Island Reader Reviews

Review: The Lion And The Lark by Doreen Owens Malek

noreply@blogger.com (Island Reader Tina) — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Author - Doreen Owens Malek
Genre - Historical Romance
Series - N/A
Format - Ebook (205p.)
Rating - 4/5 stars

The Year is 44 B. C. Julius Caesar is dead. And as rebellion divides Italy and Britain, a Roman centurion and a Celtic princess forge a bond no woman or man can rend asunder…

To ensure peace between her tribe and their savage conquerors, the exquisite Bronwen has been promised in wedlock to a high-born Roman tribune. But the British beauty is also a secret spy ready to risk her life to free her people.

Dispatched to Britain by Mark Antony, Claudius is irresistibly drawn to the flaxen-haired, cobalt-eyed Bronwen. Yet he knows he dare not trust the woman who is bound to him by law—not love.

• Review •
I enjoyed this story a lot. The characters were excellently portrayed and I felt for each and every one of them. I was rooting for Bronwen and Claudius throughout the tale and was happy when it was clear they would achieve their HEA. I also liked the sub-romance between Brettix and Lucia and would have liked to read more about them. It works out good though. The ending was a bit lackluster and abrupt for me. I wanted more, I wasn't ready to say goodbye to any of these characters!

That said, I had some issues with the huge amount of typos and the inconsistent pacing. Neither were bad enough to pull me from the story, but they were annoying at times. Although, some of the typos did lend some comic relief to an otherwise serious tale, like the heroine taking her own lips in a passionate kiss or kissing her own eyelids… That's just a couple examples of the many errors and I'm quite surprised proofreaders/editors/someone didn't catch them. That's the reason for a lower mark from me. THE LION AND THE LARK is a great story though and I highly recommend it to romance readers that love early history as well.

Cover musings:

The cover is okay. The people don't look like how I imagined Bronwen and Claudius but close enough. The scenery is off as well considering most of the story is told in the middle of winter with a lot of snow…

Favorite moment:

When Claudius and Bronwen finally consummated their marriage after what seemed like forever and wondering if they would ever be able to overcome their differences… Very emotional and moving.

★★★★

Review: Resisting Cupid by Carol Rose

noreply@blogger.com (Island Reader Tina) — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 00:18:00 +0000

Author - Carol Rose
Genre - Contemporary Romance
Series - N/A
Format - Ebook (22p.)
Rating - 2/5 stars

Emma reluctantly returns to Cupid, Texas, stealing time from her career as a television journalist, to be her high school best friend's maid of honor. The four months of her brief, youthful marriage to Tucker, her high school boyfriend, had been fiery in lots of ways. She can't quite forget his kisses, even though she's tried. To her chagrin, she sees Tucker at the wedding rehearsal since his brother is the groom. Just as hot as he was before, Tucker's still the hunky guy she married right out of high school, but now he's a medical doctor. Emma's shocked to discover they're still married. She'd thought Tucker took care of the matter, but he tells her he never got a divorce. They're still married and Tucker isn't sure he wants a divorce. He still has feelings for Emma.

She has to decide if the flames between her and her husband deserve another shot.

• Review •
RESISTING CUPID didn't do it for me, unfortunately. It wasn't that it was badly written or anything, it was just very bland. I couldn't sympathize with the characters because they weren't really fleshed out. I didn't know them or get what their problem(s) were, so I just didn't care about them or their happiness. I also struggled understanding what the big deal from their past was that was so bad that it caused them to separate in the first place.

Oh well. At 22 pages and free, I can't really complain. Like I said, this wasn't a bad book, just pretty bland and a little too flat for my tastes. If it had been a full length or novella where there was more room to expand on the past conflict and back stories of the characters and current growth and fixing what was wrong/had happened, RESISTING CUPID probably would have been knocked out of the ballpark. Coulda, shoulda, woulda…

Cover musings:

This isn't the same cover as the one I have on my copy, but I much prefer this lighter one. Still cheesy looking but at least it isn't dark like my copy.

★★

Review: Too Darn Hot by Pamela Burford

noreply@blogger.com (Island Reader Tina) — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 15:09:00 +0000

Author - Pamela Burford
Genre - Contemporary
Series - N/A
Format - Ebook (144p.)
Rating - 4/5 stars
Read the excerpts

Rule Number One: Never mix business with pleasure. New York restaurant reviewer Lina Holland learned that lesson by watching her beloved mentor self-destruct, and she's not about to make a similar mistake, even if the chef and owner of the restaurant she’s secretly reviewing is the most sexalicious hunk who ever seared a T-bone. It's not enough to be scrupulously impartial, she must avoid even the merest whiff of favoritism. Date a restaurateur? She can't allow herself to even think about it. Okay, she thinks about it, but that's all. Really!

Chef Eric Reid is a widower struggling to raise twin boys and keep his fledgling Long Island restaurant afloat long enough for word of mouth to lift it out of the red. Little does he suspect that the intriguing new customer groaning in ecstasy over his bourbon pecan tart is none other than the legendary Lina Holland, the reviewer whose thumbs-up could spell the difference between colossal success and the extermination of his lifelong dream. No one in the industry knows what Lina looks like, but he's convinced she's a brash, zaftig shrew who applies her makeup with a putty knife. When he finds out how wrong he is, the fun really starts!

Throw in a buttinsky roommate, a lecherous ex-husband, bribery by chocolate, and the fishing excursion from hell, and the result is, well, too darn hot!

• Review •
TOO DARN HOT was a great read. I enjoyed almost every aspect of my time spent with it. There was great tension between the H/h, a quirky side character that made for decent comic relief, excellent pace. The story was believable even if a bit predictable and very dated. Although, I really wish I had gotten more of the romance between Eric and Lina. I liked these two and I was disappointed being left out of the joys of them falling in love.

Basically, all the reader is shown is them meeting, sniffing around each other for a few weeks and then having sex. Jump ahead several months (4 iirc) and they're madly in love and quickly approaching the 'Big Misunderstanding' and subsequent resolution/HEA. I didn't see that love play out and grow, so I find it hard to believe at the end. For that reason, despite giving a decent grade, I won't be adding this book to my keeper shelf for future rereads. I look for romance in my romances and don't feel TOO DARN HOT delivered on that front.

Cover musings:

Hate it. But it's been my experience that Pamela's hideous covers contain really good reads.

Favorite moment:

- When Eric brought Lina breakfast… Silly and fun and cute.

★★★★

Review: Texas Lily by Patricia Rice

noreply@blogger.com (Island Reader Tina) — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 17:24:00 +0000

Author - Patricia Rice
Genre - Historical Western Romance
Series - Too Hard To Handle #1
Format - Ebook (384p.)
Rating - 2/5 stars

Lily Porter is newly a widow with a child to raise and a cattle ranch to run in the Texas frontier aflame with violence, and where a woman is to be seen not heard.

She needs a man to stand up for her land.

His name is Cade. Part Apache brave and part Mexican grandee, Cade has a past and a secret. But he possesses the power and passion to command all in his path.

