Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel

Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel is the debut release from Samantha Grace. I was lucky enough to get an early copy thanks to NetGalley. From the author’s website.~

HE'LL NEVER SETTLE FOR ONE WOMAN...


Debonair bachelor Lord Andrew Forest lives for pleasure and offers no apologies. But he receives a dose of his own medicine when his family's entrancing house guest beds him, then disappears without so much as a by-your-leave. He'd like to teach the little vixen a thing or two about how to love and man...if he can find her..


AND SHE WON'T SETTLE FOR HEARTBREAK...


After the dashing man of her dreams is revealed as a lying scoundrel, heiress Lana Hilary is ready to seek a match with a respectable gentleman-if only they weren't so dreadfully boring. Unable to rein in her bold nature for long, Lana flirts with trouble and finds herself entangled with exactly the type of man she's vowed to avoid.


I’m a huge fan of romances set in Regency England and really loved the main characters in Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel. Lana is such a strong woman, but she has ideas about how she wants to live her life that don’t fit with her time. She doesn’t care anything about finding a husband. In fact she prefers to be a matchmaker for other couples. Of course, then she meets Lord Andrew Forest and finds herself attracted to him, even though he is a known scoundrel. Drew has never found himself so attracted to a woman that he couldn’t forget her, until he meets Lana.


Both Lana and Drew are both such fun and strong characters. I enjoyed getting to know their families as well. Of course, we can’t just get out happily ever after with no conflict, and the addition of another suitor, who Lana’s mother approves of, and a former lover of Drew’s help to keep things interesting. Drew and Lana fall in love with one another quickly, yet Drew doesn’t seem to be able to say anything right when telling Lana about his feelings. The chemistry between them is sweet, playful, and hot at any given moment and neither seems to have the strength to keep away from the other.


I was pulled into Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel from the very beginning of the story. I really loved Samantha Grace’s voice in telling this story and can’t wait to read more books from her in the future. According to Amazon, the release date is set for February 7, 2012 and I suggest buying a copy to anyone who enjoys romance set in Regency England.

Head Over Heels

Head Over Heels is the 3^rd book in the Lucky Harbor series by Jill Shalvis. From the back cover.~

Breaking rules and breaking hearts

Free-spirited Chloe lives life on the edge. Unlike her soon-to-be married sisters, she isn’t ready to settle into a quiet life running their family’s newly renovated inn. But her love of trouble-and trouble with love- quickly draws the attention of the very stern, very sexy sheriff who’d like nothing better than to tame her wild ways.

Suddenly Chloe can’t take a misstep without the sheriff hot on her heels. His rugged swagger and his enigmatic smile are enough to make a girl beg to be handcuffed. For the first time, instead of avoiding the law, Chloe dreams of surrender. Can this rebel find a way to keep the peace with the straitlaced sheriff? Or will Chloe’s colorful past keep her from a love that lasts…and the safe haven she truly wants in a town called Lucky Harbor?

I love the Lucky Harbor series and especially love the relationship between the three sisters. Chloe is the youngest of the sisters and the wild child of the family. She has the wander-lust gene just like their mom, but wants to prove to her sisters that she will stick around Lucky Harbor for the long haul. Chloe wants to set up a day spa at the family’s inn and must find a way to convince her sisters she has changed.

Enter the sexy sheriff, Sawyer and Chloe has someone she is willing to change her wild child ways for. Of course, Chloe still has issues with asthma and sex seems to trigger asthma attacks, so before Sawyer and Chloe can make love, she must test to see if he is inhaler worthy. Sawyer is totally inhaler worthy and worthy of a whole lot more. The chemistry between Sawyer and Chloe has been building since the first time they met. In fact, all her run-ins with the sheriff have really been foreplay for them. The first time out lands Chloe in the emergency room with an asthma attack, but they soon figure out what needs to be done to make love. Shalvis gives her readers some super hot love scenes between Chloe and Sawyer, for which I can only say thank you for writing “those kinds of books.”

