Sweet and Delightful Debut Romance

I came into this book thinking it was another Fifty Shades style romance filled with dominance and kinky scenes, but Jessica Lemmon’s Tempting the Billionaire is anything but a Fifty Shades book. I was expecting this to be your typical romantic fluff and I was surprised by the humor and wit that makes up this fantastic book.

Crickitt Day is dealing with the emotions left by the end of her nine year marriage. She is jobless and heartbroken, when her friend talks her into a night on the town. Tired and emotionally drained she finds herself crying at the bar. Shane August, owner of August Industries is out on the town with his cousin Aiden.  When the pair spy Crickitt crying at the bar they assume that she’s an easy target, however Shane feels a connection and her pain radiating from across the bar. When Shane discovers Crickitt needs work, he instantly offers her a job with his company. Hesitant at first but needing the job, Crickitt agrees to an interview. Shane is not without his own emotional baggage. He has no desire to ever get married and feels that the only person he can lean on is himself.  As they begin to work together, Crickitt and Shane find themselves thinking more and more about the other and sparks begin to fly between these two lost souls.

Tempting the Billionaire is filled with plenty of emotion and a lot of heart. It is very entertaining and leaves readers wanting to more. Highly enjoyable and an easy read with great secondary characters, I would recommend Tempting the Billionaire to anyone who enjoys heartfelt romance.

4 ½ Stars, Arc provided by Grand Central Publishing for review

A Fantastic and Emotional Debut!

If I Didn’t Have You is a solid emotional debut by newcomer Kimberly Larson.  I enjoyed Lydia’s emotional journey from losing her husband to finding love again. Page after page shows just how the emotional rollercoaster of love can be after losing love. Larson shows a solid knack of getting to the heart and the emotions of her characters. I loved Lydia and Greyson and their journey.  It held my interest from the first chapter to the final page.  The book is not without errors, but that I find is more on the editing side.  If you are looking for a sweet and emotional journey, then don’t be afraid to take a chance on if I Didn’t Have You!

4 Starred Review

Gripping Romantic Suspense!

Alone book four in the Bone Secrets series proves once more why Kendra Eliot she has become a favorite must have author. The book starts off with a bang as six teenage girls are found laid out in a circle, five of those girls are dead and the sixth is still barely alive. Victoria Peres a forensic anthropologist is called in as the case is a mirror image of another decades old murder. Victoria must try to figure out clues from old bones left from the previous case. She must also deal with the return of her first love Seth. Victoria and Seth have a history, they fell in love in college but when Seth discovers a child is his a nasty breakup ensues.  As threats begin to target Victoria, the pair find themselves working together to solve the murders all while rekindling old feelings.

Kendra Elliot is fast becoming a personal favorite. Her Bones Secret novels are always filled with the right blend of romance and suspense. Alone is no exception, it has great suspense, great romance and a fantastic cast of characters all with their own stories to be told. Alone can be read as a standalone but I would highly suggest reading the series as a whole; several of Eliot’s previous characters do make their appearance.

4 ½ Starred Top Pick 

Sweet and Sexy Contemporary Romance

I never thought I would call and erotic romance but, Willow James/ Sara Humphreys’ Pumped is a steamy and sweet contemporary romance all rolled into one tight package. Pumped is the first book in James’s Stilettos and Seduction trilogy and if the first book is any indication readers are going to return for more. Skylar and Griffin are both looking for sex without the relationship strings being attached. They enter into an agreement keeping their personal lives personal. The impersonal relationship all begins to change as emotions start to come into play for the couple. The book began with steam and ends with a tender and emotional sweetness.  The characters are well developed and the dialogue draws readers in and keeps rolling through the pages.  Pumped is a fantastic book and I highly recommend it to those who love contemporary romance.  It is a steamy romance but with a tight plot the steam fits the story.

4 ½ Starred Pick

Wicked It Is!