Lily welcomes Cade into her struggle against treachery and terror—and discovers a love worth risking everything to keep.

• Review •
TEXAS LILY is such a wallbanger! Very long and drawn out. Pacing is just horrendous. The only part of this book I found mildly enjoyable was the interactions between Cade and Lily. Sort of. I didn't care for the raping part. They had decent back stories, the rest of the characters as well. I didn't like them very much except for Travis though. The writing was good if a little spastic with the thousands of plots. Think Gunsmoke, Bonanza and Little House On The Prairie meets modern day soap opera… every new page was practically a new plot disaster/dilemma/EndOfTheWorld!Ohnoez!!!!111!! ordeal. Unless Cade and Lily were having sex of course, in which case the smut would go on for several pages.

Another problem I had was with the mathematics (which I admit, I suck at math). But the story starts in 1824, then it's 1835. Lily is knocked up during the prologue and in chapter 1 the kid is 8… and Lily says her and Jim had been living on the farm for 9 years but hadn't moved there until the kid was born. Unless I'm missing something, that just doesn't add up. I should have DNF'ed the book then and there… Very disappointed with TEXAS LILY, and it has effectively put me in a reading funk. I'd imagine people who like historical fiction would like this book, but for a romance I'd look elsewhere. This book is about as romantic as a colonic.

Cover musings:

I like it a lot. It was the driving force in my picking up this book. The people don't portray the characters in the book accurately though which is disappointing.

★★

Review: Impact by Tiffinie Helmer

noreply@blogger.com (Island Reader Tina) — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 13:40:00 +0000

Author - Tiffinie Helmer
Genre - Contemporary
Series - Wild Men of Alaska
Format - Ebook (50p.)
Rating - 5/5 stars

He’ll fight anyone or anything to get her back.

Alaska State Trooper Skip Ozhuwan has waited five years to reunite with Wren Terni, the woman he’s always loved. Flying back home for his sister’s wedding with only him and Wren in a chartered bush plane guarantees he’ll have her undivided attention.

Ever since Skip arrested her five years earlier, Wren vowed never to lay eyes on him again. She’s gotten sober and made a life for herself that she’s proud of. Seeing Skip now throws her into a tailspin.

When the plane crashes, forcing them to battle a violent arctic storm, outwit predators, and dispose of a dead body, they must find a way to get past their differences if they are to survive to have a future together.

That is if they don’t kill each other first.

• Review •
Excellent read! I loved this short story so much. Great characters, location, humor. I especially loved being in Wren's POV. She's a funny, funny girl! I couldn't ask for much more. Very pleased with this, and was very entertained as well. I'd read it again, and I can't wait to read the other books in the series.

The only thing that kind of bothered me was Wren's name… I kept misreading it as When on my tiny phone, which was a pain each time :(. Damn eyes playing tricks on me! Unfortunately, that was the sole reason I didn't add IMPACT to my favorites list. But you still can't go wrong with this quick shorty and I recommend it to those who like second chance romances with a satisfying HEA. This is definitely a permanent fixture on my digital Keeper Shelf!

Cover musings:

Love it. It imparts a strong sense of adventure for me and has a yummy guy to drool over. Win.

Favorite moment:

- When Skip needed help with the zipper… Was definitely a lol moment!

★★★★★

Review: A Bolt From The Blue by Georgia Fox

noreply@blogger.com (Island Reader Tina) — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 15:21:00 +0000

Author - Georgia Fox
Genre - Erotica
Series - N/A
Format - Ebook (30p.)
Rating - 2.5/5 stars

Alix likes her secrets, but one of them is about to draw her out of hiding and make her face a few facts about her life. He's someone she's only chatted with online, yet he already knows more about Alix than any other man she's ever encountered. For some reason she's told him more than she should and when the voice in her head asks what the hell she's doing, she has no answer to give. Nothing can explain the nature of this unusual relationship or why she feels so close to a stranger.

Until they finally come face to face and discover that lightening can strike in the same place twice.

• Review •
This was an okay read. I enjoyed it fairly well right up until the end. Unfortunately the end was so horrible I knocked off 2 points. I would have happily given this a 4/4.5 rating. The end was just too disappointing… not even a HEA. I can't even call it a HFN! Another complaint I had was the constant misspelling of the word Lightning. The author kept spelling it Lightening… which is something I do to my hair every 30 days. >_> There's other definitions of lightening as well. What do teachers do all day?! Pathetic.

I did enjoy the smexy times and the humor though. I would have liked more character development and more story. There's a lot of potential. But as is, we don't even know the guys name! He's referred to as "Him" and "Stranger". And most of the smexiness is in Alix's memories. Actually, I think that's all there was. I'm pretty sure there's nothing going on outside of her memories and just one kiss at the end. Heh, it hasn't even been 12 hours and I've already forgotten! Also, a few things are mentioned but never closed at the end which left a lot of hanging loose ends. Incomplete is incomplete. It's safe to say, I don't recommend this one.

Cover musings:

Unimpressed. Dark and rather blah looking.

★★½

Review: The Dating Game by Jessica Morse

noreply@blogger.com (Island Reader Tina) — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 19:07:00 +0000

Author - Jessica Morse
Genre - Contemporary Erotic Romance
Series -N/A
Format - Ebook (77p.)
Rating - 4/5 stars
Read an excerpt

Protecting your heart is the hardest part of the game.

Camille and Ethan are kindred spirits: busy professionals with no time for the demands of typical relationships. They devise an arrangement that suits her busy schedule and satisfies their lust for each other. When real feelings develop between them, can either one move past the rules of the game to take a chance on something just as exciting and even more risky?

• Review •
THE DATING GAME wasn't a bad book despite some of the complaints I had. In fact, I really liked it a lot. I didn't think I would though because the first 5 chapters were pretty average. Nothing "wow"ed me and I thought it might turn out to be a 2 or 3 star read. But chapter 6 and on was great and I'm glad I stuck with it. One thing is for certain, a strong suspension of disbelief is required. Almost everything that happens in this story is just way too convenient.

Characters were pretty good, pacing and story is great and was nice to see other aspects to it besides just sex and everyone thinking about sex. I felt the balance between the erotic storyline and the contemporary romance was perfect. For that reason, I'm interested in trying more books from this author. A couple of the complaints I had were a lack of Ethan's POV. It's written in 3rd person but from Camille's side for the whole novella. I would have loved to know what Ethan was thinking and feeling and am quite disappointed. To a lesser extent, I also had problems with the lack of a HEA (only a HFN) and the plethora of spelling errors such as…

"You damn game started it a cab, Ethan—" (p.70)

Spelling mistakes such as this one just left me with a dumbfounded look on my face most of the time. Whoever the author hired to read her books before they go "live" needs to be fired. This is an example of just one of the many, many, many mistakes too. O_o All that aside, I truly enjoyed this novella and would happily read it again.

Cover musings:

Meh. It's pretty bland. At least the people are how I imagine the characters to look, sort of, which is always nice.

