Category: Jennifer’s Review

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Jennifer reviews Unbuttoned by Maisey Yates

Unbuttoned

TITLE: Unbuttoned
SERIES #: A Silver Creek Novella
CHARACTERS: Carly Denton & Lucas Miller
AUTHOR: Maisey Yates
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/18/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Carly Denton has learned to keep her buttons and emotions firmly fastened. Her parents’ constant drama, and an unrequited crush on her brother’s best friend, taught her to keep her passion beneath the surface. But she can no longer avoid the one man with the ability to bring that passion to a boil…

Lucas remembers Carly as a freckle-faced tomboy–not a frosty woman who treats him like a burr under her saddle. But when they must work together on a charity project, Lucas is shocked to find their bickering melt into some serious mutual attraction. He’s determined to show Carly that he’s the man for her, if only she’d learn to let loose.

Lucas is the last man on earth Carly should give in to. The freedom she finds in his arms has her feeling happier than ever, but is it enough to make her realize that the greatest risk isn’t losing your heart, but losing the chance at happiness?

REVIEW:
I love small town romances and I was very excited to read one that was based here in Oregon. Carly Denton has her life completely mapped out when she becomes Councilwoman for Silver Creek and placed in charge of a charity project which forces her to work with her brother’s best friend, Lucas Miller. Carly has always had a crush on Lucas but can’t get past his philandering ways and Lucas can’t figure out why Carly is so temperamental whenever he is around. So one day, she decides to throw caution to the wind and experience one night of passion with the man she has always known to be off-limits.

I liked Carly because she was smart and didn’t want to get romantically involved with someone who she knew would eventually break her heart. Even though she had feelings for Lucas, she was basing her opinions on his past behavior without realizing that Lucas was finally becoming the man that he always wanted to be. Carly was also so determined to hold on to her “respectable” image in the eyes of the townspeople after the history of her parent’s notorious public fights in front of the entire town. She never wanted to be the type of person that would lose control when it came to love and her feelings for Lucas were so strong that she thought she would blow everything that she worked for if she pursued a relationship with him. Lucas, on the other hand, was tired of his love ‘em and leave ‘em ways of the past and wanted to finally have a true relationship with a woman and his heart was set on Carly.

When these two finally got together, they realized they had more in common than they originally thought and with a little trust, could have a great life together. The sexual chemistry between them was explosive and the sex scenes in this book were very hot and steamy. The book was also filled with humorous one-liners between Carly and Lucas that had me laughing out loud.

Maisey Yates is a very talented author and has created the perfect small-town romance about two people that found love once they learned to take a leap of faith. I was pleasantly surprised with this novella and I can’t wait to see what is in store for the residents of Silver Creek in the next book, Unexpected.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

5hearts-68-77

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Jennifer reviews Club Monstrosity by Jesse Petersen

TITLE: Club Monstrosity
SERIES #: Club Monstrosity #1
CHARACTERS: Natalie Grey, Alec, Kia
AUTHOR: Jesse Petersen
PUBLICATION DATE: 04/29/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
There are monsters in New York…Natalie’s one of Frankenstein’s creations and works in a New York City morgue. So, of course she needs therapy. She and her friends–er, fellow monsters–have formed the world’s most exclusive, most dysfunctional support group. What could go wrong?

Undetected in the modern world and under pressure to stay that way, Natalie Grey, Dracula, Bob the Blob, and others (including the fetching wolfman Alec) meet regularly to talk about the pressures of being infamous in the Big Apple. Topics include how long it’s been since their last sighting, how their “story” creates stereotypes they can’t fulfill, and–gasp–sometimes even their feelings. But when their pervy Invisible Man, Ellis, is killed in a manner reminiscent of the H.G. Wells novel, it’s clear someone’s discovered their existence and is down for some monster busting.

Led by Natalie–and definitely not helped by Hyde’s bloodthirsty tendencies–the members of Monstofelldosis Anonymous band together for security and a little sleuthing. And maybe–maybe–if they don’t end up dead, they’ll end up friends somewhere along the way.

