Tag: #romance

Book Review: Silver Bells: A Holiday Romance by Jacquie Biggar

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

SILVER BELLS: A Holiday Romance by Jacquie Biggar is a holiday novella that was sweet and easily read in one sitting curled up on the couch while the weather outside is frightful.

Joel Campbell, award winning mystery writer, has moved from Scotland to Vancover Island. He wants to be closer to his grandmother and hopes the change will get him over his writers’ block. Hating his fame, he has walled off his heart, become gruff and hates anyone interrupting him and yet, he is lonely.

Christy Taylor is an artist who has started her own shop attached to her rented home. Her life cannot be more hectic. She is attempting to grow her clientele, while caring for her small daughter, Jill, who has been diagnosed with Type 1, Juvenile diabetes. Christy is a great mother, but her divorce and her ex’s attitude toward their daughter has made her distrustful of any help from any man.

These two need to open up their hearts and learn to trust again before it is too late.

This novella is an enjoyable and quick read. I loved the characters in this short read, but being short, I felt some of the character development was lost. Jill was adorable and her disease was handled extremely well. I also feel this novella was not really a Christmas or holiday story, just a winter setting.  That said, still a good heartfelt novella for a cold winter day.

Book Review: Girl In The Water by Dana Marton

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

When I was asked if I would like to review Dana Marton’s latest book, GIRL IN THE WATER, I agreed right away because she has always given me an all-around enjoyable and entertaining romantic suspense read. What a surprise I was in for! This story is more intense, dark, intricate and emotional than any of her previous works.

In the beginning of this story you are introduced to a man who only lives to drink and fight since his discharge from the Army. Ian Slaney blames himself for the death of his wife and twins while he was in Afghanistan. A world away in the Amazon rain forest, Daniela has grown up dirt poor, but happy with the dream of becoming a teacher. One day, a logger stops at her hut and Daniela is raped and becomes a prostitute like her mother. She is then trafficked to a whore house up the river when her mother drowns in a flood.

Their lives intersect with the murder of Ian’s friend and Army buddy, Finch. Finch had bought Daniela from the whore house to cook and clean for him. When she returns to find a dead body, she stays and pretends nothing has changed so she won’t have to return to her old life. But Finch has sent an S.O.S. out to Ian that he needs help and by the time Ian arrives he is dead. Ian must now deal with the mystery of Finch’s murder and what to do with Daniela.

They return to the U.S. and four years of growth and major changes occur. Ian is sober and working for the Civilian Personnel Recovery Unit of the DOD. Daniela has graduated from college. The secondary plot then pulls them back to Brazil to the area of Daniela’s youth for the recovery of a missing 7 month old baby of U.S. charity workers. The book takes off from here at a rapid pace revolving around stolen diamonds, helping trafficked children, and a romance that can no longer be denied.

Ms. Marton has written a romantic suspense novel that delivers a unique couple that both had to forgive themselves of their pasts to get to their HEA futures. It is also a unique and strong suspense novel filled with exotic locales, intrigue and danger. This is the third book in The Civilian Personnel Recovery Series, but is easily read as a standalone. This is a read that satisfied me on every level. This story is a banquet, not fast food. I recommend this book highly!

Book Review: Snow & Secrets by Rozenn Scott

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

SNOW & SECRETS (Stanford Creek, #3) by R.J. Scott writing as Rozenn Scott is a fast to read, short, classic style contemporary romance, but with a hero and a hero. I love these two characters coming together for their HEA! This is the third book in this series, but it can be easily read as a standalone.

Tyler ‘Ty’ Hart, boy band star is all over the internet, but not for a good reason. Threatened with blackmail, chased by the paparazzi and having anxiety attacks he takes off for an isolated cabin in the snow in Stanford Creek, VT. Two of his former bandmates have settled and found happiness there, so he is hoping it will work for him.

Garrett Campbell is back in his hometown for Christmas to regroup and heal after an assignment goes FUBAR. The death of his friend, his own near death and the unknown source of the danger have him wanting to stay alone in his brother’s cabin, but be close for his sister’s delivery. His unexpected arrival means he has to share the cabin with Ty, who just happens to be a secret fantasy.

Isolated cabin, snow, hot tub and fantasies become reality. The romance is quick and yet it doesn’t feel rushed. Both men realize that they not only have each other, but a cast of secondary characters that all love and care about both of them very much. A little suspense is thrown in to the mix and you have a really entertaining read.

I recommend this book and author to any lovers of M/M romance. Ms. Scott also writes M/F romance, as in Books 1 and 2 of this series. The sex is very sweet and hot in this book. There are explicit scenes of M/M sex, but it is never gratuitous. Excellent romance read!

Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.com.