★★★★

Review: Christmas Cash by Maggie Casper

noreply@blogger.com (Island Reader Tina) — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 21:24:00 +0000

Author - Maggie Casper
Genre - Erotic Romance
Series - Raising Cain #1
Format - Ebook (54p.)
Rating - 5/5 stars
Read an excerpt

If you can't beat him, irritate the hell out of him. Moving back home to Chaos, Texas wasn't working out quite the way Noelle had planned. The last thing she expected was a seasonal job that included dressing up as Mrs. Claus while ringing a bell for charity, but thanks to Cash McCain, she wasn't left much of a choice.

Cash can't believe what ten years can do for a woman. The last time he'd seen Noelle, she'd been all knees and elbows. Now a woman grown yet still ten years his junior, thus too young for him, Noelle has filled out in a way that should be illegal.

When Cash refuses her a job at Raising Cain, a Texas honky-tonk run by the McCain siblings, she takes it upon herself to make his life miserable. Who could have imagined the damage a tiny, tinkling bell could cause to a man's sanity? But when things heat up, Cash begins to think that raising a little cane with the likes of Noelle might not be such a bad thing after all.

• Review •
I loved, loved, loved CHRISTMAS CASH! The writing was awesome, as were the characters (I especially loved Noelle), the humor, and yes, the very hot smexy times! This was a fast paced short story that totally hit the spot for me. Despite a couple small hiccups that I'll get to in a minute, I cannot wait to read the other books in this series. Or anything else Maggie Casper might write! Awesome, awesome book. All around quick, fun and hot read that I highly recommend.

So, let me get to those small hiccups that —ultimately— prevented me from adding CHRISTMAS CASH to my Favorites list. First is the lack of anything truly Christmas-y. Even the Mrs. Claus costume was only mentioned once and the rest of the time it was as if she was wearing everyday clothing. Personally, I felt that that part of the plot was pretty weak and could have been left off completely. Secondly, I never got why these characters loved each other. With Noelle it was never even brought up and with Cash his reasoning was shallow and very disappointing. Being an erotic romance I'm sure I don't need to spell it out. I did ease up a little based on the fact he works in a bar and is a man… not exactly the brightest bulb in the box.

Cover musings:

Doesn't do anything for me. I've seen better and I've seen worse.

Favorite moment:

- After Noelle and Cash's first time together and she completely brushes him off… Seriously, PRICELESS! Could not stop laughing at Cash's reaction.

★★★★★

Requested Review: The Wicked Wager by Anya Wylde

noreply@blogger.com (Island Reader Tina) — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 19:58:00 +0000

Author - Anya Wylde
Genre - Historical Romance/Cozy Mystery
Series -N/A
Format - Ebook (233p.)
Rating - 4.5/5 stars

*Source: Ebook provided by the author for review*

The infamous rake, Lord Richard Hamilton, has finally chosen his bride—the very appropriate Miss Emma Grey.

The ton approves, Lord Grey is pleased, Lady Grey delighted, and Emma is over the moon, but her uncle, (the blasted) Duke of Arden opposes the match, and Emma is ordered to move to the duke’s estate to think things over.

Richard Hamilton refuses to take things lying down and concocts a plan. A plan that should have brought the lovers together and had them married within a month. It was a simple matter of masquerading as the duke’s gardener, compromising the lady, and then having the duke rush them off to Gretna Green.

Alas, he underestimates the duke’s intelligence and the tangled situation on the estate—never had he imagined that compromising a lady could be so difficult.

His endeavors lead to a comedy of errors, charades, and knotty love affairs. Yet he forges ahead in spite of pesky house guests, a flea bitten mattress, his lovesick best friend, and a blackmailer.

Just when things seem to be going well, someone is murdered (very inconvenient), and he happens to be one of the suspects (extremely inconvenient).

His simple plan for winning the wager suddenly becomes… a tad complicated.

• Review •
THE WICKED WAGER was a wonderful story. I was instantly hooked on both the plot and the great characters (seriously, I love these peeps). Not to mention the writing! I'm definitely looking forward to new books by this author. I really, really liked this book. It was a relatively quick read, although the pacing did bother me a little after Raikes entered the story. It wasn't that bad, but had the writing not been as good I probably would have skimmed some parts.

Pacing issues aside, I have been recommending this book left and right to everyone I spend more than 5 minutes around. It had me chuckling many times, and I'll admit to totally forgetting to cook dinner one night. By the time I sat the book down and looked at the clock, it was too late for anything but pizza delivery. That's saying something, because in well over 30 years, less than a dozen books have ever distracted me to that extent. I had so much fun reading THE WICKED WAGER and I highly recommend it to fans of mysteries and historical fiction. While I was reading this book, I kept thinking what an awesome movie it would make as well!

Cover musings:

I like this cover. I'm a big fan of the more artistic covers and the coloring and font is nice. I wholeheartedly approve.

Favorite moment:

- When Raikes' pants split down the seam… So funny.

★★★★½

Review: Out Of Control by Kate Kelly

noreply@blogger.com (Island Reader Tina) — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 19:48:00 +0000

Author - Kate Kelly
Genre - Romantic Suspense
Series - Stolen Hearts Prequel
Format - Ebook (80p.)
Rating - 3/5 stars

It was supposed to be one night of passion - that turned into a crazy, unforgettable month. Until Serena McGregor finally walked away from undercover FBI agent Nick DeMarco. Six months later, her elusive scent still haunting him, Nick is ready to risk his career to prove Serena is innocent of a five million dollar heist.

As an archivist, Serena likes tidy things, filed away in an orderly fashion. Too bad the only category Nick falls under is a heartache waiting to happen. He’s too much. Too passionate, too beautiful, and he definitely won’t stick around after he discovers all her secrets. But as a suspect in the robbery of the century, Serena can’t refuse his help. That’s not all she can’t refuse. Will this mismatched couple discover they have more in common than they imagine?

• Review •
OUT OF CONTROL started out really great. I loved it a lot despite some minor problems. Honestly, I only had issues with a few misspelled and missing words (not many) and normal grammar mistakes, mainly how the author used ?'s in place of —'s. Made some sentences pretty confusing. The writing style didn't always work for me, but in the end, I'd read more from this author. This story was definitely very solid I thought. It's fast-paced, intriguing, and captivating. Not edge-of-my-seat exciting or anything, but there's still one good action scene in there.

But, what completely ruined the book for me was the abrupt end. I think the author was trying for a cliffhanger but missed the mark totally. Very disappointing. There's potential there to be a truly awesome book, but as it is, OUT OF CONTROL is pretty sub par. I'd like to read the other books in the series, but am now very leery if this is the quality I can expect. Even though this a quick read, I don't recommend the time wasted on this novella. There's better books out there deserving of that time.

Cover musings:

I like it. It's dark but I feel it fits the book well.

Favorite moment:

- The scene in Serena's kitchen the morning after the robbery… Hot, silly, and fun.
- When Serena finally gets to tie Nick up… His reactions were so funny.