REVIEW:
This was a great book for me because I have always loved the old monster movies as a child and imagine now that these same monsters have been leading normal lives with you and me all along. Jesse Petersen has created such a charming, hilarious and highly-entertaining tale about monsters living among us and I instantly fell in love with these characters. Natalie Grey was so adorable as one of Frankenstein’s creations who worked in the city morgue at night trying to hide her superhuman strength and her scars from the rest of the world. I loved how she seemed to find herself in charge of the investigation with Alec when she was so used to hiding in the shadows so she wouldn’t be discovered. She went from being a meeky character to this strong woman who would do anything to protect the people that she considered her “family.”

Alec was a super sweet guy who instantly connected with Natalie during the murder investigation and probably wouldn’t have gotten to know her if these murders hadn’t of happened. I loved how he was sort of a Casanova with the ladies but who also had a hard time keeping a roommate around the full moon. The secondary characters in Club Monstrosity were very entertaining and made want to watch all their movies again to familiarize myself with their stories. Jesse Petersen is a fabulous writer and I can’t wait to read the second book in this great series.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Jennifer reviews Summer in Napa by Marina Adair

TITLE: Summer in Napa
SERIES #: A St. Helena Vineyard Novel #2
CHARACTERS: Alexis Moreau, Marco DeLuca
AUTHOR: Marina Adair
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/14/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
When Alexis “Lexi” Moreau caught her husband, Jeff, sampling the sous-chef’s more intimate wares in their New York restaurant, she ran–all the way back to her hometown of St. Helena, California. Six months later, Lexi has no husband and no restaurant. But she does have a three-step plan: First, convert her grandmother’s bakery into her dream bistro. Second, ignore Grandma’s matchmaking attempts. And third, avoid Marco DeLuca, her ex’s commitment-phobic, distractingly sexy best friend.

In school Lexi was off-limits for Marco. After all, she was his buddy’s girl. But she’s still as smart and as gorgeous–and apparently as immune to his charms–as she used to be. Yet the simple fake romance they agree upon to dodge Lexi’s grandmother’s matchmaking plans soon turns deliciously complicated. And the sultry summer might bring together all the right ingredients for Marco to win the only woman he’s ever wanted.

REVIEW:
I adore this series and I can’t seem to get enough of the residents of St. Helena. Alexis “Lexi” Moreau has come home to pick up the pieces of her life and career after the disastrous divorce from her husband, Jeffrey. All she wants is peace and quiet and be able to immerse herself in her grandmother’s bakery. On the very first day of being home, she gets stuck in a window of the bakery while trying to avoid seeing her ex-husband’s best friend and resident casanova, Marco DeLuca. Yet the person that comes to her rescue is non-other than the one man she is trying desperately to avoid. This leads to the two of them slowly making amends for the past, which develops into a friendship with the possibility of being so much more.

I thought Lexi was a sweet character that just wanted her life back after feeling that she had lost everything that she ever cared for. She was smart, vulnerable with her heart on her sleeve and her grandmother’s eclairs were the perfect remedy for any emotional trauma that she may experience. I wanted her to find her happy ending because she deserved to find a little happiness after everything that she went through with her ex.

Marco DeLuca was definitely a charmer in this book. He never wanted to settle down with anyone but when Lexi came back to town, that changed everything. He has cared for her since high school and was never able to act on it because she was with his best friend. I loved how protective he was of his family and the people he cared about, including Lexi. He made some mistakes in his relationship with Lexi but was willing to fix everything for her even if it meant possibly losing her in the end.