While Ford is still my favorite of the heroes so far, I have to say that Sawyer is totally on my book boyfriend list. He is yummy and will do anything to take care of the people he loves. I loved watching the three half-sisters become real sisters over the course of this trilogy. While the relationships they cement with the men in their lives are fabulous, it was the sister’s relationship at the heart of this trilogy.

I’m a huge Jill Shalvis fan and she is always an auto-buy author for me. I love the town of Lucky Harbor and am so excited we will get 3 more books in the series this year, starting with Lucky in Love in May 2012.

The Look of Love

The Look of Love is the 1^st book in the Sullivan family series by Bella Andre. From the author’s website.~

With THE LOOK OF LOVE bestselling author Bella Andre introduces you to a fun and emotional contemporary romance series about the Sullivan family. Because when a Sullivan bad boy falls...he falls hard. And it's forever.

BOOK DESCRIPTION: 

Chloe Peterson is having a bad night. A really bad night. The large bruise on her cheek can attest to that. And when her car skids off the side of a wet country road straight into a ditch, she’s convinced even the gorgeous guy who rescues her in the middle of the rain storm must be too good to be true. Or is he? 

As a successful photographer who frequently travels around the world, Chase Sullivan has his pick of beautiful women, and whenever he’s home in San Francisco, one of his seven siblings is usually up for causing a little fun trouble. Chase thinks his life is great just as it is—until the night he finds Chloe and her totaled car on the side of the road in Napa Valley. Not only has he never met anyone so lovely, both inside and out, but he quickly realizes she has much bigger problems than her damaged car. Soon, he is willing to move mountains to love—and protect—her, but will she let him?

Chloe vows never to make the mistake of trusting a man again. Only, with every loving look Chase gives her—and every sinfully sweet caress—as the attraction between them sparks and sizzles, she can’t help but wonder if she’s met the only exception. And although Chase didn’t realize his life was going to change forever in an instant, amazingly, he isn’t the least bit interested in fighting that change. Instead, he’s gearing up for a different fight altogether…for Chloe’s heart.

I actually started with Gabe’s book (book 3) and went back to read the first 2 books in the series after I totally fell in love with Gabe and all of the Sullivan family members. I loved how sweet Chase was with Chloe from the moment they first met. He could tell she had a run in with someone before he rescued her from a wreck on a rainy night. Yet he also knows he wants to do everything in his power to protect her and even find a way to make her his.

Chloe has little desire to ever trust another man after what she went through with her ex-husband. However, she is just as attracted to Chase as he is to her. His tenderness and caring help her to start falling for him, and even begin to trust him. The fact that they can’t stay away from each other only makes it easier for each to fall for one another. Chase knows and admits his feelings for Chloe very early on, and is willing to wait for her to trust and love him completely.

I love the entire Sullivan clan and loved seeing how Chase’s family totally accepted Chloe as a part of his life. Up next is for the Sullivan clan is From This Moment On, which is oldest brother Marcus Sullivan’s story.

The Sweetest Thing

The Sweetest Thing is 2^nd book in the Lucky Harbor series by Jill Shalvis. From the back cover.~

Two Men Are One Too Many . . . 

Tara has a thousand good reasons not to return to the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington. Yet with her life doing a major crash-and-burn, anywhere away from her unfulfilled dreams and sexy ex-husband will do. As Tara helps her two sisters get their newly renovated inn up and running, she finally has a chance to get things under control and come up with a new plan for her life.

But a certain tanned, green-eyed sailor has his own ideas, such as keeping Tara hot, bothered . . . and in his bed. And when her ex wants Tara back, three is a crowd she can't control-especially when her deepest secret reappears out of the blue. Now Tara must confront her past and discover what she really wants. If she's lucky, she might just find that everything her heart desires is right here in Lucky Harbor.

I’ll say right now, if you haven’t read Simply Irresistible, much of my post will reveal spoilers about Tara and her past. I loved the first book in the Lucky Harbor series, but loved The Sweetest Thing even more.  Tara was the hardest sister to like at first in Simply Irresistible, but as we got to know about her past, I came to like and even understand why she is the way she is.