★★★

Review: Heartfire by Karen Rose Smith

noreply@blogger.com (Island Reader Tina) — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 13:17:00 +0000

Author - Karen Rose Smith
Genre -Contemporary
Series - Search For Love #5
Format - Ebook (190p. on Kindle)
Rating - 2/5 stars

Tessa Kahill, renowned journalist who travels the world, is falling in love with her best friend's husband all over again. A rocky road, a man and woman who are searching for love and a little boy who holds his own secret. They could become a real family if they all become vulnerable and honest with each other. A heartfire has been burning for years. Will it lead to everlasting love?

• Review •
I can't believe I finished reading HEARTFIRE. I kept expecting it to get better, but it did the opposite and only got worse as I continued reading. I'm very disappointed with this book and can't recommend it. The first half of the book was decent, I thought it was a cute story with a Leave It To Beaver vibe to it. The tension between the H/h was pretty good as well. There's no smexy times at all though. Until the last 10% or so I was pretty indifferent about the characters, neither liking nor disliking them. The end showed how stupid and spiteful they were though.

There was also tons of redundancy in this novella. Definitely not something I like. Progression is a good thing, People! I got tired of seeing the H/h regurgitate their issues over and over again to each other with no resolutions. That should have been my first sign that this book just wasn't going to work for me. And the end was just really bad. Very abrupt and tidy… sunshine, lollipops, and unicorn farts, anyone? Had this been a physical book, I would have thrown it at the wall, then directly into the recycle bin. But I just growled at my nook and told the receptionist at the dentist office after she gave me a strange look, "Do not get this book!!! It is soooo bad!" The only thing I liked was how well the author wove the story. What can I say? It's a well written book that sucks you in and you never realize how shitty it really is until you're nose deep and that's all you can smell…

Cover musings:

That's one scary looking cover. Really, really scary…

★★

Review: The Ultimate Merger by Delaney Diamond

noreply@blogger.com (Island Reader Tina) — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 15:08:00 +0000

Author - Delaney Diamond
Genre - Erotic Romance
Series - Hot Latin Men (Prequel to book #4)
Format - Ebook (40p.)
Rating - 3/5 stars

The Ultimate Merger is a short story. It's the prequel to Second Chances, Book 4 of the Hot Latin Men series.

Two workaholics slow down long enough to find love when they least expect it.

Renaldo da Silva is on the verge of entering the U.S. market with the purchase of a hotel in downtown Chicago. After working hard for several days straight, he heads to a local bar and sees a woman who instantly makes him reconsider how to spend his evening.

When another one of her male counterparts unfairly becomes the lead on a project, Sabrina Porter leaves work intent on drowning her sorrows in wine and loud music at a local bar. Instead, she meets a sexy Brazilian who’s intent on showing her a different way to unwind.

• Review •
I didn't love THE ULTIMATE MERGER too much. For an erotic read, the sex was awful. For a romantic read, the romance was glossed over and weak. As the reader, you don't get to see the "love" they feel for each other grow. All you get is… they meet, have sex, weeks go by (that the reader isn't privy to), professing of love all around, and he proposes… the end. To top it off, I didn't like the characters that much either. I feel kind of cheated.

I did enjoy the pacing and writing immensely though. Which is why I didn't DNF the story. And I loved Sabrina up until the second chapter. That accounted for something. At about 40 pages and free, it was better than I expected. Not bad, but not for me. I'd recommend it to those planning on reading the 4th book in this series since THE ULTIMATE MERGER is the prequel to it, or to try out the author (I'm not a fangirl yet, but dying to try another book by her).

Cover musings:

It's kind of dark. I like the gold touch though.

Favorite moment:

- When Renaldo and Sabrina were discussing their future kids… Cute and silly fun.

★★★

Review: Ghost A La Mode by Sue Ann Jaffarian

noreply@blogger.com (Island Reader Tina) — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 18:53:00 +0000

Author - Sue Ann Jaffarian
Genre - Cozy Mystery
Series - A Ghost of Granny Apples Mystery #1
Format - Ebook (216p.)
Rating - 4/5 stars
Read an excerpt

Granny was famous for her award-winning apple pies-and notorious for murdering her husband Jacob at their homestead in Julian, California. The only trouble is, Granny was framed, then murdered. For more than one hundred years, Granny's spirit has been searching for someone to help her see that justice is served-and she hits pay dirt when she pops in to a séance attended by her great-great-great-granddaughter, modern-day divorced mom Emma Whitecastle. Together, Emma and Granny Apples solve mysteries of the past-starting with Granny's own unjust murder rap in the final days of the California Gold Rush.

Along with a sprinkling of history, this spirited new mystery series features the amateur sleuth team of Emma Whitecastle and the spirit of her pie-baking great-great-great-grandmother, Granny Apples.

• Review •
Despite some spelling/grammar errors, GHOST A LA MODE was a pretty good book. I loved the humorous elements and wished there had been more. And I especially loved the romance element between Phil and Emma! Again, I wanted more! The mystery part of this cozy did take a bit too long to get started (20-25% into the book) in my opinion, but once it did it was great.

There was some issues with pacing in the beginning and a little during the middle, but the end was edge-of-my-seat exciting. I couldn't put the book down! It was one of those moments too where I wished I could read faster because I kept holding my breath during the climactic scenes. •_•

My only issues with this book were the time inconsistencies, mainly in the span of about 12 hours Emma had at least 15 (exaggerated a little for dramatic effect, more like 5 or 6… but still) "dinners" with 3 hours between each meal! And the first was at 3pm! My aggravation was really getting tweaked and I developed a tic in my right eye every time Emma wanted food.

Anyway, there were a few times in the middle where I was getting bored with GHOST A LA MODE due to the iffy pacing leading to a wandering mind, but I am soooo glad I stuck with it! The end was great and more than made up for the earlier pacing problems. I'm definitely looking forward to getting my hands on the next book in the series.

Cover musings:

I like it! Especially how the pie "aroma" forms Granny, I thought that was a nice touch. Authors' name could use a bolder font though. Not bigger, just bolder. I know some authors like their name to be the most prominent element on a cover (smh), but I feel this is the perfect size, just hard to see on an ereader.

Favorite moment:

- Emma and Granny's gift to Elizabeth at the end… I was a blubbering mess!

★★★★

Review: Return To Pearl Island, Bonus Chapters by Julie Ortolon

noreply@blogger.com (Island Reader Tina) — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 16:56:00 +0000

Author - Julie Ortolon
Genre - Contemporary
Series - Pearl Island Trilogy
Format - Ebook (103p. on Nook)
Rating - 2.5/5 stars

Dear Reader,

This ebook is my gift to fans of the Pearl Island trilogy who own the stories in print. When I released Falling for You, Lead Me On, and Don't Tempt Me as ebooks, I added a bonus chapter to each one so fans can see what’s happening today at the Pearl Island Inn.

If you haven’t read the series, this ebook can read as three short stories to give you a taste of this award-winning series. Titles include Falling for You, Lead Me On, and Don't Tempt Me.