I love Marina Adair’s work and the St. Helena Vineyard books are one of my favorite series right now. She creates characters that you can’t help to fall in love with and romantic stories that will bring tears of happiness. I loved this book and I can’t wait to read Autumn in the Vineyard later this year.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Jennifer reviews A Witch’s Handbook of Kisses and Curse by Molly Harper

TITLE: A Witch’s Handbook of Kisses and Curses
SERIES #: Half Moon Hollow #2
CHARACTERS: Nola Leary, Jed Trudeau, Jane Jameson
AUTHOR: Molly Harper
PUBLICATION DATE: 5/28/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Nola Leary would have been content to stay in Kilcairy, Ireland, healing villagers at her family’s clinic with a mix of magic and modern medicine. But a series of ill-timed omens and a deathbed promise to her grandmother have sent her on a quest to Half-Moon Hollow, Kentucky, to secure her family’s magical potency for the next generation. Her supernatural task? To unearth four artifacts hidden by her grandfather before a rival magical family beats her to it.

Complication One: The artifacts are lost somewhere in vampire Jane Jameson’s occult bookshop. Complication Two: Her new neighbor Jed Trudeau keeps turning up half-naked at the strangest times, a distraction Nola doesn’t need. And teaming up with a real-life Adonis is as dangerous as it sounds, especially since Jed’s got the face of an angel and the abs of a washboard. Can Nola complete her mission before falling completely under his spell?

REVIEW:
Molly Harper is absolutely one of my favorite authors at the moment and A Witch’s Handbook of Kisses and Curses was a humor-filled romp that had me laughing out loud. Nola Leary comes to Half-Moon Hollow on a hunt for four magical artifacts to help bind a rival family as her family has done for centuries before her. When she gets to Kentucky, she finds that the items may be hidden in Jane Jameson’s bookstore and she has a gorgeous next door neighbor that keeps distracting her from her mission. With a little help from some overzealous vampires, she might just find the items before the deadline and her rivals do.

I really enjoyed this book and I got swept along with the story almost immediately. Nola was a fun character and I loved the fact that she was a healer as well as a witch. I was also excited that Jane and the Scooby gang were a big part of the storyline and we got to catch up with them after the events of Jane’s wedding. This book was filled with hilarious dialogue, hot romance with the next door neighbor and enough paranormal elements to keep you thoroughly entertained. This is the second book in the Half-Moon Hollow series and Molly Harper doesn’t disappoint with this one. If you haven’t read her books, you should be because she will keep you laughing until the very last page.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Jennifer reviews Too Hot To Handle by Victoria Dahl

TITLE: Too Hot to Handle
SERIES #: The Jackson Series #2
CHARACTERS: Merry Kade and Shane Harcourt
AUTHOR: Victoria Dahl
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/26/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
This good girl’s going bad…Merry Kade has always been the good girl. The best friend. The one who patiently waits for the guy to notice her. Well, no more. Merry has just scored her dream job, and it’s time for her life to change. As the new curator of a museum in Wyoming, she’ll supervise a lot of restoration work. Luckily she’s found the perfect contractor for the job.

Shane Harcourt can’t believe that someone wants to turn a beat-up ghost town into a museum attraction. After all, the last thing he needs is the site of his dream ranch turning into a tourist trap. He’ll work on the project, if only to hasten its failure…until the beautiful, quirky woman in charge starts to change his mind.

For the first time ever, Merry has a gorgeous stud hot on her heels. But can she trust this strong, silent man, even if he is a force of nature in bed? When Shane’s ulterior motive come out, he’ll need to prove to Merry that a love like theirs may be too hot to handle, but it’s impossible to resist.

REVIEW:
Victoria Dahl has been one of my favorite authors for a very long time and I thoroughly enjoyed her new book, Too Hot to Handle. Merry Kade is so sweet and adorable in an awkward way and I could instantly relate to her. She has always been considered the best friend and not the “hot chick” and I felt for her trying to navigate in today’s misconstrued dating scene. When she meets Shane Harcourt, she immediately believes that he only sees her as a “friend” and any sexual contact that they may have would be labeled under “friends with benefits.” No strings attached and no long-term commitment potential when all Merry would love to do is settle down with this hot cowboy.