I loved reading Tara and Ford’s story. I have to say I loved Tara and Ford’s story best of the ones I’ve read so far. I love the history they had together, even if things weren’t great for them for many years. Tara has always had issues with trust, and after what happened to her as a teen, she has even bigger trust issues when it comes to Ford. Ford has loved Tara since they were teenagers. No amount of time or distance has really changed his feelings. Yes he moved on and lived his life, but he still had feelings for Tara the entire time. Ford has an uphill battle to win Tara back and keep her in his life. First her ex-husband Logan shows up wanting her back. Then the daughter they gave up for adoption when they were teens shows up at the Inn wanting to meet her biological parents. The biggest point in his favor is the fact that Tara is still attracted to Ford, even if she isn’t ready to trust him yet.

I loved watching Tara and Ford fall in love all over again. There really was a sweetness about it, yet the sweetness took nothing away from the chemistry between them. I’ve come to expect pretty hot love scenes from Jill Shalvis, and she delivers over and over again with Tara and Ford. Seriously thought my Kindle might just melt from the heat. I’ve loved so many of the heroes from Jill’s books in the past, but have to say that Ford might just be my favorite from this series.

I also really enjoyed the story between Mia, the daughter they gave up for adoption as teens, and Tara and Ford. There wasn’t an instant bond just because they were biologically related. Mia had questions and even some anger until she got to know her parents. I really hope Mia will get her own Lucky Harbor story at some point in the future.

Chloe’s book, Head Over Heels is the next release in the Lucky Harbor series and I’ll post my review of it in the next few days. I’m a huge Jill Shalvis fan and can’t wait for the 3 new books from the Lucky Harbor series that are coming out later this year.

The Night is Mine

The Night is Mine is the 1^st book in a new series by author M.L. Buchman. From Goodreads’ website.~

First in a thrilling military romantic suspense series based on the real-life elite helicopter pilots who transport Navy SEALs and Delta Force teams in and out of combat and covert missions. (SOAR are the heroes of Black Hawk Down.) 

Buchman’s heroine flies the most dangerous military ops and tries to find the one man who can be a hero in her own life. Ace-pilot Captain Emily Beale goes undercover as bodyguard to the First Lady, with her rugged commander, Major Mark Henderson, who is determined to cover her back. Can she learn to keep her desire at bay before her covert mission implodes?

NAME: Emily Beale 
RANK: Captain
MISSION: Fly undercover to prevent the assassination of the First Lady, posing as her executive pilot.

NAME: Mark Henderson, code name Viper
RANK: Major
MISSION: Undercover role of wealthy, ex-mercenary boyfriend to Emily

Their jobs are high risk, high reward:

Protect the lives of the powerful and the elite at all cost. Neither expected that one kiss could distract them from their mission. But as the passion mounts between them, their lives and their hearts will both be risked...and the reward this time may well be worth it.

The Night is Mine is the first book I’ve read by M.L. Buchman and I was lucky enough to get an early copy from NetGalley. I’m a big fan of military romances and I really loved both the main characters from this book. Emily is totally kick-ass as a helicopter pilot. She is even described over and over in the book as the best there is. Mark Henderson is her commanding officer, yet they are attracted to one another. Of course, it would be against the rules for them to act on their attraction and both stick to the rules until Emily is reassigned to a top secret mission. Mark gives into his feelings and kisses Emily before she ships out. Emily isn’t one to take crap from anyone in the military, including her CO, and she gets really pissed at Mark and what his kiss could do to both their careers.

Emily’s secret mission is soon revealed to be the personal chef and helicopter pilot to the First Lady. Not really a job anyone could turn down, but Emily really can’t turn down the Commander-in-Chief since they have been friends pretty much her entire life (Peter also was her very first crush). Someone has been making attempts on the First Lady’s life and the President needs Emily to not only protect his wife, but try and figure out who is behind the attacks. The First Lady is a total tool. She is probably one of the least likable characters I’ve ever read. She is cheating on her husband, is rude to her staff, and is a royal bitch. Not that any of that matters once Emily accepts her newest assignment.

