|
|
Thursday, November 12, 2009:
"Skin Game" by Ava Gray (2009) - review
 A beautiful fugitive—wanted dead or alive.
Kyra is a con woman and a particular kind of thief. She steals with a touch, but she only takes one thing: her target’s strongest skill. Which means she can be a fighter, an athlete, a musician, an artist—anything she wants… for a limited time. Heartbroken, she turns her gift toward avenging her father’s murder; with deadly patience, Kyra works her way into casino owner Gerard Serrano’s inner circle. After pulling off the ultimate con, she flees with his money and his pride.
A hit man who never misses the mark.
Reyes has nothing but his work. Pity for Kyra, he’s the best and mercy never sways him once he takes a job. He’s been hired to find out where Kyra hid the cash—and bring her back to face Serrano’s “justice.” Dead will do, if he can’t locate the loot. He’s never failed to complete a contract, but Kyra tempts him with her fierce heat and her outlaw heart. So Reyes has a hell of a choice: forsake his word or kill the woman he might love.
Really, what can I say about this book that hasn't been said already? Basically what it comes down to is that Ann Aguirre is a master at whatever she writes. Truly. Whether it be science fiction or urban fantasy or paranormal. Whatever. This story, while having some otherworldly elements, is closer to a straight contemporary than anything else, proving that Ms. Aguirre, here as Ava Gray, doesn't need any extra trimmings to write an incredibly absorbing and entertaining tale yet still evoking powerful emotion and longing. Despite the gritty and rawness of this novel, it nevertheless tugged at my heartstrings most insistently and shows that love can be found in even the most unlikely of places.
Kyra is unlike any other heroine that you'll probably come across, mostly because she stays true to herself all the way through, despite how she changes after meeting Reyes. She may finally have connected with another person, but deep down she's still the same person she's always been. Also, Kyra does whatever she can to survive. She doesn't just talk the talk. This woman has done things that you can't walk away from, yet instead of turning away from her, I found myself admiring her for how she's survived. She's never known any other kind of life, and she has her own code that she lives by. You won't see her sitting behind a desk or being a soccer mom, but that doesn't make her any less appealing.
Reyes is the man sent to kill her for conning a dangerous and powerful man, and he intends to do just that. No, he's not too soft to kill a woman, but he has his own moral code as well, and believing she killed her father, he convinces himself she deserves to die for it. However the woman he tails is not the woman he thought she was. Despite his reservations though, he still plans to carry out the hit, waiting only long enough to find out where she hid the money she took when she ran from Gerard Serrano.
But this fearless, edgy woman surprises him again and again, arousing him more than any other woman, and he feels more alive when he's around Kyra, suffused in her irresistible energy. He knows that breaking away from her is inevitable, but he wants it to last as long as possible. Together they experience a wild, crazy, dangerous adventure, and for a little while, neither of them feel so alone...
My thoughts:
Loved this book. Absolutely, positively. It's not a fluffy, sweet, light-hearted love story, but it's still incredibly sexy and romantic in a very basic, elemental way. Kyra and Reyes are unlike any couple I can ever remember reading about, even those written about by the same author. They are truly like a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde in a sense, on the run, avoiding the law at all costs. They go where the thrill of the con draws them, but their choices are also based on their conscience. No assaults against innocent, good people. They are compatible in so many ways, and these similarities surprise them. Reyes doesn't expect such a delicate, lovely woman to indulge in rough sex and have a history of breaking the law and being involved in unavoidable violence, but it's the life she's always known. Kyra has an extraordinary gift that she cannot share with others without risk to herself, yet Reyes accepts this about her quite easily, sensing something different about her from the moment they meet.