Shane started off in this book as having a chip on his shoulder and had this reputation that he wasn’t looking for a relationship. He agrees to help Merry with rebuilding the ghost town of Providence, little by little, but we quickly find out that he has ulterior motives to assisting Merry. I have to say that Shane grew on me after a while and I was really hoping that he could see Merry as more than a friend because they seemed to have great chemistry together. Merry deserved a true relationship and to know what love feels like and there were a few people in this book who would have kicked him in the ass if he broke Merry’s heart. I really enjoyed this book and reconnected with past characters from Close Enough to Touch and I am looking forward to more love stories in the beautiful town of Jackson, Wyoming.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts

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Jennifer reviews Dead Silence by Kimberly Derting

TITLE: Dead Silence
SERIES #: Body Finder #4
CHARACTERS: Violet Ambrose
AUTHOR: Kimberly Derting
PUBLICATION DATE: 04/16/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Violet thought she’d made peace with her unique ability to sense the echoes of the dead and the imprints that cling to their killers…that is, until she acquired an imprint of her own. Now she’s more determined than ever to lead a normal life. However, the people who run the special investigative team Violet works for have no intention of letting her go.

When someone close to her becomes a suspect in a horrific murder, Violet finds herself pulled into a hunt for a vicious madman with an army of devoted followers–and quickly discovers that protecting those closest to her is far more difficult than protecting herself.

REVIEW:
Kimberly Derting has written a pulse-pounding story full of suspense with Dead Silence and the stakes are much higher for Violet and her special investigative team. In this installment, Violet is dealing with the recent events that have left her with an imprint of her own. I just want to say that Violet has come so far in her journey from the first novel in the series and finally seems to be coming to terms with her unusual gift. She seems stronger, more grown-up and I was impressed by how well she was handling everything in her life. She is still in limbo in regards to her feelings toward Rafe while having a romantic relationship with her longtime boyfriend, Jay. All this changes when she accidentally finds the bodies of a family and is thrown into a murder investigation where someone she knows becomes the prime suspect.

I really enjoyed this story and I liked how Violet was able to understand more about her gift by finding journals that belonged to her grandmother, who also had Violet’s ability. It helped to provide some answers that she had always wondered about, yet provided more questions as to what her future holds with her fellow team members of the special investigative unit. I was also impressed by her boyfriend, Jay, because all through this series, he has been a great guy that has stood beside her and would do anything to protect her. He doesn’t particularly care for Rafe and knows that Rafe has feelings for Violet but is able to put those emotions aside because they ultimately have to work together. I felt sorry for Rafe throughout this book because of his unrequited romantic feelings toward Violet but I was also glad to see there could possibly be a new love entering his life soon.

The killer in this book was absolutely creepy and I had a hard time with some of the scenes just because of the gore content. Makes you want to double check your locks and get home before it gets dark after reading this.

Kimberly Derting is such a talented writer and I have enjoyed every one of her books in the Body Finder series. I have loved Violet’s transition from being just this young girl with a bizarre talent to a young woman who now wants to help people with her “gift.” I’m hoping that there will be more books in this series because Kimberly has done a wonderful job creating these characters and I can’t wait to see what is next for Violet and her friends.

Disclaimer:
The following review is my opinion and not a paid review. I received this book free as part of the blog tour.

4 Hearts
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Jennifer reviews Hot Blooded by Amanda Carlson

TITLE: Hot Blooded
SERIES #: Jessica McClain #2
CHARACTERS: Jessica McClain
AUTHOR: Amanda Carlson
PUBLICATION DATE: 04/23/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
It hasn’t been the best week for Jessica McClain. Her newly found mate has been kidnapped by a Goddess hell-bent on revenge, and Jessica is positive she can save him. But being the only female werewolf in town comes with its own set of rules and powers…if only she understood them. Aided by two vamps, two loyal Pack members, and one very reluctant human, Jessica must rescue her man while coming to terms with what being a wolf really means.

