Showing posts with label No Series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label No Series. Show all posts
March 10, 2009
8:00 AM |
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Back Cover:
Enter a world of sin, scandal, and the most forbidden pleasures. Enter the seductive world of award-winning author Sharon Page, whose new novel will take your breath away with a tantalizing blend of Regency romance and erotic thrills.
It is London’s most secretive gentlemen’s club—a place where no well-bred lady would dare to be seen. But Lady Jane Beaumont has no choice. Her friend Del has vanished, and Jane must enter into a dangerous charade to find her. Now, within the gilded walls of this erotic lair, Jane awaits the lover she has procured for the evening. But the man who enters her bedchamber is no stranger. He is Del’s brother and London’s most notorious rake—a man on a rescue mission of his own. Christian is intrigued by the innocent beauty who clearly does not belong in the notorious brothel. And as the two seek out the damning secrets of the club…as Christian initiates Jane into the ways of true sensual pleasure, she knows she has entered the most dangerous place of all—where the price of temptation could be her heart…
When one of her best friends disappears without a trace, Jane St. Giles decides to start her own search-and-rescue mission. Her search starts at a brothel for couples known as "The Club". There she finds out that Del's brother Christian Sutcliffe, Lord Wickham, is also looking for his missing sister. Jane feels responsible, Christian feels guilty and after some heated differences of opinion they decide they can accomplish more by joining forces. The search for Del uncovers not only more mystery, but also feelings between Christian and Jane that will be thoroughly explored.
Jane is the widow of an abusive man. She is cautious with men because of her past experiences and doesn't give her trust easily. She is courageous, loyal and tenacious but there's also an air of vulnerability surrounding her.
Christian is hurt by his difficult childhood and guilt ridden because of his actions in the past. He may seem coldhearted or selfish but he has good motives for his actions and he has genuinely cares for his sister. He has the reputation of a wicked rake but he's honorable, protective and passionate. He’s a man of secrets with sides to him that he rarely shows to anyone. Christian's patience with and respect for Jane's delicate feelings and fears were truly endearing, especially taking into account his rakish past and his fiery nature.
Christian and Jane are both headstrong and don't avoid confrontation. The chemistry between them sparkles right of the pages. They are both characters that are rounded and believable. Their relationship develops in a realistic pace, taking into consideration Jane's abusive past. They both have been through a lot at of unpleasant things but find solace in each other.
The plot is set up excellently and it's credible. During the first part the search for Del is the driving force and focus of the book. About halfway through the book with the rescue of Del, the mystery plot seems mostly unraveled but that's where it really starts because more mystery is uncovered and Christian becomes determined to solve it all in order to protect not only his sister but Jane too. This is where the book picks up the pace, surprising me with twists and turns and where the real romance between Jane and Christian begins to develop.
Ms. Page has written a wonderful Regency romance. It is thorough and original in plot and has well-written, complex characters who will capture your heart immediately.
I must say that the plot did have to grow on me in the beginning as I was having trouble reconciling subjects as sex clubs, whipping and bondage with the non-explicit and historical setting. But once I got used to it and let myself be lured into unraveling the mystery, I was pleasantly surprised by an original and consistent historical romance that was both sensual and refreshing.
The love scenes are a bold a mix of tenderness, discovery and passion. Sensuality is embedded into the romance. It's enthralling without being too explicit or graphic.
Sharon Page's first mass market novel offers a historical treat with a thrilling mystery that needs to be solved and a well-developed romance that is rich in detail and background. She found the perfect way to create a solid, sensual and captivating historical tale of love and suspense. I for one am ready for her next mass market paperback.
July 30, 2008
5:41 PM |
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Blackmailed into a marriage five years ago, and forced by their overbearing families to consummate that union so it could never be legally questioned, Victoria and Justin Talbot have been more than happy to live apart ever since, although neither one has quite forgotten the one night they shared.
But now Victoria has been forced to come to London in the disguise of London’s most talented and sought after courtesan. Invading Justin’s world, she is on a desperate search to find a missing friend and stay clear of her very angry, suddenly possessive husband. Only this time, one taste is not going to be enough for Justin. He is determined not only to uncover Victoria’s secrets, but to claim her, body and soul.