While theirs is not a life I can imagining living, nor would I want to, I can't help but feel all these warm and fuzzy feelings about two hard, dangerous and magnetic characters, not to mention being rather envious of their incredibly erotic sexxin'. Kyra is not a breakable woman dreaming of being wooed with sweet promises and soft touches, and Reyes is not the kind of man prone to tender words and grand gestures, but together, these two create something memorable and lasting together. Brought together by a dangerous man bent on revenge, Reyes and Kyra forge a connection that they cannot easily walk away from, no matter how hard they want to. Their's is not an easy life, but it's one lived on their terms, without apology.
So thank you Ann Aguirre for writing such a powerful, moving, gritty story, one that stays with you long after you finish the last page and has you longing for more. Also a story that isn't your traditional romance but still incorporates all of my favorite things about a memorable story. You're already an auto-buy author for me, but now I'm DYING for the next installment. "Skin Tight" cannot be released soon enough for my taste.
Rating: ***** out of *****
Labels: Ava Gray, reviews
posted by Stacy~ at 11/12/2009 07:14:00 AM
|
 
Wednesday, November 11, 2009:
"In the Flesh" by Livia Dare (2009) - review
AN INFAMOUS BEAUTY. A DARING WARRIOR. . .
For five years, Sapphire has been the King of Sari’s most treasured concubine. Independent at last, she refuses to put herself in anyone’s control again. But now another’s meddling has led her into the path of proud, arrogant Wulfric, Crown Prince of the rival kingdom of D’Ashier. . . a man who is dangerous to her in every way.
AND A SEDUCTION THAT COULD DESTROY THEM BOTH
The daughter of Wulfric’s fiercest opponent, Sapphire is a prized warrior in her own right and highly skilled in the sensual arts—in short, Wulfric’s perfect match. A lasting union is unthinkable, but the bargain they strike—to spend one night together, and then part—proves impossible in the face of a desire powerful enough to bring two countries to the brink of war, and two hearts to the point of surrender. . . I've been a fan of Sylvia Day for years, and having recently loved her SJ Day books, I was excited to see yet another series, under the name Livia Dare, being released. This is a story Sylvia wrote 5 years ago, which has now been renamed "In The Flesh". Sapphire is the king's favorite concubine, yet despite the pride she takes in her work, this is not a love match, at least not for her. Sapphire is a pragmatic woman, and knows the king doesn't really love her, at least not the way she deserves to be loved, and she's fully aware of the strain her presence places on his marriage to Queen Brenna. In fact she encourages him to go to his wife, to start a family so that he will finally have an heir, but the king is obsessed and wishes to be with no other woman but Sapphire. However the king does agree to release her from her contract, making her a free woman, with the belief she will return to him. However Sapphire has other ideas.... Prince Wulfric knows something is amiss while out on patrol with his men, but by the time he fully realizes it, it's much too late, and the prince is taken prisoner. Beaten and tortured, his death is almost assured, until Queen takes matters into her own hands and devises a devious plan that will most assuredly end in Sapphire's death. By placing Prince Wulfric as Sapphire's prisoner, the queen believes once Wulfric realizes who is holding him captive - the daughter of his enemy - he will murder her. Of course because this is a romance novel, things don't go according to her evil plan. For one thing, Sapphire doesn't count on the immediate lust she feels when she gazes at Wulfric's masculine perfection, or that her body would betray her so shockingly in his presence. For another, Wulfric is near death, and almost embraces his fate, until he witnesses the sensual concubine's inability to disguise her intense attraction to him. Something about the way her hungry eyes gaze upon him evokes a strong need, one that urges him to fight to live instead of giving up to die....