Best,
Julie Ortolon

• Review •
This book was a cute revisit to Pearl Island, but kind of unnecessary in my opinion. I really liked revisiting Rory and Chance. Their story was the most interesting and enjoyable. I gave them 4 stars. For Allison and Scott I felt the story was enjoyable but unimportant. Kind of boring honestly. I gave that one 3 stars though. For Jackie and Adrian's part of the book, I was very disappointed. All the facts were skewed (son was 5 at the top of the stairs, then 6 at the bottom… Rory was a redhead then a blond in about the same amount of time, year's between the main stories and the bonus chapters were inaccurate, etc.) I really disliked the final installment in this book, so I gave it 1.5 stars.

So, like I said in the beginning, this book is rather unnecessary. Maybe had I liked the series better as a whole, I may have enjoyed these bonus chapters more, but I just found them to be a waste of time. I don't recommend them, even if you've read the other books in the series.

★★½

Review: Don't Tempt Me by Julie Ortolon

noreply@blogger.com (Island Reader Tina) — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 17:49:00 +0000

Author - Julie Ortolon
Genre - Contemporary
Series - Pearl Island Trilogy #3
Format - Ebook (331p. on my Kindle)
Rating - 3/5 stars
Read an excerpt

WHEN AN IRRESISTIBLE MAN…
Adrian St. Claire, the sexy chef at the Pearl Island B&B is as tempting as the dishes he serves. In fact, he’s never had a woman tell him no—until his family needs help searching for a legendary heirloom on the sunken ship in the island’s cove. To find the treasure they need the help of a woman whose family history is as linked as theirs to the island’s romantic past.

MEETS AN INDEPENDENT WOMAN…
As the owner of the Pirate’s Pleasure, Jackie Taylor is far more interested in running her cruise ship along the Texas coast than chasing tales of lost booty, and even less interested in tangling with a man who collects female admirers just by walking down the street. On top of that, helping the St. Claires could dredge up secrets she’d like to remain buried.

THE CHASE IS ON.
Enticed by Jackie’s resistance, Adrian soon has something more than treasure hunts and casual flirtation in mind… and he’s not a man who takes no for an answer. But will they each have the courage to risk their hearts for the greatest treasure of all—falling in love?

• Review •
DON'T TEMPT ME started out excellently. I'm talking '5+ stars and making room for a physical copy on my keeper shelf' excellent. For a little more than half the book I was captivated and in love, I had issues but they seemed so petty that I just turned a blind eye to them. But from about 56% onward it started going downhill quickly until I was tempted (heh) to DNF within the final 10-15%. By the time I read the final word I hated the book.

What I hated the most was the characters. Especially Jackie, whom I never did truly like. There's absolutely zero growth with her. She's as awful at the end as she was in the beginning. But Adrian did start out with some potential. I couldn't stand how much he was constantly having to placate Jackie and her fears/insecurities throughout the story though! I was getting frustrated by all the ways he bent over backwards for her and she was too self-absorbed to really see it. And when she did see it, she denied it and his love. To dramatic effect as well when she got physically ill when he said he loved her. Really?! Adrian sums up Jackie pretty accurately here though…

"…you're a goddamned coward without enough backbone to stand up for yourself!" (p.306 location 4328 on Kindle)

I couldn't have said it any better myself. Unfortunately, he stays with her! So, yeah. I feel he's a first-class fool who's TSTL. I was completely disappointed with DON'T TEMPT ME. While there was good things, especially in the beginning, I wish I had never read this book. Thankfully I only borrowed it from lendle. One thing I will say though, is this book has the best smexy scenes in the whole series. Very hot stuff indeed. Is it enough for me to recommend? Nope. Although, if you've read the rest of the series, you may as well read this one for completions sake.

Favorite moments:

- When Adrian gives Jackie her first baking lesson… So hawt. I could get behind baking with an instructor like that!

★★★

Review: Playing Love's Odds by Alison Kent

noreply@blogger.com (Island Reader Tina) — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 23:03:00 +0000

Author - Alison Kent
Genre - Romantic Suspense
Series - N/A
Format - Ebook (189p. on Nook)
Rating - 4/5 stars
Read an excerpt

It was not the sort of investigation Logan Burke usually handled. Nowadays he was hired by your average Joe - not sleek, polished corporate players in plush Houston office suites. But it was a straightforward case of industrial espionage with one advantage - a hefty check from ViOPet Chemical Company. All Logan had to do was watch Hannah Evans, a ViOPet employee, and figure out how she was leaking valuable research secrets.

In the six weeks that he spent watching her, Logan began to feel a special bond with Hannah. For the first time in years, he actually considered dumping the case and pursuing the mark. It was not enough to view Hannah across a crowded restaurant or through the lens of a camera. He wanted to breathe her scent. He wanted to hear her voice. He wanted to find the innocence he'd given up on finding in his life again.

Hannah knew someone was following her. She didn't know who he was or why he was there, but his presence was unnerving. It was time to take action, time to let a professional call the shots. She would pay a visit to a private investigator who had come highly recommended - a Mr. Logan Burke.

• Review •
So I apparently lost my review notes which means I'll probably forget something important. Grr! Anyway, PLAYING LOVE'S ODDS was a great book. I loved Logan and Hannah! There is some really awesome tension between those two and when apart they are just as great. From the get-go I was rooting for them, and that desire for their HEA only grew as the story and their past was revealed. The suspense was kind of weak up against the romance in this book, but it is still a solid contender. I didn't feel cheated on that front at all.

My issues were few and rather insignificant but still valid. First the writing seemed odd. I have a hard time describing it. Like overly metaphorical and flowery. But in the same breath, the writing is what pulled me in and made the story a gripping and intense read. Amazingly enough, the pacing was great and there's only a smidge of repetition at the end. My other issue involved the climax scene at the end involving an unmanned runaway airplane with the H/h on board, a fuel truck in the distance, and an unrealistic time limit. The whole scene just rubbed me wrong and no amount of suspension of disbelief made it work for me.

Anyway, this was a great book! Gritty, intense, captivating, sexy and seductive. There were no lulls in the pacing, definitely a page-turner. I'm very satisfied with it and happy to add it to my keeper "shelf".

Favorite moment:

- The love scene in the corvette… Funny, sexy, and playful.

★★★★

Review: Lead Me On by Julie Ortolon

noreply@blogger.com (Island Reader Tina) — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 13:26:00 +0000

Author - Julie Ortolon
Genre - Contemporary
Series - Pearl Island Trilogy #2
Format - Paperback (328p.)
Rating - 3/5 stars
Read an excerpt

Inside every nice girl is a naughty woman dying to get out!

WHEN A WOMAN WHO IS WILLING…
Allison St. Claire has the face of an angel. That's part of the problem. She also sells quaint tea sets in the gift shop at Galveston's Pearl Island Inn. It doesn't exactly scream sexy! Years of having men treat her like a little sister is enough to drive a healthy woman crazy! Especially when a gorgeous hunk checks in and fails to recognize that Allison's more than willing. She's ready...