When her father forces her into a marriage with the Earl of Baybary, Justin Talbot, Victoria Reed resigns and tries to adjust to the idea of a marriage of convenience until Justin leaves her after one pleasure-filled wedding night. Heartbroken she stays in the country running the estate as Justin tells her to. Now, three years later, Victoria has her own reason for coming back to London Society, posing as a courtesan.
The last thing she expected though was finding her husband who proves to be a problem for her one-woman mission.
Since their one and only night of passion, Justin has tried to forget the woman he was blackmailed into marrying, by her father, three years ago. He hasn't quite succeeded but now that she has come to London he's sure he won't be able to. But first he has to discover why his wife has come to London posing as a courtesan.
Victoria is brave and kind but defiant and resourceful at the same time. She has learned, not in the least because of the way Justin abandoned her, how to fend for herself and take care of her business and the people she cares about. Beneath her strength there is a sense of vulnerability and innocence that make her a character you can easily empathize with. Little by little her life after Justin's abandonment is disclosed and you understand the motivation for her actions.
Justin is passionate, masculine, intelligent and seductive. He has made some decisions in the past concerning Victoria that may seem harsh but he too has understandable reasons for his actions, which Ms Petersen discloses in small amounts throughout the story.
The chemistry between them is explosive and immediate. Despite their respective reasons to maintain some emotional distance toward each other, they are drawn to each other like bees to honey and they can't resist the pull. They try to conceal their feelings but in the very sensual and tantalizing love scenes their hearts and feelings are laid bare to one another.
There are quite some secondary characters but they fit in the story nicely. Like in the LADY SPIES-series friendship is an important theme in the book and I hope to see some of the characters supporting Victoria and Justin take center stage in their own stories. If I am not mistaken some set-ups were already made but I will have to wait for the next book to see if I was right.
I have been a fan of Jenna Petersen's work ever since I read SCANDALOUS. She captivated me with that book and enthralled me with her LADY SPIES-series. Now she has thrilled me further with his book. It gave me everything I loved in the other books and more. It had great characters with a full-bodied story between them. It has a secondary plot next to the romance that holds the attention without distracting from the main couple.
The search for the villain in the story and the conclusion of the plot were truly perfectly done. It was the combination of the sensual romance and the wonderful and carefully executed storyline that made this one of Jenna's best novels so far.
This book reads like clockwork! Before I knew it I was at the end of this lovely story. The writing style is easy and fluent, it's fast-paced, the dialogues are witty and smart, the characters are wonderful and endearing and the plot is set up really well and provides plenty mystery to intrigue and captivate the reader.
In short, a fast-paced story that I finished in the bat of an eye because I couldn't stop reading it.
Quotes:
Their bodies ground together, warring and merging at the same time. It was a battle for pleasure, a battle for truth, a battle for everything being waged between them.
Justin and Victoria:
“Do you remember how you are to approach Alyssa?”
“I have not forgotten in the last five minutes, I assure you. I am your erotic plaything, not touched in the head, if you remember.”
June 15, 2008
8:00 AM |
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This book was released on May 27th and I reviewed it for REALMS ON OUR BOOKSHELVES
Dedicated, driven real estate agent Julie Ferris is enjoying a day at the beach with her sister Laura when a strange, almost undetectable charge fills the air. Then under the hot Malibu sun, time stops altogether.
Neither sister can explain their "lost day" --nor the blinding headaches or horrific nightmares that follow-- but Julie chalks it up to the stress she's been under since her boss' son took over Donovan Real Estate.
Patrick Donovan would be a real catch if not for his notorious playboy lifestyle and matching attitude. But when a cocaine-fueled heart attack nearly kills him, Patrick makes an astonishingly fast --and peculiar-- recovery. Julie barely recognizes the newly sober Patrick as the same man she once struggled to resist. Maybe it's the strange beach experience fueling her paranoia, but she can't help sensing something just isn't...right.
As Julie's feelings for Patrick intensify, she's about to discover how that day at the beach links her newfound happiness with her wildest suspicions...
Julie Ferris has always been attracted to Patrick but because of his destructive way of life and his playboy behavior she has never given into those feelings.
One day when they are on the beach, aliens abduct Julie and her sister Laura without being aware of it. The only consequences of the experience are their nightmares, Julie's migraines and Laura's paranoid behavior.