My thoughts: "In The Flesh" is a very sexy story, but also an emotional one, which I love. You have two very strong-willed people fighting each other to get their own way, both stubborn, proud, and very attracted to each other. First you have Wulfric, who is used to always getting his way. Everything in life has come easily to him, so to have this striking, fearless female stand up to him baffles him as much as it entices him. He's torn by his desire, knowing nothing good can come of it. In fact to pursue it would surely mean war between their countries. Yet he cannot think of anything beyond possessing this fiery woman and making her his. Then there's Sapphire, a woman who's been trained since birth in the sensual arts of a concubine, a rather prestigious role, especially as that of the favored treasure of the king. She reminded me so much of Inara from "Firefly" here, practical about her position, revered and respected, she accepts her fate while not exactly embracing it. For her, she's never known the touch of a lover whose purpose was to please her, so her attraction to her father's enemy stuns her. Why he should be the one to awaken her passion is beyond her comprehension. Together, these two set each other on fire. It's not long before they both give into the overwhelming desire that doesn't let them think of anything else. What brings them together is lust, but from these earthy feelings grows a stronger, truer bond. Despite their wariness, their distrust, neither can ignore the feelings that develop over time. Because despite their differences, both Sapphire and Wulf begin to recognize the rightness of their union, and see how evenly matched they are to each other. I won't lie, there is a lot of sex in this book. In fact these two can barely breathe without crawling all over each other. But what makes it so much more interesting is that while they engage in numerous heated, raw, needy bouts of sex, each encounter is tempered with incredible emotion. Usually at this point of the book when the hero and heroine can't keep their hands off each other for the 15th time, I get bored and flip the pages. The scenes become filler at that point. But both Wulf and Sapphire are helpless not just to passion, but to the love that grows so strongly and quickly between them. In that moment when they first saw each other, something happened that changed them both forever, something they cannot walk away from, no matter how hard they try. What also intrigues me is their future. This was book #1 in the Sapphire trilogy, and while it ends happily, there is this sense that all of that could change, which kinda makes me nervous. Their countries are at war, and the king is not ready to let Sapphire go. I admit that I do worry the direction the story may take. But that's rather premature of me. Right now I'm just very glad I read it, and I'm happy that there are 2 more books in the series. Rating: ****1/2 out of *****
Labels: Livia Dare, review
posted by Stacy~ at 11/11/2009 10:10:00 AM
|
Tuesday, November 10, 2009:
the happenings at my place
It's been awhile since I've talked about what I've been up to, other than reading, plus I don't have an "O" author for my spotlight, and I'm not ready with "P", so I'm taking this week off. Since I'm the most boring person on the planet, I haven't really had much to talk about lately, other than books, and my serious case of reader envy LOL. Which, in case anyone misunderstood, was all (mostly) tongue-in-cheek. I think if I stepped away from the computer more, I'd actually get some reading done! Yeah, good luck with that *g* 
Sunday was a lot of fun, as I trekked into the city to meet up with some friends at the Drake Hotel for afternoon tea, something I've never been before. The weather was so nice - almost 70 degrees in November - and the train ride was smooth and quick. Grabbed a taxi the rest of the way there which took a few minutes. I love taxi cab drivers. They get to where you need to go, and fast. And while I waited, I did try to take some pictures on my new phone, but I only saved one. I'll need to figure out a way to make them bigger....