Maya Rodale’s, The Bad Boy Billionaire’s Wicked Arrangement is a fantastic short story. It is the contemporary version of Rodale’s Wicked Wallflower, but in a modern setting. This novella has all the traditional elements that a traditional Rodale book contains. Set with interesting characters and witty dialogue, and fantastic writing make this first book is simply enjoyable. My only complaint is that it is too short.  Without giving away too much of the tale, Jane is the wallflower in this modern setting, and Duke well he’s the rich and powerful one.  She believes herself to be boring and spinster like and he’s known for being that traditional bad boy. When Jane and Duke both need a way to mask their true selves for their own goals, a very romantic weekend excursion ensues. Fans of Maya Rodale will no doubt enjoy this book and having not read The Wicked Wallflower previous to this I did not feel the least bit lost. If you enjoy quick serials I would highly suggest grabbing a copy of this novella that is sure to delight readers.

ARC provided by Harper Collins 4 ½ Stars

A Sweet and Delightful Historical Romance

With Lady Vivian Defies a Duke Samantha Grace, once more proves that she has the writing talents to run with the big names like Quinn, James and Jefferies. She has been on my auto buy list since the release of Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel and continues to rise into a beloved personal favorite author to read. I am waiting for a Samantha Grace book that I do not enjoy. I have enjoyed each and every one of her book releases. Lady Vivian Defies a Duke is no exception to this.  

Lady Vivian Defies a Duke is a quick and sweet read. It is the fourth book in Grace’s Beau Monde series, but it can be read on its own without feeling lost. Lady Vivian is vivacious and strong willed; she has a spark of life that sometimes is lacking in historical romance. Luke Forrest, the Duke of Foxhaven; who wants to avoid the duties that come with the title, including his betrothal to Lady Vivian. However the more he gets to know this charming lady the more he begins to want her. Their path to happiness is one that is paved with several pitfalls partially caused by Lady Vivian’s hoydenish ways.  An old enemy of Luke’s also arrives on the scenes attempting to put a wedge between the two love birds.

Lady Vivian Defies a Duke is a wonderful read. It is an example of the very reason I fell in love with historical romance genre. The characters are great, they are fresh and fun and the romance is sweet without the new normal of page after page of steamy sex scenes. I would recommend Lady Vivian and all of the previous four Beau Monde books to anyone who is looking for that feel good historical romance.

Arc provided by Netgalley. 4 ½ Stars.

A Wonderful Conclusion for Julianne and The Professor!

Let me first start by saying that of all the young/mature protagonist stories romances out there these days the Gabriel’s Inferno series has been a personal favorite on a lot of levels. I highly recommend this series of books to anyone that enjoys a well written romance. Gabriel’s Redemption was my most anticipated tale of 2013, and it does not disappoint.

Sylvain Reynard’s Gabriel’s Redemption is the final book in the Gabriel’s Inferno series. I will state that with many other series you can read the books out of order but with Inferno I highly suggest that they be read in order as the books build up on each other.

Gabriel’s Redemption is that timeless love lost, love found story line. If you’ve read the first two books then you will understand the rocky road that Gabriel and Julianne have traveled.  The book itself picks up right where Gabriel’s Rapture leaves off. In Redemption readers will see a much more mature Julianne, especially when she stands up for her interpretation of Dante against a well known Dante specialist. The story also delves deeper into Gabriel’s dark past as the couple begins to discuss having a family. Family is a major story arc within Redemption among many of the characters involved.  

Gabriel’s Redemption is about the struggle with fear and guilt and making those right choices. It is about coming to terms with the past and accepting that which cannot be changed. It is also a tale about love and how the right love can ease past pains and carve a path towards a bright future. For Julianne and Gabriel the story is about taking those risks to ensure their happily ever after.

 I found this book to be a bit lighter than the previous books in the series, and loved the Superman references that popped up from time to time.  It is very well written, and unlike others in the genre it is more sensual than sexual.  Gabriel’s Redemption was the perfect way to close out the Inferno series and for those that have followed the series from the beginning it is a must have book. I loved seeing Julianne and Gabriel find their HEA.

4 ½ Starred Recommended Read