Not long after their abduction Patrick Donovan has a heart attack and his body is taken over by Val in order to investigate why Julie resists the alien tests and examinations
Julie discovers that with the "new and improved" Patrick, she has more and more trouble resisting him.
It was interesting to see how Val deals with Patrick's memories, sensations and experiences and at the same time it's difficult at first to discern what feelings are Patrick's and what are Val's. Reading I was wondering how Val was going to pull it of and how he was going to explain everything to Julie and what twist Kat Martin was going to give it. The way everything came out was a little predictable but still a very believable one.
For me Val was the most engaging character of the book. The other characters were rather kept on the surface. I didn't get to know and understand them as much as I would like. There is background information that hints about certain things but it didn't go far enough for me to truly empathize or relate to them as much as I wanted to.
The book started quite slowly paced and didn't pull me right in, but gradually I did get into the story and I learned to appreciate the writing style even though the subject wasn't one of my personal favorites.
The book was not intense as some other paranormals or suspense books, but in retrospect it didn't need intensity to keep the reader interested in the outcome of the story. There is some minor suspense plot and some romance but the focus is on the paranormal, the extraterrestrials and alien abduction plot
In the beginning it wasn't able to keep my attention and had a bit of trouble getting into the first few chapters.
I think this has mostly to do with my personal taste because it was well-written with an original concept but I’m not really into the whole alien abduction thing and that is what the book basically came down to.
But after the first half the story started to grow on me more and I really loved last few chapters of the book, where emotions and feelings came more into the story and gave it more of what I like in my books, the stirring of my own emotions.
This paranormal was more realistic than what I'm used to and it was a nice change for all the fantasy escapism I'm used to and which I prefer in the paranormal genre. It focuses more on the realistic possibilities of the existence of otherworlders and the skepticism believers in alien existence have to deal with.
While reading I noticed Kat Martin did extensive research into UFO's, close encounters, alien abduction and space travel. I have to applaud this because it gave the book that realistic feel.
For me it's difficult to rate this book because although the subject/concept isn't to my personal taste, the writing, the characters and plot are quite good.
The alien abduction plot is the main plot and for me the characters weren't strong enough, with the exception of the last few chapters, to carry the story without the need for a plot more to my personal taste with a bit more action or suspense.
When a writer knows how to intrigue me with a subject that is not to my taste I can't but applaud her and her writing. Kat Martin was able to do this with Season of Strangers and I can recommend this book to everyone who is interested in a well-written and well-researched romance novel in this genre.
Quote
But of course his heart wasn't fine at all. It was broken. He had read the term and now he understood it, and it was even more painful than the words implied. His heart had been sliced in two by a fiery little redhead with the courage to confront him with the truth.
Dedicated, driven real estate agent Julie Ferris is enjoying a day at the beach with her sister Laura when a strange, almost undetectable charge fills the air. Then under the hot Malibu sun, time stops altogether.
Neither sister can explain their "lost day" --nor the blinding headaches or horrific nightmares that follow-- but Julie chalks it up to the stress she's been under since her boss' son took over Donovan Real Estate.
Patrick Donovan would be a real catch if not for his notorious playboy lifestyle and matching attitude. But when a cocaine-fueled heart attack nearly kills him, Patrick makes an astonishingly fast --and peculiar-- recovery. Julie barely recognizes the newly sober Patrick as the same man she once struggled to resist. Maybe it's the strange beach experience fueling her paranoia, but she can't help sensing something just isn't...right.
As Julie's feelings for Patrick intensify, she's about to discover how that day at the beach links her newfound happiness with her wildest suspicions...
Julie Ferris has always been attracted to Patrick but because of his destructive way of life and his playboy behavior she has never given into those feelings.
One day when they are on the beach, aliens abduct Julie and her sister Laura without being aware of it. The only consequences of the experience are their nightmares, Julie's migraines and Laura's paranoid behavior.
Not long after their abduction Patrick Donovan has a heart attack and his body is taken over by Val in order to investigate why Julie resists the alien tests and examinations
Julie discovers that with the "new and improved" Patrick, she has more and more trouble resisting him.
It was interesting to see how Val deals with Patrick's memories, sensations and experiences and at the same time it's difficult at first to discern what feelings are Patrick's and what are Val's. Reading I was wondering how Val was going to pull it of and how he was going to explain everything to Julie and what twist Kat Martin was going to give it. The way everything came out was a little predictable but still a very believable one.