Now I've made no secret that I'm not much of a tea drinker, or at least I wasn't much of one until about a few years ago when I stepped inside Teavana to buy a gift, and tasted the most wonderful tea I'd ever could have imagined. It was a combination of 2 different teas, the kinds of which escapes me at the moment, but it was an amazing blend. Anyway, each of us got to choose our own tea, which they brought out in individual teapots for us, and I went with a caffeine-free blend, the chocolate mint truffle, which was very good, not too strong and not too sweet. I would definitely have that one again. We sat right next to the harp player, which I really liked. I didn't think she was too loud, though some of her musical selections had us cringing. Still, it's a beautiful instrument, and if you didn't listen to closely, very enjoyable to listen to while sipping tea and eating cucumber sandwiches. It was a lovely way to spend the afternoon. Tomorrow I'm meeting up with an online friend I've never met before - Danielle. She lives not all that far from me, but this is our first opportunity to get together, and I'm really looking forward to it :) I think I will take my regular camera and use that instead of my phone, which I still have to master. I hope to have some good pictures to post. Danielle's been warned LOL. I am just about to finish the 7th and final season of The Gilmore Girls; 2 more episodes left. All in all, I liked it way more than I thought I would. It was a pleasant surprise. Now I'm going to try and clear out my Netflix queue before asking for more viewing selections. I have about 70 dvds in there, some movies, mostly t.v. shows, so I hope to whip through those more finding more new shows to love. Do I dare start 24 when it's just about to go into, what, it's 8th season?????? Now I'm off to go read for a bit. I have a few days off from work and I FINALLY got my copy of Ava Gray's "Skin Game", which I've been whining about for days on Twitter. Now that it's in my hot little hands, I plan on spending some quality time with Reyes. So off I go..... What have you been up to lately? Labels: ramblings
posted by Stacy~ at 11/10/2009 07:00:00 AM
|
Monday, November 09, 2009:
"On The Edge" by Ilona Andrews (2009) - review
 Rose Drayton lives on the Edge, between the world of the Broken (where people drive cars, shop at Wal-Mart, and magic is a fairy tale) and the Weird (where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny). Only Edgers like Rose can easily travel from one world to the next, but they never truly belong in either.
Rose thought if she practiced her magic, she could build a better life for herself. But things didn’t turn out how she planned, and now she works a minimum wage, off the books job in the Broken just to survive. Then Declan Camarine, a blueblood noble straight out of the deepest part of the Weird, comes into her life, determined to have her (and her power).
But when a terrible danger invades the Edge from the Weird, a flood of creatures hungry for magic, Declan and Rose must work together to destroy them—or they’ll devour the Edge and everyone in it . . .
When I first read the back cover blurb, I admit, I was not all that impressed. It sounded like some post-Apocalyptic "Terminator: Salvation" nightmare (I thought the movie pretty much sucked) and I was hesitant to buy it. But I had loved the "Magic" books so much, and a lot of cool people had raved about "On the Edge", so I let go of my inhibitions and before I could change my mind, I bought it. Let's just say that sometimes it's really a good thing to be proven wrong :)
Much like the "other" series, this book is about magic. But other than that, the similarities end. Here, you've got the Weird, that is all magic, all the time. Then there's the Broken, where there is no magic, and anyone thought to have magic would be pretty much considered out of their ever-lovin' minds. Next up is the Edge, which is where Rose and her family lives. The Edge is a strange mixture of magic and non-magic, and those of the Edge can travel between the other realms, in a way, though not without discomfort on some level, and it all depends on their level of magic. Not everyone can cross over.
Now the things about Rose is that she has a lot of magic. And people want it, or they want to benefit from others who will pay for her powerful magic. They are not so nice about how they go about getting it, either. Rose has 2 younger brothers to look after, George and Jack, who each have their own abilities, and she would walk to hell and back to protect them. To make matters even more complicated, living on the Edge and working in the Broken barely keeps their heads about water. Rose and her family are barely getting by, but she is stubborn and hard-working and refuses to give in. She fights to keep her brothers safe.
Declan, much like everyone else, wants her magic for himself. He's willing to be noble and make her his bride, but to Rose, a trap is a trap, no matter how pretty you make it look. However Declan is the one that helps protect her brothers and fights side by side with her when an evil of great strength tries to take her magic through violent and horrifying means, so while she doesn't trust him, she agrees to have him challenge her for her hand. Only she has no intention of giving in and letting him win, no matter how masculine and attractive he is. But sometimes the heart refuses to listen to logic, and you end up falling in love, no matter how hard you try not to...
My thoughts:
Despite my initial reservations, I was completely blown away by this book. LOVED it. Ilona Andrews manages to make a bleak and oppressive world come alive, and peppers it with colorful, unique characters that have you wanting to get to know them better. Despite her magic, Rose is a young woman faced with raising her two younger brothers on her own, and at times she's so afraid that the only way to get past it is to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I could completely understand where she was coming from, and it made me respect Rose, despite her hardness at times. Rose didn't have a lot of options, and sometimes she had to be tough to survive. It's a bleak, lonely existence she leads, and it's heartbreaking to watch her live this way.