REVIEW:
After finishing Full Blooded last year, I was dying to read Hot Blooded and Amanda Carlson doesn’t disappoint with this exciting new novel. Jessica is on a quest to save her mate, Rourke, from the clutches of the evil goddess, Selene, who happens to be hiding out in her mountain lair. To get to Rourke, Jessica must battle through the dangerous supernatural traps that Selene has set for her, meaning to kill everyone in its path. Selene won’t give up Rourke without a fight and Jessica is willing to do anything to be reunited with her mate.

I loved this book so much! Hot Blooded picks up right after the events of Full Blooded and this book is filled with non-stop action. Jessica is trying to come to terms with her new found supernatural abilities and decipher the alleged prophecy that claims that a female wolf will rule all. The problem is that she has to get her mate back and then she will be able to sort out all the rest. I just loved Jessica’s personality and I instantly related to her. She would do anything to find Rourke and bring him home safely but was afraid to lose any of her close friends in the process. This book was enjoyable from beginning to end and we learn so much more about Jessica and how her new powers affect the wolf pack. I also love the refreshing take on the werewolf folklore and I am excited to see where Ms. Carlson goes with this in further books. I can’t wait to read Cold Blooded later this year and Amanda Carlson is destined to be a big name in the paranormal genre.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Jennifer reviews Gone With The Wolf by Kristin Miller

TITLE: Gone with the Wolf
CHARACTERS: Drake and Emelia
AUTHOR: Kristin Miller
PUBLICATION DATE: 4/23/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
CEO and alpha werewolf Drake Wilder has given up the search for his one true love. When he discovers that she’s a secretary in his company, Drake’s primal instincts kick into overdrive.

What he wouldn’t give to have her fingers rake over his body instead of the keyboard….

Free-spirited bartender Emelia Hudson wants nothing more than to make her Seattle-based bar succeed. But when profits decline, she slips into a dress suit and secures a nine-to-five. After learning that her bar has become property of Wilder Financial, Emelia is determined to get some answers.

Two can play the ruthless business game. If only her attraction to the boss wasn’t so intense….

When Drake’s twin brother senses that Drake has found his match—and now inherits their father’s billion dollar estate–he hatches a plan to take Emelia out. Drake vows to protect her at all costs, but he might have to pay with his own life.

REVIEW:
Emelia Hudson is trying to do everything in her power to save her struggling bar, The Knight Owl, from being taken over by the greedy Wilder Financial, who claim that they are the rightful owners of the bar instead of Emelia. This causes Emelia to take a temp job at Wilder Financial to find out the truth about her deed and why Russell Wilder is so determined to destroy her little bar. She never expected to find that Russell “Drake” Wilder was such a gorgeous man that seemed to set her body on fire with every touch.

Emelia was definitely a free-spirit in this book, whose intent was to find the truth behind the claims that Wilder Financial owned her building when she holds a copy of the deed herself. She is tough, sarcastic and had a great sense of humor that made you instantly like her. Drake was the type of guy who was used to getting what he wanted and the last thing that he expected was that Emelia would be his soul-mate. Once he knew this, he was fiercely protective of her and wanted her to have the best in life. I could understand Emelia’s hesitation because he was so rich and powerful and there wasn’t anything that seemed to put them on even ground. I loved that he was willing to do anything to prove his love for her and Emelia couldn’t help but fall in love with him. Gone with the Wolf was a delightful story and I hope to see more from Kristin Miller because I adored Emelia and Drake.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts

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Jennifer reviews The Collector by Victoria Scott

TITLE: The Collector
SERIES #: Dante Walker Series
CHARACTERS: Dante Walker
AUTHOR: Victoria Scott
PUBLICATION DATE: 04/02/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence has made him one of Hell’s best–a soul collector. His job is simple, weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.

Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal opportunity collector and doesn’t want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:

Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within 10 days.

Dante doesn’t know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of Hell. But after Dante meets the quirky, Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect–he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector, and uncover emotions deeply buried.