For me Val was the most engaging character of the book. The other characters were rather kept on the surface. I didn't get to know and understand them as much as I would like. There is background information that hints about certain things but it didn't go far enough for me to truly empathize or relate to them as much as I wanted to.
The book started quite slowly paced and didn't pull me right in, but gradually I did get into the story and I learned to appreciate the writing style even though the subject wasn't one of my personal favorites.
The book was not intense as some other paranormals or suspense books, but in retrospect it didn't need intensity to keep the reader interested in the outcome of the story. There is some minor suspense plot and some romance but the focus is on the paranormal, the extraterrestrials and alien abduction plot
In the beginning it wasn't able to keep my attention and had a bit of trouble getting into the first few chapters.
I think this has mostly to do with my personal taste because it was well-written with an original concept but I’m not really into the whole alien abduction thing and that is what the book basically came down to.
But after the first half the story started to grow on me more and I really loved last few chapters of the book, where emotions and feelings came more into the story and gave it more of what I like in my books, the stirring of my own emotions.
This paranormal was more realistic than what I'm used to and it was a nice change for all the fantasy escapism I'm used to and which I prefer in the paranormal genre. It focuses more on the realistic possibilities of the existence of otherworlders and the skepticism believers in alien existence have to deal with.
While reading I noticed Kat Martin did extensive research into UFO's, close encounters, alien abduction and space travel. I have to applaud this because it gave the book that realistic feel.
For me it's difficult to rate this book because although the subject/concept isn't to my personal taste, the writing, the characters and plot are quite good.
The alien abduction plot is the main plot and for me the characters weren't strong enough, with the exception of the last few chapters, to carry the story without the need for a plot more to my personal taste with a bit more action or suspense.
When a writer knows how to intrigue me with a subject that is not to my taste I can't but applaud her and her writing. Kat Martin was able to do this with Season of Strangers and I can recommend this book to everyone who is interested in a well-written and well-researched romance novel in this genre.
Quote
But of course his heart wasn't fine at all. It was broken. He had read the term and now he understood it, and it was even more painful than the words implied. His heart had been sliced in two by a fiery little redhead with the courage to confront him with the truth.
May 6, 2008
11:19 PM |
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COMING OUT OF THE DARK
Ani King left her entire life behind when the Russian Mafia brutally murdered her family. The Witness Security Program has kept her safe for two years, but with one simple phone call her cover is destroyed—and there is only one man left who can save her.
AND IN FOR THE KILL…
Protecting the brave, beautiful Ani became more than just a job a long time ago for Deputy Marshal Daniel Parker. And now, just days before the trial where she’s slated to give a damning testimony, the criminals who want her dead are on her trail. To keep Ani safe, Daniel has to keep her close—and her enemies closer. Because soon there’s nowhere for Ani to hide…but in his arms.
Anistana King (Ani) is the star witness in a trial against the Russian Mafia family that killed her family. She has been in witness protection for the last two years but one mistake leads the Russians to her and now she must literally run for her life until she can testify at the trial.
Daniel Parker is the U.S. Marshal assigned to Ani. When he finds out her identity has been compromised he does everything in his power to keep her safe until her testimony can put her family's murderer behind bars. And the criminals will do everything to keep Ani from testifying.
But the stakes are higher than just the trial and the testimony. In the two years they have known each other they have fallen in love so it's not just their lives at stake but also their hearts and Daniel's job are on the line.
Where I had doubts and wasn't undividedly enthusiastic about the first romantic thriller I read by Cheyenne McCray, she really outdid herself with this second one.
Maybe it was because of the subject change. The other book was about a protecting a woman who escaped a cult and MOVING TARGET was about protecting a star witness for a trial against the Russian Mafia. I've always been fascinated by everything to do with law, law enforcement and trials so this plot was really right up my alley.
Suffice to say that I absolutely liked this book better than CHOSEN PREY
What goes for the plot also goes for the characters if I compare the two books. I loved Ani way more than I did Lyra and the inconsistence in the character development that bothered me in CHOSEN PREY wasn't present in this book. The characters were great and especially Ani. She was strong, incredibly brave and resilient. She didn't hesitate to put Daniel in his place when she thought he had done something unforgivable in her eyes but she was also woman enough to forgive him when it turned out it wasn't his fault. And I could just picture Daniel as the Deputy Marshal in his black suit and dark glasses guarding Ani. He was endearing in his feelings for Ani, but a strong and capable professional at the same time.