Book Review: Strike Back by Beth Rhodes

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RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

I absolutely love reading a new to me author and the first book in her romantic suspense series blows me away! Beth Rhodes writes like a much more seasoned author with a perfect balance of romance and suspense. STRIKE BACK (A Hawk Elite Security Novel-Book One) features a couple who have been married for 20 years, which makes the romance unique. The suspense is fast paced and well plotted throughout.

Nathan Hawkins is a former Marine and co-owner with his wife, Stacy Hawkins, of Hawk Elite Security. When the story starts Nathan and Stacy are trying to vacation and reconnect in their favorite resort in Belize. Both are dealing privately with things they should be sharing. Hawk is going blind from an old brain injury and thinks Stacy would be better off without him and Stacy has been working hard to get back in-shape after raising their kids and wants to return to some field work.

As their personal lives are in turmoil, and Hawk has to leave for a short side trip, Stacy is befriended by Michael Richards. He is charming and attentive to the lonely Stacy, but he is not who or what he seems. A haunting case from Hawk’s past is coming back for revenge. Hawk is dealing with his loss of sight, Stacy is trying to prove her competence and they both need to have each other’s backs for what lies ahead.

These characters are so realistic. Hawk has always been a leader and protector and the sight issue makes him go through all possible emotions. Stacy loves being a mom and wife, but she wants to be out from behind a desk and in the field with Hawk. All the highs and lows are covered and these two work on their relationship. They both realize they are better together than apart. All the secondary characters in Hawk Security are just as interesting and hopefully will find their own matches in books to come.

Strike Back gives you a great realistic mature romance, exotic locales and a revenge suspense plot that keeps you turning the pages. I am really looking forward to reading more in this series!

Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.com.

Book Review: Kill Without Shame by Alexandra Ivy

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RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

I got book two of the ARES Security series, KILL WITHOUT SHAME by Alexandra Ivy! Love these alpha friends who survived and escaped a Taliban prison and reading the romantic suspense each is featured in. Yes, there are a lot of these types of books out there right now, but Ms. Ivy gives you a fast paced read, entertaining mystery and a heroine who can stand up to and hold her own against her hero as they work out their relationship. Oh yeah, and hot sex!

Lucas St. Clair was born into a prestigious Shreveport family and was expected to excel and follow his father into a successful political career. His family had everything planned, but that future did not include Lucas’ girlfriend, the family’s gardener’s daughter, Mia. Rather than have his family mold Mia into their version of acceptable, he drove away and left her behind.

Mia Ramon has never forgiven Lucas for leaving without a word and breaking her heart, but in the intervening 15 years she has built her father’s lawn care business into a thriving high-end landscaping business. Lucas has kept track of her, but doesn’t believe he deserves a second chance with her until a detective interviews him in Houston about their mutual high school friend found dead outside the ARES office building clutching Mia’s picture. Lucas returns home to protect Mia at any cost and hopefully get her back into his life.

The men of ARES Security are all hot and sexy in their own way. Lucas being a born diplomat, but also well aware of his place in society and he will use it to his advantage. He can seem overbearing or arrogant at times, but Mia stands right up to him and goes toe-to-toe for what she wants. This is the difference between their relationship now and Mia trying to change for his parents approval before. I really enjoyed Ms. Ivy bringing Matt and Teagan in to help with this case. I can’t wait for their stories and Hauk’s mystery stalker continues from the first book.

Thanks very much to Kensington Books, Zebra and Net Galley for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review. Love this series!

Book Review: A Matter of Trust by Jill Blake

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RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

I was a little nervous going into this story because it is the third in The Silicon Beach Trilogy, but the blurb said it could be read as a standalone and it was correct.  WOW! A MATTER OF TRUST was a very well written contemporary romance from a new to me author Jill Blake. I will definitely be going back to get books one and two!

Klara Lazarev has a full plate and no time for romance. She is working on her senior thesis testing innovative educational software that she designed for preschoolers at a prestigious day care. She runs into Vlad accidentally as he is a business associate of her brother-in-law. She has always thought him gorgeous, but after his drunken behavior at a wedding two years previous and now not even remembering who she is, that is enough to make her want to avoid him.

Vlad Snezhinsky is a Russian born and Western educated venture capitalist. He excels at both his job and being a single dad to his daughter, Lora. He is still entangled in a messy divorce with a woman who lied about Lora’s parentage to escape Russia. The last thing he is looking for is a relationship, especially with a younger woman related to his business associate.

The budding romance between Vlad and Klara is suddenly put in jeopardy by the murder of Vlad’s soon to be ex-wife and her boyfriend. Vlad is afraid for his family and is also worried about the fallout for Klara, but Klara believes in him and his innocence. The romance moves forwards and grows as the two let the authorities work the case. No amateur sleuths here.

This romance flows and grows over time with the story. Vlad and Klara were perfect for each other and Lora. The sex scenes were hot! There are a lot of little background elements going on throughout this story and the author was adept at bring them all together for a very satisfactory conclusion. I am looking forward to reading more from Ms. Blake.

Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.com.