REVIEW: Dante is the epitome of a bad boy and he makes good girls want to do bad things because that’s his job. Look for people doing bad things or “sinning” and mark their soul with his collector stamp. Once a soul obtains a certain number of collector stamps, he then takes their soul until the time that their body dies and they are sent to the hot place down below. His next mark is Charlie Cooper and if he finishes this assignment in ten days, he will be able to stay on Earth permanently and never have to return down below. When he meets Charlie, she is a very nerdy teenager and Dante has no clue why the Boss Man wants her. He just has to corrupt her soul and he is done with the assignment.

Dante was a jerk in the beginning of this book. He was used to getting what he wanted before he died with his looks, charm and money, so it was relatively easy for him to infiltrate Charlie’s world. He paid attention to her and tried to “help” her to be more popular and Charlie trusted him almost immediately. Charlie was such a sweet girl who just wanted to help others make a difference in their lives and couldn’t believe that this good looking guy was interested in her. I couldn’t imagine anyone not caring about Charlie after spending time with her and I’m glad that Dante had second thoughts to completing his mission.

Victoria Scott has created an amazing debut novel with The Collector and this story will have you believing in second chances and the possibility of redemption. This book was funny, smart and sweet and I was holding my breath as I couldn’t wait to see what happens next. I can’t wait to read The Liberator which is out later this year to see what happened to Dante and Charlie after the events of The Collector.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Jennifer reviews Greta And The Goblin King by Chloe Jacobs

TITLE: Greta and The Goblin King
AUTHOR: Chloe Jacobs
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/13/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
While trying to save her brother from the witch three years ago, Greta was thrown into the fire herself, falling through a portal to a dangerous world where humans are the enemy, and every ogre, goblin, and ghoul has a dark side that comes out with the full moon. To survive, 17-year-old Greta has hidden her humanity and taken the job of bounty hunter–and she’s good at what she does. So good, she’s caught the attention of Mylena’s young Goblin King, the darkly enticing Isaac, who invades her dreams and undermines her determination to escape. But Greta’s not the only one looking to get out of Mylena. The full moon is mere days away, and an ancient evil being knows she’s the key to opening the portal. If Greta fails, she and the boys she finds stranded in the woods will die. If she succeeds, no world will be safe from what follows her back….

REVIEW:
Chloe Jacobs has created a fantastic paranormal novel that had me entranced with its characters from the very beginning. Greta was a tough-minded young woman who did what she needed to survive in a world where she is the enemy that everyone fears. I was amazed at her character because she was hiding her true identity while trying to make a life in this strange new world. She tried to make the best of her situation while always hoping for a way back home to her family. I loved her interactions with Isaac, the Goblin King, and their love-hate relationship throughout the course of this book. Isaac was a very dark brooding hero and you were never really sure of his true motives when it came to Greta. This book was action-packed and never slowed down for a second for readers to catch their breath during this story. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author and I hope that there is another story about Greta and the interesting inhabitants of the Mylena World.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts
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Jennifer reviews Timber Creek by Veronica Wolff

TITLE: Timber Creek
AUTHOR: Veronica Wolff
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/31/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
For Laura Bailey it wasn’t easy weathering her teen years at her quaint family lodge in a boondock town at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Fleeing for San Francisco the minute she graduated high school seemed like a good idea-until she lost her job and her fiance. The blow to her pride sent her back to Sierra Falls to figure out her life. But her hometown is undergoing a bit of renovation.

A new Sierra Falls resort is posing a threat to the Bailey family business. Even worse, the construction company developing the property is run by Eddie Jessup, Laura’s cocky high school nemesis who delighted in locking horns with the little spitfire. Some things never change. But their battle isn’t the only thing heating up between Laura and Eddie, and before long they realize that getting to know each other all over again has its rewards. But fate isn’t through with them. Nor are the games men and women play in the name of love.