The focus of the book is mainly on the primary couple, there are some secondary characters that play a role in the plot and they are well written but not deepened out. This didn't bother me though because with the plot and the characters there was plenty to keep my attention in a tight grasp throughout the whole book.
The research McCray did into WITSEC (witness protection), U.S. Marshals, law enforcement and court law was thorough and very impressive, providing a believable and very realistic plot. It was an action-packed book with car chases, bullets flying and cars exploding, nothing was shunned to try and get Ani eliminated before she can point her family's killer. And all this action was perfectly mixed with the romantic aspects of the book, creating a nice balance between heart-pounding and fast-paced action and erotic, lascivious love scenes. The chemistry between Ani and Daniel was sizzling and very explicit as I'm used to by Cheyenne McCray.
Though in my opinion the Magic series still has points over the romantic suspense books I must say that I truly enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more along this line by Cheyenne McCray.
Quote:
Sensations combined to put her on overload. Perspiration coated her body. Fire licked at her veins. Heat burned beneath her skin.
April 30, 2008
10:51 PM |
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The Midnight Man
It's been seventeen years since bad boy Simon Riley hopped a freight train out of town and Ellen Kent's given up wondering what happened to him. Running a successful bed and breakfast in Oregon's LaRue River Valley hasn't left her a lot of time for fantasizing about the one who got away. She's put aside her dreams of midnight kisses and secret passion . . . until an unexpected visitor knocks on her door. Simon is back. She had no idea that he was a famous photojournalist, working in war zones around the world. But the man is everything she wants in a lover--and more . . .
The Midnight Hour
Dogged by trouble, Simon swore he'd never return to this backwater town, even to see El Kent. But he had to come back to investigate his uncle's sudden death--and he must face the demons of his past. El's lush beauty still tempts him beyond belief. He knows he can satisfy her most hidden desire, to the point of complete abandonment and total ecstasy. And he's hungry for the sensual tenderness that only she can give--hungry for her.
The last thing Simon would ever do is hurt El, but someone is forcing his hand. Someone who will stop at nothing to keep the past dead and buried--even if it means silencing the woman Simon loves . . .
Simon and Ellen have known each other since they were kids and they were each other's first loves. Circumstances lead to Simon leaving his hometown and Ellen behind but his uncle's death brings him back. In the meantime Ellen is engaged to be married into the town's most influential family but she is not happy and Simon's return leads to not only a reunion of childhood friends but also to the rekindling of a love that was never forgotten. Little do they know that they have a lot to overcome before they can be together.
Simon is a loner, he had a terrible childhood and the only person who cared for him was Ellen and left he her. He is seductive and manly. But he is also endearing in this grieve for his uncle and his feelings for Ellen. His youth was awful and his only link to goodness or comfort was Ellen. Now he's back and he's guilt ridden for leaving Ellen behind all those years ago and for dragging her into his troubles now that he's back.
Ellen is persistent and a bit insecure, which she masks with her compassionate nature, she's caring and determined when she believes in something or someone. She has always had a weakness for Simon and after losing her virginity to him when she was a teenager she knew she would never love anyone as she did him. After Simon left town and her she picks up her life and moves on. When he returns she can't believe he's back to turn her world upside down and she's not ready to forgive him just like that for leaving her.
I love the development of McKenna's heroines. They start rather insecure and sometimes a bit timid but during the book they develop into strong-minded and determined women who don't take any crap from no one, not even the hero. This was definitely the case with Ellen. Her persistence is unstoppable and she manages to show Simon what it's like to be loved and cherished and she convinces him to accept these feelings.
McKenna's heroes are something else! Each one of them (at least of the three books I've read) has had terrible things to deal with and still they have the will to go on and find and accept love from the women in their lives. They are alpha to the bone with just the right amount of dominance to make them into drool-worthy men. This goes for Simon too. Underneath his alpha behavior is a man who's been hurt and rejected so many times he doesn't dare to recognize Ellen's feelings of love as they are meant to be. He thinks she pities him and feels sorry for him and he certainly doesn't think he's worthy of her love.