MEETS A MAN WHO ISN'T LISTENING…
Frustrated author Scott Lawrence is hoping to get lucky in more ways than one. A little fun in the sun with a beautiful woman may be just the inspiration he needs to cure his writer's block. No fuss. No commitment. But a 'good girl' like Allison? No way!

THEN IT'S TIME FOR ACTION.
When Allison makes her move, every bachelor bone in Scott's body tells him to swim for safety. But stronger instincts prevail, and the heat climbs higher than the temperature on the Texas Coast. Now a four-letter word called love could turn a sweet spring diversion into the most unexpected and complicated fling of their lives.

• Review •
LEAD ME ON was an okay read. It started out with a bang and I was expecting to add another book to my favorites list, but it seemed to fizzle out in the middle. The characters as well seemed to fluctuate. I started out loving Allison and not caring about Scott and by the end the opposite was true. But at least they were fleshed out well enough for me to have such passionate opinions on them. Basically though, I'm just kind of "blah" about the whole book.

Don't get me wrong, there were some really good things about LEAD ME ON as well. Writing is excellent, I especially loved the history/romance of Jack and Marquerite. It builds on a lot of what we learned in the first book of the series (my review of the 1st book can be found here) as well. For that reason, the books in this trilogy really don't work well as stand-alones in my opinion. There's so much history divulged that doesn't really recap.

Ultimately though, I just couldn't get excited about this book (real life has more to do with that than the quality of the book though). I enjoyed it yes, but I'm glad to move on. I've already started reading the final book in the series and hope to have that review up next week. Along with the bonus chapters reviews.

As a small aside, I apologize for not posting a review in awhile. There has been a death in the family that I took a little harder than I thought I would, and I haven't been able to get excited about anything… even reading. That's the reason for my neglect of commenting on other blogs too :(. The funeral is tomorrow and I'm really hoping things go back to normal afterwards.

Favorite moments:

- Scott and Allison's first kiss in the gift shop… Smoking hot
- Chloe and Scott's dive when he imagined Jack's last moments… So moving and heart-wrenching
- When Allison begins teasing Scott while cleaning his room… Provocative and funny

★★★

Review: Married With Zombies by Jesse Petersen

noreply@blogger.com (Island Reader Tina) — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 20:32:00 +0000

Author - Jesse Petersen
Genre - Zombies/Comedy
Series - Living With The Dead #1
Format - Ebook (192p.)
Rating - 3/5 stars

A heartwarming tale of terror in the middle of the zombie apocalypse.

Meet Sarah and David
Once upon a time they met and fell in love. But now they're on the verge of divorce and going to couples' counseling. On a routine trip to their counselor, they notice a few odd things - the lack of cars on the highway, the missing security guard, and the fact that their counselor, Dr. Kelly, is ripping out her previous client's throat.

Meet the Zombies
Now, Sarah and David are fighting for survival in the middle of the zombie apocalypse. But, just because there are zombies, doesn't mean your other problems go away. If the zombies don't eat their brains, they might just kill each other.

• Review •
I have mixed feelings with this book. While I liked the writing style and the plot, I just couldn't warm up to the characters at all. In fact, I despised them more than any other character I've ever read in my life. Dave is portrayed as a lazy bum that has no ambition in life outside of sitting on his ass playing video games all day while his wife is the bread winner of the family. And Sarah is obnoxious, vulgar/crude, abrasive, and an overall 'Debbie Downer'.

I also took exception to some of the authors intrusion points where our opinions greatly differed. I took offense at one of them and was highly insulted. Anyway, I had a rather large "wtf!?" moment in reaction to this little snippet ↓… (Because everyone wants to sit down to dinner covered in brain matter, blood, flesh and zombie "sludge"!)

"Hey," I said to him. "Why don't you take all these guns and put them in our bedroom so we can figure out the weapons and ammo situation after dinner. Then maybe we could roll Jack into the hall or out the window or something so that we can each shower. I know I don't want this disgusting shit on me anymore and I'm sure you feel the same way." (p.54 on Nook)

And my final issue is with the humor. Everyone said this book was hilariously funny, but I didn't laugh once, not even a little chuckle. Yes, there was some snarky insults thrown and heaps of foul-mouthed kids (OMG, the swearing in this book had to have broken some Guinness world record or something!), but for me, that doesn't equate comedy. If that were the case, everyone in the world could quit their jobs and be a comedian.

That all said, I did like this book. It reminded me a lot of my favorite movie The Stand. Just dumbed down for the little ones. I'm not sure if I liked it enough to read the others in the series or not, but I am interested in reading more zombie books… geared toward adults though. Would I recommend it? Meh, not really. At least, not at the insane amount I paid for it! What a rip off that was! If you find it for under $4, go for it though. Or better yet, check out the library.

★★★

Review: Niko's Stolen Bride by Lindy Corbin

noreply@blogger.com (Island Reader Tina) — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 20:47:00 +0000

Author - Lindy Corbin
Genre - Contemporary
Series - N/A
Format - eBook (146p.)
Rating - 4/5 stars

Faced with the fiasco of her cancelled wedding, Kara wants to hide from the world while her heart heals. A day trip aboard the yacht leased for the honeymoon cruise sounds like the perfect escape. If only the captain hadn’t turned out to be the man she’d practically begged to kiss her after her failed bachelorette party. A rebound relationship with the handsome Greek should be the furthest thing from her mind, shouldn’t it?

Niko Maragos has spent more time in meetings than on the decks of his family’s ships in recent years, but after he dances with Kara, he’s eager to captain the yacht to Key West. To ensure that she can’t return to her ex-fiancé, he steals her away. His plan to get Kara in his bed seems fail-proof, until pirates attack…

• Review •
I enjoyed Niko's Stolen Bride a lot. Aside from a few spelling errors, it was a well told story that pulled me in and got under my skin. There was a nice humorous tone, it was understated and sweet, one that worked very well in this book. Lindy Corbin is an author I look forward to reading more of in the future. Niko and Kara were decent characters too, if a bit immature. Niko could be overbearing at times, but there were moments where he was incredibly sweet and tender, especially at the end that ultimately won me over. Kara was a character I could empathize with for the most part, but there was a scene at the end I found to be rather degrading and pathetic though.

"Please, Niko, give us a chance. I'll move to Greece to be near you. We can learn to be friends, date, move in together. I'll do whatever you want, whenever you're ready." -Kara (p.143 on Nook)

Overall, this was a great book. (It even drew some misty-eyed moments out of me at the end!) I loved the descriptiveness of the Bahamas and the yachts. I could picture everything so clearly! Made the book feel like an escape to one of my islands that I hold so dear. Like going home. I'd say 55% of my grade is based on nostalgia. But Niko's Stolen Bride is a great read that is perfect to enjoy in a lazy afternoon… quick, easy and satisfying. I recommend this book to those looking for a quick escape read that takes you to tropical lands, and a romance that focuses less on sex and more on falling in love. ♥

★★★★

Review: Midnight Sun by M.J. Fredwick

noreply@blogger.com (Island Reader Tina) — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 14:17:00 +0000

Author - M.J. Fredrick
Genre - Romantic Suspense
Series - N/A
Format - Ebook (410p. on my nook)
Rating - 3/5 stars

Chef Brylie Winston has made some mistakes in her life, but she didn’t think she’d repeat one. She didn’t realize the man whose bed she left this morning after a rare impulsive night of passion was her boss. Worse, he owns the cruise ship where she works, and of course, he’s on board for their trip to Antarctica. And instead of being pissed that she snuck out on him, he seems determined to have a repeat performance.