Despite Declan's various reasons for coming to the Edge, I found much to like about him. He was demanding and arrogant, but also protective of Rose and her family, and whether it was for his own benefit didn't make much of a difference to me. He could be compassionate and understanding, and still managed to push Rose's buttons. One of my favorite things is that while he would put himself into the role of protector, he didn't discount Rose's abilities completely, even if it bothered him on a very basic level to let her be right in the thick of the danger alongside him. He recognized that she was a survivor, and wasn't someone who backed away from difficult situations. In fact most times, she didn't have a choice. I loved Rose and Declan together. They worked well as a team, and after a time earned the other's respect, if grudgingly, which forged a stronger attraction between them. I liked that neither of them fell all over each other once they fell in love. Rose was just as stubborn as she was from day one about not caving into Declan's demands. She stayed true to herself, and I think that's exactly how it should have been. So despite the bleakness of these worlds, and the constant dangers, there is much to adore in "On The Edge". I'm excited to see there's a 2nd book coming out. In my opinion, Ilona Andrews just keeps getting better and better. Despite my reluctance, I was sucked right into the pages and didn't want to put it down. Now that's talent for you. The story is rich and colorful and compelling, and I cannot wait to visit the Edge again, because I'm not quite ready to leave yet.
Rating: ***** out of *****
Labels: Ilona Andrews, review
posted by Stacy~ at 11/09/2009 07:08:00 AM
|
Friday, November 06, 2009:
A child in need of an early Christmas - updated
Shiloh Walker passed this on after checking it out through Snopes.com and it appears legit. Let's brighten this little guy's day. I have mine all set to go.... ATTENTION FACEBOOK FAMILY & FRIENDS! Diana Harrison Biorkman has a 5-yr old son in his last stages of a 2 1/2 year battle with Neuroblastoma cancer. They are celebrating Christmas next weekend and Noah loves Christmas cards. Please take a minute to send a card to: Noah Biorkman, 1141 Fountain View Circle, South Lyon MI 48178. THANKS. PLEASE REPOST THIS MSG & EMAIL YOUR BUDDIES!
***this was sent to me, please pass it on*** ~ Edited to add link to a story about Noah ~ Labels: friends, heroes, kids, love
posted by Stacy~ at 11/06/2009 02:39:00 PM
|
Thursday, November 05, 2009:
Upcoming: Veterans Day: free entree at Applebee's - feel free to share
Someone had emailed this link from Applebee's. Turns out that the restaurant chain is offering a free entree to Veterans and Active Duty Military on Wednesday, November 11th, Veterans Day. They just have to show proof of military service. Just a little something giving back. You gotta like that. Let's show our military some love. If you know of any other special events or similar offers, please feel free to share here. I wouldn't mind posting more information. We probably all know someone in the military. Let's get the word out :) Labels: Veterans Day
posted by Stacy~ at 11/05/2009 07:22:00 AM
|
Wednesday, November 04, 2009:
 I love my fellow reader friends. I really do. But sometimes, I am so jealous of them! Yes, it is true. While they are funny and gorgeous and smart and naughty, there's one thing about a lot of them that drives me absolutely crazy: they are ALL reading a gazillion more amazing books than I am!!!!
So I'm coming out right now to say that I am suffering from a serious case of reading envy. So when I read that some vixen is reading about a totally hot guy biting a woman's neck and that it's giving her wicked ideas, I seethe with jealousy. When I hear someone got the next book in a series I adore but haven't gotten around to buying yet, I feel slighted. Shameful, isn't it? Sigh. It's not pretty, I admit, and it's all in my selfish little head, but I fear it's something I must learn to live with, probably for the rest of my life. [Screams "I waaaant Reyes!"] Rationally I know I cannot read every book out there I want to read. Or the thought of going back to re-read all the In Death books is daunting, as much as I'd love to do just that. But there are days when I wish I could read more than 1 book a week. Life just gets in the way...not to mention blogging, twittering, watching t.v., working....