The secondary characters are equally well written as the main couple. Again their actions are perfectly motivated and meaningful, even those of the less likeable secondary characters. Most of them are not there just to fill the pages but have a genuine and important part in the plot and therefore you get a deeper glimpse of their reasoning and behavior. I love it that McKenna manages to give characters that seem very bad (in the sense of evil) in the beginning means to redeem themselves and they turn out to be more likeable than you think at first. She did this in the first book and again in this book.
The third McKenna book I read again was able to stir my emotions in a big way. Again it was typical McKenna in the sense of characterization, character-development and intensity. The attraction between hero and heroine is amazingly intense and sensual. The love scenes are highly erotic and tastefully written.
Again the plot is known to the reader but for me that didn't make it less exciting. How everything unfolds at the end was still surprising enough to keep me turning the pages. The suspense plot it a bit less intense and thrilling than in the McCloud books and the focus is less on the suspense in this book but McKenna more than makes up for that with the characters and their intensity. Simon, Ellen and several secondary characters are great, well-rounded characters with lots of depth to them. Their story is carefully told in a fast pace and it's easy to relate to them and their pasts.
So even though this book was less focused on the plot, it was still an amazing read that kept me enthralled. McKenna's writing style is very appealing to me. The way she combines plot, strong well-rounded characters and eroticism is unique in my eyes. The backgrounds and motivations of her characters have a similar theme in all the books but still each book has it's own unique feel because in each one the focus is on a different aspect of the characters or the plot.
Another great story delivered by Shannon McKenna that left me aching for more of her wonderful heroines, her delicious and tormented heroes, her intense love stories and her love scenes that set the pages on fire!
Quotes:
He wore a thin, crumpled, white linen shirt buttoned halfway up his golden chest. His face was shadowed with bad-boy beard stubble. That indecent, give-me-sex-now smile on his face would be more appropriate if he were lounging stark naked in bed.
"You're doing it again El. Your angel act. Sweet and selfless. Sacrificing yourself on the altar of my lust."
"I love the altar of your lust, Simon Riley. I want to drape a nice quilt over it, toss on some pillows and make it into my permanent bed."
March 9, 2008
6:31 PM |
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Jillian Greene is always getting caught in the act—it's her job! Working at Catch A Mate, Jillian gets paid by suspicious wives to smile, flirt and prove that no man can be trusted around the opposite sex. Her only ground rule? She never gets physical. Until a heart-stoppingly gorgeous male walks in…
Marcus Brody has just been hired as bait to test female fidelity. But the last thing Jillian needs is a partner…especially an infuriating, irresistible man who's got her fantasizing about tearing off his clothes.
Can a savvy modern woman find happiness with the most tempting man she's ever known? Is there such a thing as a totally monogamous male?
Gena Showalter did it again! I should have known but again she surpised and amazed me by taking a questionable concept and turning it into a wonderfull book that was beyond my expectations, which were set pretty high already. The concept of two people working for an agency to expose cheating spouses falling in love is a risky one but she pulls it of and even pulls of the "I-can't-stand-you-but-you-really-turn-me-on" attraction between hero and heroine.
Jillian and Marcus really start of on the wrong foot, taking each other on in a verbal fight that has no comparison. But underneath the animosity that seems to lie on the surface, there's an inmediate and smoldering attraction between them. All their bantering and verbal battles are a very stimulating and thrilling form of foreplay leading into a burning desire that combusts in a sensual climax, literally and figuratively.
Both Jillian and Marcus were amazing characters. Despite their fighting and their outspoken opinion on some things, they are both characters you can both relate to and identify yourself with. Not to mention that Jillian is actually a nice woman behind the walls she has pulled up around herself and Marcus...well suffice to say he's one hot piece of maleness who has his heart in the right place.
Now this was what I call topnotch entertainment combined with genuine emotions that made me swallow the lump in my throat a few times, especially at the end. It was refreshing, touching, sensual, moving and absolutely out of this world fun! Every chapter starts with a real bad come-on or pick-upline. Each one more cheesy than the next and just too corny for words but so funny you start every chapter with a smile plastered on your face. Just for collecting these lines Gena deserves a star.
This book just oozes with humor, wit, sarcasm and agressive banter. The quips fly around so fast it's dazzling, making it an easy and fun read.
