What a Delightful Debut!

Self declared 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 houseguest beds him, then disappears without so much and a good bye kiss. He’d love nothing more than to teach the little vixen a lesson about love and man…….however he cannot find her.

After the 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 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 has sworn off.

 Samantha Grace’s debut Regency historical romance Miss Hillary’s Schools a Scoundrel is a must not miss, a laugh a minute tale of two unlikely lovers who find a rather cluttered path to true love.

Following a disastrous broken engagement to a fortune hunting rake, Lana sets off to find a man who wants her and not her fortune. Lord Andrew is rich enough to care for her fortune, but he’s still a rake with no interest in the marriage market.  Lana’s over bearing mother has other ideas in mind when it comes to finding a husband for her daughter, and Lana wants nothing to do with it.

They cannot get each other out of their minds, and when they both discover they are staying at the same house party the sparks really begin to fly. Each have trust issues, and the road to true love is always rocky, but as Lana begins to discover that Drew wants to make their budding romance permanent , the fun really begins. As they both begin to learn about the other, the romance between Lana and Drew is fast and fun.  Over all this is one delightful book.

The interaction between all of the characters is believable. The writing is fast paced and smooth, the combines the right amounts of fun and steam. I cannot wait to read the next books in this series from Ms. Grace.

Shades of Desire Falls Flat

Natalie Jones is a survivor of an elusive killer who preys on young women and then disappears from view. Since her terrorfying ordeal, the once vibrant photographer has isolated herself in her home, paralyzed by fear and her failing vision.

Special Agent Liam “Mac” McKenzie has scars of his own. Despite his efforts to ignore the attraction that simmers between him and Natalie, he needs her help to catch a killer. Soon , they forge an alliance- charged with desire. Through a soft-focus lens, Natalie dares to envision a future with Mac beyond the investigation, never guessing that the clues hidden within her photographs are drawing them into a confrontation with a madman.

While I enjoyed the premise behind Virna DePaul’s Shades of Desire I felt it was lacking in relationship build up. The suspense in the book was well written; however Natalie and Mac spent more time bickering than getting to know each other. The next thing you know the pair is falling into bed with each other. It felt like the romance went from zero to sixty without any build up. There was plenty of sizzle without the simmer. I loved that both characters were flawed, and I liked the secondary characters, but the main couple in the book failed to grab me.

Ms. Depaul’s writing style is smooth and it flows very well. I have enjoyed other books from this author and will read her again. But Shades of Desire didn’t meet with the expectations that I have in a good romantic suspense. 

Fun In the Sun with Roxanne St. Claire

Roxanne St Claire’s Barefoot in the Sand is the perfect Summer time read! There is nothing I didn’t love about this book, from the wacky secondary characters to Lacey and Clay themselves.  Barefoot in the Sand comes in with a roar, when Lacey’s because house is blown to bits by a hurricane. Rather than falling apart Lacey sees this as a chance to rebuild her life for herself and her teenage daughter, so she decides to take a chance and do what she has always dreamed of doing, running a bed and breakfast right there on the shores of Barefoot Bay.  In walks Clay the “architect” or so he attempts to make Lacey believe. Clay is full of his own family secrets and commitment issues, that he’s willing to give Lacey her dream for free. With a cast of zany troubled friends and neighbors this book will have you dreaming of love all while picturing yourself on a sandy beach with the waves tickling your toes. Barefoot in the Sand is such a delightful departure from Ms. Claire’s previous books. After reading this delightful book I cannot wait to return to Barefoot Bay and the following stories.

Weighing in on the Fifty Shades Debate

Fifty Shades of Grey is a New York Times bestselling erotic fiction paperback and e-book by E. L. James. Set largely in Seattle, the trilogy traces the deepening relationship between college graduate Anastasia Steele and a young business magnate, Christian Grey. It is notable for its explicitly erotic scenes featuring elements of BDSM. It is also worthy to mention that there are strong elements of Stephanie Myers’ Twilight Saga in them.
Have I read Fifty Shades …yes. Is it good …yes. In good faith I can tell you that it is worth the read. I would go much farther to say that if you are going to choose to read the book, you will need to read all three to under the story. I had a hard time putting them down; I read all three books in a short two day span.  I would also go so far as to give them a four and a half star rating.
This book has gained rapid notoriety for the subject matter. That being said, I have been reading Fifty Shades type books for years. I started with A N Roquelaure’s Beauty series, and continued in the John Norman’s Gor books. I have read every sub genre that romance has to offer, historical, suspense, and paranormal. There are hundreds of romances that have elements of erotica in them. There are many others that also have elements of BDSM in them including J.R. Ward, Shayla Black, Lauren Dane and the list goes on.  What sets these books apart from the norm is the sheer amount of erotica in them (we’re talking a sex scene almost every other page).  While it is an erotic novel, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that is all these books are about. When you strip away the erotic elements, a reader is left with a quite interesting and heartwarming story, where the hero is deeply scarred and the heroine that surprises you at every turn. This series isn’t a literary masterpiece but it can make someone think and most will find a connection with the key characters.  As for the Twilight connection, if you have read the Twilight books you will find the subtleties as they are there in the ways that the characters interact both with each other and on their own.
Fifty Shades is just what it is, an erotic romance. If you can enjoy a mature romance then this would be the book for you. However if you are a fan of the milder genre, then I would suggest ignoring the hype and pass them up.

I Caught a Fever!

I am a very fast reader, and it depends for me on how fast a book moves. Fever moves and moves quickly.I loved that Ms. Swan didn't cut corners either, it's gritty in the places you look for grit and tender where it counts.You will fall for Dr. Alyssa Foster who is kidnapped by prison escapee Teague Creek. Teague is a a wrongfully convicted felon in a high-security prison and all he wants to do is prove that he's innocent. Fever is a non stop thrill ride that left me wanting more. It made me laugh, cringe and cry in many different places. It's sensual not sexual meaning I can sell it to customers who love romance but don't need every other chapter to be a steamy scene. Romantic suspense readers who don't pick this book up will be truly be missing a great read.