Marcus Devlin knew his family would make good on their threat to send him to the ends of the earth some day. He didn’t think it would be quite so literal, sticking him on a cruise ship to Antarctica, after his latest scandal. Time for him to learn the family business. Things look up when he spots the gorgeous redhead from last night.

If he thought it would be smooth sailing, he was sadly mistaken.

• Review •
This book certainly was an entertaining adventure! Not really my style, but I enjoyed it for the most part. What I really would have loved to see done differently was all the plots pulled together more cohesively. As it is it goes pre-pirates/post-pirates/pre-rescue crash/post-rescue crash, then the end. But wait! The romance! Let's throw a HEA in there with a pretty bow on top! Although, I'm not sure if there is even a HEA… there's no declarations of love or anything.

But yeah, it would have been nice had everything flowed together better. It wasn't bad though! Just after the pirates ordeal was resolved it felt like I was reading a completely different book with the same characters. There were pacing issues after the pirate ordeal as well, but I think that's my issue, because it felt like the book should have been done there (think it was at the 56% mark, but don't quote me on that). It felt like it was dragging on and on. This was an enjoyable book nonetheless. And the author certainly knows how to do action and suspense. I'm glad I read Midnight Sun, but I'm glad I'm done with it. Would I recommend it? Absolutely, if you love romantic suspense in unusual locales, it doesn't get any more unusual than Antarctica!

★★★

Reveiw: Get A Clue by Jill Shalvis

noreply@blogger.com (Island Reader Tina) — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 21:48:00 +0000

Author - Jill Shalvis
Genre - Romantic Suspense
Series - N/A
Format - Paperback (312p.)
Rating - 2.5/5 stars
Read an excerpt

And you think you've had a bad day?
City girl Breanne Mooreland gets left at the altar,takes the flight from hell to her honeymoon—alone—loses her luggage, and ends up snowed in at a Sierra mountains lodge run by the kookiest staff this side of the Addams Family. Oh, and there's a gorgeous naked man taking a shower in her suite who says he isn't going anywhere. That's just the first 24 hours…

Burned-out vice cop Cooper Scott is in serious need of this vacation, and he's not about to give up the only available room because an upset—okay, make that insane—woman is having a conniption fit. They'll just have to make the best of it—her side of the bed versus his. But when Cooper wakes up kissing the long, leggy Breanne, he wants to show her exactly what the honeymoon suite is intended for. But that will have to wait, because a screaming Breanne has just stumbled on a very dead body. So much for vacation…

• Review •
While there were some elements to this book I really enjoyed, it wasn't enough in the end for me to shower it with praise. The characters were annoying as hell, especially Breanne. I would have given anything to climb into the book just to bitch-slap her. And Cooper was about as interesting as a slice of plain bread. Except at the end when he went all crooked cop and became TSTL. Yeah, now that's really attractive. v_v

I also didn't care for the overly wordy writing and repetition. Seriously, I totally got that she's a chickenshit the first gazillion times it was brought up… the horse is unrecognizably dead, you can stop beating it now. The pacing is horribly slow starting in the middle and progressively worsening toward the end. No amount of suspension of disbelief seemed to help me with this book either. I tried many times. Even the supposed "humor" was a bit juvenile.

Honestly, the only thing I found to be mildly enjoyable was the sexual tension/smexy scenes between Breanne and Cooper. Makes for some great porn I suppose. This book definitely falls into the "Ugh, I can't believe I finished reading this!" category. I found it to be boring, unoriginal, and tedious. That thunking noise you may be hearing is my head hitting the desk over my stupidity.

★★½

Review: A Most Dangerous Profession by Karen Hawkins

noreply@blogger.com (Island Reader Tina) — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Author - Karen Hawkins
Genre - Historical Romance
Series - Hurst Amulet #3
Format - Paperback (384p.)
Rating - DNF

AN ENTRANCING THIEF
For beautiful, seductive Moira MacAllister, the stakes have become terrifyingly high. Her daughter has been abducted and a priceless ancient relic is the ransom. Moira must acquire it at any cost, even if it means confronting the man she once duped and left, a man who still doesn't know she has a child… and that he is the father.

A DASHING RAKEHELL
Robert Hurst, an operative in the king's service, has never forgiven the mysterious spy who seduced him into marriage and then disappeared without a trace. Now, as he pursues the onyx box that will save his brother's life, their paths cross again. But Robert isn't sure which he longs for more—to satisfy his lust for revenge or to quench his relentless hunger for this bewitching woman.

A PERILOUS MISSION
When Moira reveals to Robert her long-kept secret, however, he realizes his burning desires must wait as a treacherous foe closes in, threatening all they hold dear… and their second chance at love.

~ What I Liked: The blurb sounded highly intriguing. That's about it :^/

~ What I Didn't Like: I didn't care for how each chapter began with a letter to some such person. Pointless and confusing. After the fourth one, I just skipped them altogether. Also, the dialog was awful and contrived, the pacing horrendously slow and the characters uninteresting. And—to a lesser extent—the book doesn't work as a stand-alone. I was so lost. It'd probably be a good idea to read the other earlier books in the series first.

Finally, the biggest wtfery belonged to the writing! Seriously, writing in accents of any kind is such a huge pain in the ass to read for me! So annoying and insulting and—ultimately—the cause of my DNF'ing this book. If you want everyone to have a heavy accent, then say so. I can apply it in my head, thank you very much. Do not do this for paragraph after paragraph…

"Lor' love ye, guv'nor, but ye'll no' catch her in a carriage. She dinna go down the drive, but tha' way." (p.29)

Or…

"So I think, madam. I make it meself, and I add cracked pepper, too." Her chin firmed. "Me husband's mither says I have too heavy a hand wi' th' pepper mill, but I use the recipe from me beloved mither, and 'tis a guid recipe." (p.144)

~ Final Analysis: Great potential, bad execution. This was such a waste of my time (good thing I DNF'd at the 38% mark). I won't be reading the other books in this series or any historicals from this author again. Apprehensive about trying the contemporaries from the same author as well. And this is by no means a slur on the author, I have mad respect for them. They're obviously very very good at what they do, but that writing style just doesn't work for me. I prefer convenience and simplicity over authenticity.

DNF

Review: Needing Nita by Norah Wilson

noreply@blogger.com (Island Reader Tina) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 15:14:00 +0000

Author - Norah Wilson
Genre - Contemporary
Series - Serve and Protect #3.5
Format - Ebook (130p.)
Rating - 4/5 stars

Attorney Nita Reynolds is hot for Det. Craig Walker, but he's given up asking her out. She doesn't date cops… until a doctor's call makes her re-examine her priorities. Believing she has a brain tumor like the one that killed her father, she vows to make love to Craig Walker while she still has her full faculties. By the time the doctor realizes he's mixed up the scans, she's in way too deep.