REVIEW:
This is the second book in the Sierra Falls series and I loved this book so much better than the first one, Sierra Falls. Laura was a young woman who had lost her prestigious job and boyfriend forcing her to come back home to the place she desperately wanted to get away from as a teenager. She didn’t seem very nice in the beginning of this story because she was constantly yelling at everyone and was impatient with most of the staff at her family’s lodge. But I connected with this character because I could see that she put up this barrier to try to prove to people that she had it all together when inside she felt like a failure. She never really felt as though she was good enough growing up and when Eddie started working for her family’s competition, she did everything in her power to stop the construction. The family business was the only thing that she had left to focus her energy on and she couldn’t let that be destroyed.

I loved Eddie because he was sweet, funny and just a great guy that any girl would want for a boyfriend. He had been trying so hard to get Laura to see him in a romantic light and even though he was working on the construction for the new spa, he was never upset with Laura even though she brought up several issues about his work permit at every turn. They were the perfect match for each other even though it took longer for Laura to realize that she had everything she needed to be happy in Sierra Falls right in front of her.

I love small town romances and Veronica Wolff does a wonderful job creating characters that you can fall in love with. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the Sierra Falls series and I have a feeling that I know who the lucky characters are that will find their true happiness next.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts
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Jennifer reviews Sweet Madness by Heather Snow

TITLE: Sweet Madness
SERIES #: Veiled Seduction Series #3
CHARACTERS: Penelope Bridgeman & Gabriel Devereaux
AUTHOR: Heather Snow
PUBLICATION DATE: 04/02/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Ever since her husband’s sudden and tragic death, Lady Penelope Bridgeman has committed herself to studying the maladies of the mind, particularly the trauma of soldiers of the Napoleonic Wars. It is this experience that brings the Marquess of Bromwich’s family to her door.

Gabriel Devereaux’s unexpected and unpredictable episodes are unlike any Penelope has studied. The once proud soldier has been left shaken and withdrawn, but Penelope manages to build a fragile trust between them. Strangely, Gabriel seems completely lucid when not in the grips of his mania, and during the calm bouts between, she is surprised by how much she is drawn to him.

Despite his own growing feelings, Gabriel knows that he is fit for no one and is determined to keep Penelope away from his descent into madness. But even though she knows firsthand the folly of loving a broken man, Penelope cannot stop herself from trying to save him, no matter the cost.

REVIEW: Heather Snow continues to impress me more with every book that she writes and I am amazed at how intricate her characters and storyline are with her new release, Sweet Madness. Lady Penelope Bridgeman is a young socialite that is determined to help others suffering with mental illness even though health professionals dismiss her techniques as being foolish. Penelope seemed to be very happy in the beginning with her life as a young wife, until tragedy strikes and she is drawn into assisting others with similar maladies. I liked her because even though she would have been happy in a ballroom she felt that she needed to help others and I saw this as her way for atoning for what she considered as her past mistakes. I thought she was very courageous to walk into the situations that she did with her head held high and the determination that she would make a difference in these people’s lives. There was nothing that she could have to done to help the people in her past because I believe she was meant to have a purpose and those events would eventually put her on her journey into the psychiatric field.

Gabriel Devereaux was also a very interesting character for me because he had fallen so far from his station in society. He was being currently housed in a mental institution after being a decorated war hero and his family was determined to deem him mentally incompetent to be head of his own estate. Penelope was his last hope in helping to cure him and she was also the shining light in his current sea of mental darkness. The two of them together were magical because they just fit so well together and her very presence calmed him during the worst of his episodes. Even though the subject matter for this novel was very serious, Ms. Snow handles the material with the upmost of care and it hit very close to home for this reader.

This is the third and final book in the Veiled Seduction series and I have loved each of these wonderful, intelligent and resourceful heroines immensely. I can’t wait to see what Ms. Snow has planned for the future but I’m sure that her next endeavour will be just as well-written and thought-provoking as Sweet Madness.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.