So the next time you're twittering about the latest book from the coolest author on the planet, just remember that there are those of us out there wishing we read faster, or that we didn't need to sleep as much as we do so we could read instead. Remember me LOL. That is all I can ask.
***But seriously, don't give up the pimpin'. I exist for the awesome book pimpin'; it gives me something to live for!****
Do you suffer from reading envy? What's your remedy? Labels: books, envy
posted by Stacy~ at 11/04/2009 07:20:00 AM
|
Tuesday, November 03, 2009:
Spotlight: N - Chloe Neill
 When I came up with my spotlight idea several months ago, I had no idea who I was going to spotlight for the letter "N". That is, until Miss Chloe Neill came along. Now I am a completly enamored reader of her books, and much like Mandi from Smexybooks, I wish to share that with my fellow readers.See, I am not the biggest paranormal reader, despite recent evidence to the contrary, and the idea of yet another vampire series really didn't thrill me. But this one was set in Chicago, which I liked, so that piqued my interest. Then one day I was in the bookstore and I came across it on the shelves and when I read the synopsis, it really appealed to me. It wasn't until I actually started reading the book though, that I became infatuated. Merit is an incredibly likable heroine. She's stubborn, and a bit of a smartmouth, but she's got a big heart, is loyal to those she loves, and lives by her own moral code. Merit doesn't just simply follow the crowd, even when it doesn't make her all that popular. She's a great heroine. Plus, I really love that we get to see the mythology in action. Yes, Merit is a vampire, but a newbie at it, and there's a lot for her to learn. While some of it is instinctual, she still has to train and prepare and educate herself on her new lifestyle. It's not always easy for her to adjust to what she's become. So I've read "Some Girls Bite" twice, and already Chloe is an auto-buy author for me. "Friday Nite Bites" is in the bag I carry to work with me, but I'm not quite ready to start it yet because it's soooo long until the next one. Something kinda fun: before I actually "knew" of Chloe, she did a fun post at my former review site, Romance Novel TV. Here's her post. What do you think of female vampires? Why do you think it might be cool to be one? Labels: Chloe Neill, spotlight
posted by Stacy~ at 11/03/2009 06:44:00 AM
|
Monday, November 02, 2009:
"Secret Desires of a Gentleman" by Laura Lee Guhrke (2008) - review
 Once Upon a Time . . .
Maria Martingale was going to elope. But Phillip Hawthorne, Marquess of Kayne, put a stop to those plans when he learned his younger brother intended to marry a cook's daughter. Now, twelve years later, Maria discovers that the man who holds her fate in his hands is none other than the haughty gentleman who sent her packing--and he's as handsome and arrogant as ever.
Happily Ever After?
Always the proper gentleman, Phillip will do anything to protect his family from scandal, and when Maria dares to move in right next door, he knows scandal will surely follow. She is as tempting as he remembered . . . and the more he sees her, the harder it is for Phillip to keep his own secret desire for her a secret . . .