It kicks into gear from page one and never slows down. Even without a real actionplot it was fast-paced and mind-blowing.
The secondary characters are as yummie and scrumptious as the hero and as fun and flippant as the heroine. Even one secondary character who annoyed me a bit in the beginning of the book, really got redeemed in the end and won my simpathy. There is also a secondary romance that's nicely mixed into the main story, lovely and complementing and never taking the focus of Jillian and Marcus.
Deep down I'm hoping for some sequel books featuring some of the other employees of the agency. I'm thinking Jake, Selene, Amelia, Matt....
This book kept me glued to the pages loving every page, every paragraph, every single letter! A contemporary romance of which I haven't encountered it's equal.
The combination of verbal fights, the intense underlying emotions and the passionate attraction is something that could have be totally unreal and not believable but it wasn't. With me it all went in like candy. And it was the combination that made the book great for me.
This book proved for me once again why Gena Showalter is on the top of my auto-buy, auto-read and auto-anything list and will certainly stay there.
I'm starting to sound like a broken record but I love, love....love Gena Showalter's writing. It has this magnetic pull on me and I can't even pinpoint what it is exactly. It doesn't matter if it's paranormal, futuristic or contemporary, her writing style, worlds, characters and humor pull me in and keep me captivated throughout the books.
Quote:
The door opened completely and those five godlike creatures entered the room. Peeping Tom, followed by a blond Adonis and a mocha-colored muscleman. After him was a redheaded guy who was burly and rugged.
Last, there was a dark-haired. blue-eyed platter of deliciousness.
July 10, 2007
5:47 PM |
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She was unmarried, untouched and almost thirty, but novelist Amanda Briars wasn't about to greet her next birthday without making love to a man. When he appeared at her door, she believed he was her gift to herself, hired for one night of passion. Unforgettably handsome, irresistibly virile, he tempted her in ways she never thought possible...but something stopped him from completely fulfilling her dream.
Jack Devlin's determination to possess Amanda became greater when she discovered his true identity. But gently-bred Amanda craved respectability more than she admitted, while Jack, the cast-off son of a nobleman and London's most notorious businessman, refused to live by society's rules. Yet when fate conspired for them to marry, their worlds collided with a passionate force neither had expected...but both soon craved.
Actually this was the first English historical romance I ever read and it was a while ago so many things had slipped my mind and were as new to me as the first time I read this book.
I had forgotten how sensual and determined Jack Devlin is and how strong and independant Amanda Briars is. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed reading this book.
Amanda is a heroin many modern women in their thirties can relate to. A spinster who decides she’s been a virgin for long enough, not a perfect size 10 and criticized for her well-developped mind. She’s an independant, self-sufficient novelist who doesn’t want a husband in fear of losing her freedom and individuality. But she’s also lonely an yearning for an equal-minded companion. She would have never thought she’d find him in Jack.
Jack is one of my favourite heroes. A young succesfull businessman and the illegimate half Irish son of a nobleman, he’s struggled the greater part of his life to be where he is now. Dominant and passionate and of course let’s not forget the black hair and blue eyes! The way he goes for what he wants warms me all over. His feelings for Amanda scare him to death but it’s inevitable that she is his soulmate.
They’re both subconsiously looking for that one person to satisfy not only their physical but also, more importantly, their emotional needs and they find that in each other in a beautiful story.
Jack knows exactly how to tear down the walls of self-protection that surrond Amanda’s heart in such a touching, appreciative and endearing way. In her strong and independant way Amanda doesn’t want to marry Jack when circumstances force them into marriage, afraid of losing her freedom and independance. But she finds out being married to Jack brings her more freedom and independance than she she’d ever imagined having when she was alone and single.
There were few memorable secondary characters but the story didn’t need them. It was Jack and Amanda’s story being told and only they can take the spotlight for carrying it in a formidable way. Other strong characters would have interfered with that.
I truly rediscovered an amazing treasure on my bookshelf.
Containing everything I look for in my romance novels:
Strong, well-written characters with imense depth to them.
Scorching passion and sensuality.
A story with the ability to mess me up emotionally in the best possible way. Taking me from laughter tot tears, from grief to pleasure and from compassion to anger. And these things combined has earned this book the highest grade I rarely give the books I read.