~ What I Liked: The great characters! Even though there wasn't much back story on them, they were fleshed out very well. I got to know and like them based strictly on their personalities. I was rooting for them and so happy when they got their HEA!

I also loved the subtle humor. It felt so natural. Along with the romance, that despite happening fast, was so believable. The writing was choppy at first, but quickly evened out and became enjoyable. Honestly, this is more of a "what didn't I like?!" So, let's get to that.

~ What I Didn't Like: My biggest issue was the intimacy between the H/h was too soon. Granted, it wasn't first thing to start the story, but was close enough. It seemed like they weren't ready, and since I didn't know them well enough yet, I wasn't either. It was very lukewarm. It would have been—and was—a ton better had they bonded/chatted over drinks or a meal first. As it is, it came off very forced and contrived. Not sexy at all.

~ Final Analysis: A really great story. I thought it was a quick, sweet and sexy treat. The rocky start is greatly eclipsed by a wonderful middle and finish. I'm satisfied with it and will gladly send it to my "keeper" shelf.

★★★★

Review: The Secret Life Of Bryan by Lori Foster

noreply@blogger.com (Island Reader Tina) — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 16:51:00 +0000

Author - Lori Foster
Genre - Romantic Suspense
Series - Visitation, North Carolina #2
Format - Paperback (303p.)
Rating - 3/5 stars

Jaded bounty hunter Bryan Kelly is head-over-hormones in lust with a woman… and what she does to his senses is criminal.

DOUBLE TROUBLE
Bryan Kelly has a few rules.
Rule #1: Women are for fun, not commitment.
Rule #2: He'll do anything for his twin brother, even switch places with him to find out who's sabotaging his charity. But playing a really good guy isn't easy around a luscious Shay Sommers. Which brings him to
Rule #3: If you can't avoid temptation, succumb with abandon…

Society pages icon Shay Sommers has made her name in charity work. And she'll go to any length to help these girls from the inside out. It certainly won't be hard to act the street siren with the gorgeous man who runs the place, even if he does seem less like a shepherd and much more like a wolf… one with a hungry look that's making Shay feel she might be his next dinner…

~ What I Liked: From the start I liked the writing and dialog. There were a few times, especially in the middle, where it felt like there was a lot of author intrusion going on. But thankfully, the last 25% most of that was done. I also liked most of the side characters as well as the epilogue (if a bit drawn out to reach a word count).

~ What I Didn't Like: Bryan and Shay were my least enjoyable components of this book. To say I didn't like them would be putting it mildly. Shay is way too clingy/needy, calculating and manipulative. Bryan is a self-righteous, holier-than-thou prick. The fact that they're both deceiving each other and neither being aware of the deception of the other makes them even less appealing. They're both fools, and play the part exceptionally well.

I also didn't like that, outside of the bedroom, they had no chemistry. I just can't buy into them being a couple. And even the bedroom action started off cold and clinical at first. But that could be just how I perceived all the lies and deception between the two. A few minor issues I had were with the repetition that caused me to lose interest and get bored a few times, and the slow pace because of said repetition. Although pacing did pick up at the end preventing a lower rating.

~ Final Analysis: I wanted to like THE SECRET LIFE OF BRYAN. But it was such a pain in the ass for the most part. I was set to give a lower grade at the 30% mark, but the ending was decent. Maybe because I finally saw the end in sight and was happy just to be finishing it… I don't know, but because of that I raised the grade a little bit. Also, this book can be read as a stand-alone, but I think I might have enjoyed it a touch more had I read the first in the series. Despite the somewhat negative review, I am still interested in reading the other books in this series.

★★★

~ Favorite Quote:

"Love is not stupid, but it is unexpected. Hits you broadside sometimes. You're walking along, minding your own business, and boom, you're on your butt, reeling." ~Bruce (p.128)

Review: Trouble With Harry by Myla Jackson

noreply@blogger.com (Island Reader Tina) — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 14:01:00 +0000

Author - Myla Jackson
Genre - Time Travel Erotic Romance
Series - Trouble #1
Format - Ebook (142p.)
Rating - 3.5/5 stars

In 1924 Harry, an adventurous archeologist, uncovers his greatest discovery-the tomb of the daughter of Shah Azhi "the devil king," containing the magical stone of Azhi. Legend tells of the stone's power to grant wishes. When Harry lays his hands on the prize, he's sucked into a bottle and stays there for over eighty years.

In the twenty-first century, lonely museum worker Edie Ragsdale has been tasked with cataloging the contents of a sarcophagus. Among the mummified remains of a long-dead princess, Edie finds a bottle. When she brushes away the dust of thousands of years, a naked Harry appears. Because she was the one to wake Harry from his long sleep, Edie is able to wish for anything her heart desires and Harry has to grant it. But when her wishes land her on the set of a porn film and the deck of a pirate ship with a hundred sex-starved pirates ready to teach her a few lessons on sex, Edie has to rely on handsome Harry to bail her out.

Come along for a sexy, rollicking romp and learn why you should be careful what you wish for…

~ What I Liked: I absolutely loved the humor in this book. There was a lot of laugh out loud moments that made this book just so much fun! It also made it easier to forgive some things that didn't always work for me that I will get to in a minute.

I also really enjoyed the storytelling along with the fast pace and the strong characters that were fleshed out extremely well. There's a strong possibility I'll read more from this author in the future. I can't remember how I discovered her, but I'm glad I did. Despite the issues I had with this book. Explanation ↓.

~ What I Didn't Like: I had some issues with quite a few things. First was a major pet-peeve of mine; unprotected sex. I don't give a shit if he's from the past, he can still get her pregnant and she can still give him HIV. It made Edie irresponsible and stupid and I didn't care for her at all after that (her pity-parties didn't help her case either).

I also didn't care for how she went from insecure fragile little virgin to confident exhibitionist having sex in front of people with no care about who watches… and in the case of the library sex, any child that is doing school research. Did I mention how irresponsible and stupid she was?

Another problem I had with Edie was her non-reaction to the almost-rapes on the ship and porn set. I had several more problems with her, but suffice it to say, she belly-flopped into the TSTL pool. Pretty ironic since she constantly reiterates how smart and independent she is.

Some other issues are the biology lesson the author takes us through during the smexy times. That got really annoying really fast. And there's also the incorrect word usage. Seriously? People still haven't learned spellcheck won't fix a wrong word spelled confetti (correctly~ I see what you did there…)? And the ending was so bad it almost made me wish I had never read the book. To say it was rushed and incomplete would be an understatement. So disappointing.

~ Final Analysis: A fun and funny beach read that was enjoyable for the most part. The humor is the life-support for this book though. I wouldn't have liked it without that. Right up until the end I was set to give this book a 5 star rating as well, but the ending (or lack thereof) means I don't want this to be a keeper to reread, so 3.5 stars for the entertainment factor.

★★★½