The last new LLG books have been hit or miss with me (the last one especially was a miss) but I bought this book before I read the last one, at a signing Laura was at last fall, and now, a year later, I finally felt up to giving it a try. And I was pleasantly surprised by this one. Right from the start I felt pulled into the story. Maria Martingale was a woman determined to make a success of her bakery, and she wasn't about to let anything, much less her worst enemy, stop her from achieving her fondest dream. She'd given up so much, lost so much, and her desire to make her bakery the best patisserie in the city of London is what's driving her now. Having found the perfect location to set up shop, she's dismayed to learn that not only is Phillip Hawthorne temporarily living right next door, he owns the building she's trying to lease. Once again this proper gentleman, who thinks he knows exactly how everyone should live their lives, is trying to control her's, and Maria must break a promise in order to get Phillip to relent. Phillip now looks upon Maria as an opportunist gold digger, but that was not always the case. Having grown up together - Maria's father was the chef for Phillip's family - Maria and Phillip were once good friends. But then time apart and the reality of their social positions had Phillip pushing Maria away, until it became clear that he didn't want anything to do with her. And when his younger brother and Maria decided to marry, he sufficiently nips that in the bud before any harm is done. Now, over a decade later, Maria shows up and is once again wreaking havoc with Phillip's carefully planned out life. Lawrence is just about set to propose to a very acceptable young woman, yet the timing is a very delicate thing, and Phillip tries to ensure that Maria will not set her sights on his brother again. So between keeping them apart and dealing with his overwhelming yet unwanted desire for her, Phillip has his hands full of drama, which is what he's tried to avoid. But he just can't keep away from that stubborn, fearless woman who enflames his passions and makes him forget all that is proper.... My thoughts: This was a wonderful book, for the most part. You see, Phillip suffers from Mr. Darcy Syndrome. Miss Maria Martingale (aka Miss Elizabeth Bennett) is way beneath Phillip in social status, and while he admits to his intense attraction to her, it is with the utmost reluctance and distain. But he is too much of a gentleman to offer to make Maria his mistress. Instead he proposes marriage, and the idea that he would wish to marry her just to get into her bed is ludicrous in Maria's eyes. Why, if he cannot even like her, much less respect her, what chance did they have of sustainng a happy marriage? Smart girl she was, to reject his proposal and let him stew in his frustration awhile. I liked Maria pretty much through the whole book, until the very last page anyway. She was hard-working, disciplined yet passionate, ambitious, and confident in her talent. She didn't let Phillip intimidate her, yet she was a caring person and his abandonment of their friendship hurt her very deeply. Yet she refused to let it hold her back or make her hard and bitter. She stood up to Phillip, and before too long their past came back to remind them of why they once were friends. Phillip started out a jackass, much like Mr. Darcy did in P&P, but he eventually warmed up and won me over. See he had what he believed to be inappropriate feelings for Maria, even back then when she was 15 and he was 17, and he was appalled by this. So much so that it was easier for him to abruptly severe their friendship than risk getting to close to her. Secret love is one of my favorite tropes. I am a complete sucker when the hero has strong feelings for the heroine yet hides them from her for what he thinks are valid reasons. Here, I could understand and perhaps even appreciate where he was coming from, especially when now, as a grown man, he gets to know Maria all over again, by watching her at her place of business, by seeing how carefree yet responsible she is, and his feelings re-awaken. Though he tries to deny them for most of the book, he more than makes up for it on the last page. I could have kissed him, he was so scrumptious. (Note: and the guy on the stepback cover? If he was Phillip I think I'd jump him myself) So everything was going great, I was happy, this was a wonderfully romantic story, until Maria goes and knocks the wind out of my sails with a decision that had me slapping my forehead. I'm not going to give it away, so you're going to have to read the book to find out, but let's just say I really did not see it coming. Maybe I should have, but man, seriously??? And okay, maybe it wasn't even what she decided so much as how she decided. I wanted to shake her for disappointing me. Up until that point the book was a gem. And then the last few pages just jarred me out of my romantic euphoria. I'm sure most readers won't have a problem with it like I did. After all, it really is a good romance, one that gave me butterflies, and I love when that happens because it's such a rare occurrence when I read anymore. So I'll be grateful for those moments of it I did have, and ignore the rest. Overall the book made me supremely happy :)
Rating: ****1/2 out of *****
Labels: Laura Lee Guhrke, review
posted by Stacy~ at 11/02/2009 07:33:00 AM
|
|
|