When Emily is injured in a helicopter crash, Mark comes running and ends up going undercover as her boyfriend to help her figure out what is going on. Emily and Mark work in perfect sync as investigators, just as the fly in perfect sync. There is wonderful sexual tension between them from the beginning, and when they finally give into their feelings, they are hot and beautiful together.

I read a good number of mysteries, so I figured out pretty early in who was involved with the attempts on the First Lady’s life. Didn’t take anything away from the story for me to know early on. The romance between Emily and Mark was so beautiful, I needed to keep reading to see how or if they could find a way to make things work.

I enjoyed The Night is Mine and look forward to more books in this series in the future. M.L. Buchman writes characters that evoke strong feeling from the readers. The actual release date for The Night is Mine is set for February 1, 2012.

Destiny Winner!!!

Random.org picked comment #10, so my winner is Kat! Congrats and I hope you enjoy Destiny as much as I did. I'll be contacting you by email this morning.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by and entered my giveaway!

Destiny

Destiny is the 2^nd book in Carly Phillips’ fabulous Serendipity series. From the author’s website.~

Nash Barron may be cynical about love, yet even he likes a good wedding. But the only good thing about his brother’s wedding is Kelly Moss. Nash can’t help but admire her confidence and beauty, but he’s forced to keep his distance because getting involved with Kelly could destroy his relationship with his newly discovered half sister, Tess…

Kelly came to Serendipity to give Tess–her half sibling as well, thanks to an illicit affair–a second chance at life. She learned long ago not to rely on anyone but herself. Besides, she doesn’t want to upset Tess’s life by pushing for a fling with Nash. Except the more she gets to know him, the more vulnerable she becomes to the kindness beneath his gruff exterior, and the less she’s able to stay away. But she has other reasons for keeping her distance. Like the secret from her past she knows Nash will never forgive…

I have said many times that Serendipity is my favorite contemporary romance of the year. I loved Ethan and Faith so much. That being said, I loved Destiny even more. I know many people had a problem with Nash in Serendipity because he wasn’t ready to forgive Ethan. I admit, I called both Nash and Dare buttheads in the beginning of Serendipity. However, I could see where Nash was coming from, so I was excited to see Destiny was Nash’s story.

I wanted to know more about Nash so I could better understand him. I already understood his looking at things in black or white, as I see many things that same way. Nash also has issues with abandonment thanks to Ethan up and leaving them after their parents death, Dare being placed in a separate foster home, and his marriage to high school sweetheart April ending in divorce. Honestly, Nash is put through the ringer in Destiny. I think it makes him a better man, brother, lover, and future husband, but it was gut-wrenching to read some of the things he has to go through.

Kelly is very similar to Nash with her black and white thoughts on morals. She was raised by a woman who cheated with married men and abandoned her youngest child to find her next meal ticket. Kelly has just come back into Tess’s life after leaving her with her brothers to raise. She has every right to be concerned about how getting involved with Nash might effect her future relationship with her sister. Nash has the same concern about Tess, especially since Tess is Ethan’s biggest cheerleader and she already has a problem that Nash still has issues with Ethan.

However, neither Nash nor Kelly can deny their attraction for one another and their chemistry is off the charts from the very beginning. Their journey isn’t really an easy one for either of them. Nash has to finally deal with his abandonment issues with Ethan and the secret Dare has kept from him since they were kids. I did like that Ethan stood up to Nash about leaving them behind. Nash finally saw Ethan had lived with the guilt he felt from their parents dying on the way to pick Ethan up from jail. Nash and Ethan took a big step in the direction of being brothers again. Dare’s secret coming to life made me bawl my eyes out. Nash being Nash, took a bit to come to terms with not only why Dare kept a secret but what the secret actually was. It just broke my heart to see the wall go up between the two brothers who had been so close for their entire lives.

