idea was married. Then Regan gets a chance for a fresh start in the Napa Valley, and she starts wondering if holiday wishes really do come true. But she soon tumbles back down to earth when she learns that her new boss is none other than Gabe DeLuca, the scorned wife’s brother. Gabe wants nothing more than home-wrecking Regan Martin out of his life, his sister’s world, and his family’s business. Mostly, he wants the lush beauty out of his head. Yet his attempts to run her out of town have him thinking twice, especially when he sees that Regan may hold the key to tracking down his sister’s stolen start-up capital. Even worse for Gabe, Regan might just be his Christmas wish and hold the key to his heart.
REVIEW:
This was a great little holiday romance for me. I connected to Regan’s character from the very beginning because all she wanted was a home for her daughter and to leave her past mistakes behind her. She regretted having an affair with a man that she had no idea was married until it was too late and Gabe DeLuca had been making her life miserable ever since to protect his sister, Abby, from ever meeting the “other woman.” I never understood why Gabe went to such great lengths to damage Regan’s reputation wherever she went. I could understand that he didn’t want them meeting but going out of his way to get her fired from jobs was just downright spiteful. I didn’t like his character for most of the book because of this and it wasn’t until almost the end, that I started to warm up to him. There were times in this book that I want to give him a swift kick in the butt but he made it up to Regan at the end. The ending of this book absolutely killed me and made me a crying mess and I loved every minute of that scene for Regan.
I recently found out that Marina is working on the third novel in this series and I can’t wait to spend more time with the delightful characters of St. Helena. The townspeople of St. Helena make this book even more fun especially the three Mrs. Clauses. Some of the things they did in this book still make me laugh thinking about them. I’m now curious as to which DeLuca family member will find love and happiness in the next installment.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
It was a close call between JANE’S GIFT by Karen Erickson and SANTA’S EXECUTIVE by Carrie Ann Ryan. Only one vote tipped Jane’s Gift into the lead. In the Christmas spirit Books-N-Kisses decided to feature Santa’s Executive as an extra sweet treat for you!
Welcome Carrie Ann! It was a close vote so we are happy you were able to join us as well.
Hi! Thanks for having me!
Why did you want to include a Christmas story as part of your Holiday, Montana series?
When I first came up with the idea of Holiday, Montana, I wanted each book to center around a different holiday—and of course, a sexy Cooper brother. I of course had to go with Halloween, Valentine’s Day and a couple others, but Christmas was the first one in my mind. It’s the one holiday a year I get off to celebrate with my family no matter what, so it’s a big deal.
Do you have a favorite holiday novel?
You know, I had a couple before this week, and now that I’ve read Jennifer Ashley’s A Mackenzie Family Christmas, I choose that one!
What is your favorite part of the holidays?
Presents! No, not really. My favorite part is just seeing my family and my in-laws again. We live so far away, that it’s nice to see them again.
Do you have any Christmas traditions?
Hmm…we moved around so much as kids, that I didn’t really have too many. But every year we get a box of chocolates under the tree. The only time of the year we’re allowed to indulge. I plan on continuing that tradition with my future kids. My husband is all for it!
What books do you have coming out soon?
Oh so many! BLURRED EXPECTATIONS (Redwood Pack Book 4.5) is a novella about Reed, Hannah, and Josh from TRINITY BOUND and that comes out early January. The third book in the Holiday, Montana series, FINDING ABIGAIL, comes out early February. I think you can guess what holiday that’s about. The fourth book in the series, HER LUCKY LOVE, comes out in March. Guess the holiday! I have a book a month coming out until July then a couple more after that. Yes, I’m a bit crazy.
Finally, What would you like to say to your fans that voted for your novel?
I’m so touched and humbled. I know this novel isn’t the normal “under-the-tree” romance and it’s a bit more fun, so I’m so happy that my readers enjoyed it!
THANK YOU and Happy Holidays!
Thanks Carrie Ann for joining us and Happy Holidays to you too!!!
Now some words from fans of Santa’s Executive!
Jacki C. says: I love Santa’s Executive. It is part of a great series by Carrie Ann Ryan. And, what’s not to love about the characters? Justin is a former bad boy who likes Christmas cookies, and Rina is a giant elf. Those touches of whimsy made the book even that much better!
Nicole G says: Definitely Santa’s Executive by Carrie Ann Ryan. A hot guy, a beautiful elf, cookies, and romance. Who could ask for more for Christmas. Definitely a different but refreshing take on a Christmas romance. Totally worth reading 🙂
Margie says: Santa’s Executive by Carrie Ann Ryan has my vote, sexy guy who loves sugar cookies, and a sexy elf what’s not to love?
Viviana says: Santa’s Executive has my vote! A great story filled with fun characters and part of a wonderful series! Carrie Ann truly captures the *spirit* of Christmas and captivates her readers with witty dialogue, sexy men (LOVE the Cooper brothers) and in this case a sweet, smart and spunky elf!