Of course, when Nash has his world crumbling all around him, Kelly realizes she needs to tell Nash a secret from her past. Life and her mother get in the way and Nash finds out Kelly’s secret before she can tell him the whole truth. Again, so sad for Kelly and Nash. Both characters really were kicked in the teeth a few times in this book. I have to say I think both Kelly and Nash are stronger for all they each had thrown their way on their path to love.

We got to spend more time with several of the supporting characters from the town of Serendipity. I love April, who is Nash’s ex-wife and Kelly’s new best friend. She is such a strong woman and finally saw herself that way following her diagnosis of MS. Divorcing Nash, who was her best friend all through high school couldn’t have been easy, especially when she knew she would have MS episodes for the rest of her life. However, that diagnosis was what it took for her to realize she wanted more out of life. Joe, who runs the local bar in Serendipity has been attracted to April since high school. Since he is a natural care giver, April holds off going out with him for a long time following her divorce. She finally steps out of her comfort zone and agrees to go out with Joe when she sees Nash has real feelings for Kelly. April even accepts Joe’s help when she has a MS flair-up and still goes out with him once she feels better. I loved April from the minute we met her and was glad to see her find someone to love and someone who loved her back.

Destiny is my favorite book I've read ever by Carly Phillips. I loved seeing Nash change as his and Kelly's story progressed. As much as I loved Serendipity, I loved Destiny even more! In my opinion, the Serendipity series is the best series ever by Carly Phillips. Karma, the third book in the Serendipity series, is Dare’s book and set for release in May 2012.

The official release date for Destiny is January 3, 2012. To celebrate the release of Destiny, I’m giving away 1 digital copy of Destiny in either Kindle or Nook format. All comments will be entered into the drawing. Please list in the comment if you prefer Kindle or Nook format and your email address if not listed in your profile. I’ll post the winner on my blog on January 8 and contact the winner by email. Winner will have 3 days to claim the prize or a new winner will be drawn.

One More Summer

One More Summer is the newest release from Liz Flaherty and Carina Press. From the author’s website.~

Grace has taken care of her widowed father her entire adult life and the ornery old goat has finally died. She has no job, no skills and very little money, and has heard her father's prediction that no decent man would ever want her so often she accepts it as fact.


But she does have a big old house on Lawyers Row in Peacock, Tennessee. She opens a rooming house and quickly gathers a motley crew of tenants: Promise, Grace's best friend since kindergarten, who's fighting cancer; Maxie, an aging soap opera actress who hasn't lost her flair for the dramatic; Jonah, a sweet, gullible old man with a crush on Maxie.


And Dillon, Grace's brother's best friend, who stood her up on the night of her senior prom and has regretted it ever since. Dillon rents Grace's guest house for the summer and hopes to make up for lost time and past hurts—but first, he'll have to convince Grace that she's worth loving...


This is the first book I’ve read by Liz Flaherty and I was able to get an early copy of One More Summer from NetGalley. I really liked the characters from this book. I especially loved Grace and her best friend Promise. They each would do anything for the other, including keeping secrets and protecting one another. I liked Grace’s siblings Steven and Faith as well, and loved seeing the siblings grow closer as the book progressed. Dillon was a bit of a surprise to me, but I soon saw he only wanted to protect and get to know Grace as an adult.


One More Summer threw out some major surprises as the love story between Grace and Dillon progressed. I’ll admit one secret Grace had been keeping didn’t totally shock me, but still surprised me that she finally opened up and shared her secret. Grace’s father was such a total jerk with his youngest child that she has never really trusted anyone but Promise with her true feelings, not even her brother and sister. Dillon has a few secrets of his own from his past that make it hard for Grace to believe he really loves her.


With each secret that is brought to light, Grace becomes a much stronger woman. Grace was always strong, but her new strength comes from finally accepting help and love from all her family and friends. Her strength is tested as it quickly becomes apparent that Promise has little chance of surviving her cancer.


One More Summer was Grace’s story from start to finish. I thought it was a good story, but did think she had a bit more on her than any one person should ever have to deal with. Overall, I liked the author’s writing style and will look for other books from her in the future. One More Summer is set for release from Carina Press on January 2, 2012.