Quotes:
He moved to her other breast, making her whimper in frustration at his slowness, his endless leisure, as if time did not exist and he were going to spend forever feasting on her body.
Rating: 10 out of 10
May 27, 2007
5:14 PM |
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Unleashing your inner tigress isn't easy when you're a doormat by nature! Still, after escaping a wretched marriage to a cheating SOB, Dallas party planner Naomi Delacroix isn't about to let another man sweet-talk her into sheathing her protective claws. Not even hunky millionaire Royce Powell, who's hired her to arrange his mother's surprise party. Even if he does make her purr like a kitten with one heated glance . . .
Royce claims he's been in love with her ever since she threw a party for one of his friends a year ago. But if that's true, why is this incredibly eligible CEO currently taking applications for a wife? Despite herself, Naomi is tempted to fill one out. But can her inner tigress believe a man might change his stripes?
After having read her Imperia-series I was really impressed by Gena Showalter and with Animal Instincts she still has me impressed.
It’s a contemporary romance taking a small detour from the otherworldly this time with both hero and heroin being from 21st century earth.
It’s written from Naomi’s perspective, and though first person narrative really isn’t my favorite, Showalter really makes me forget that. Her writing is so good and filled with witty banter and thoughts that she really did a good job of getting me to appreciate stories written in first person perspective.
Naomi Delacroix is determined not to be a doormat any longer. Her failed marriage to cheating Richard has left so distrusting of men she thinks all men are cheating liars. Royce is madly in love with her and relentlessly pursues Naomi, he even uses his mother to get to her.
Naomi refuses to acknowledge her feelings for Royce and fights the attraction constantly. She is witty and endearingly stubborn but I must say it takes just a bit to long for Naomi to let her guard down and trust Royce's sincerity, his commitment and his love for her. In my opinion it wouldn’t have been bad if this happened earlier in the book. It was almost starting to get annoying when she finally gave in.
Royce was simply to die for, he is a determined man and used to getting what he wants. For me he is one of the best male characters I’ve read in a long time. His patience with Naomi was extraordinary and he remained calm and understanding of her insecurities. But never turning into a wimp, Royce is every girl’s fantasy dream man….and extremely hot!
It was hilarious how the stereotype roles between men and women were switched between the two: Royce holding out for marriage while Naomi just wants to have a good time in the sack and tries to get Royce in her bed at every opportunity.
The chemistry between Naomi and Royce is sizzling!
The depth of the characters makes them seem real and they were absolutely great together!
Even the secondary characters have depth and personality and really are a nice addition to the whole story. I think this is extraordinary in a first person narrative.
But for me the book’s strongest point is that it’s laugh-out-loud funny. From the first page to the very last.
I have yet to read the books in Showalters other series and I know the Alien Huntress-series is also written in first person. But I really don’t have any doubts about them. I’m sure I’ll love anything Showalter writes.
After the Imperia books and this one she has definitely launched herself straight into my autobuy-list. She can keep them coming at me and I’ll devour them one by one.
Quotes:
Like I ever wanted to get married again. Like I wouldn’t rather sign up to be a contestant on Fear Factor and eat rotten bugs wrapped in pig uterus and smothered in a nice cow-blood sauce.
“One day soon, Naomi, I’m going to show you just how much pleasure I can give you. And neither one of us will be able to walk for a week.”
May 20, 2007
4:55 PM |
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There is only one word for a passion this sizzling…Scandalous!
Katherine Fleming has lived her life without even a hint of indiscretion. So she is devastated to discover the nobleman she’s engaged to has a secret he’s kept from her: a wife! Suddenly Katherine’s enmeshed in a scandal that has the ton buzzing--and forced to accept a most unconventional proposal from the notorious seducer Dominic Mallory, her faithless fiancé’s brother…and precisely the sort of rake she has sworn to avoid!
Charming and dangerously sensual, Dominic has desired the stunning beauty from the first moment he spied her. Now, with Katherine’s reputation in tatters, it’s the ideal opportunity to bed her--though it will take wedding vows to do so. But can a rogue be reformed by the unleashed passion of a normally reserved lady? And can a marriage made for all the wrong reasons flame into the love match of the season?
I really loved this one.
The interactions between hero and heroin were sizzling and intens.
The sensual tension between the two is almost palpable.
This was my first Jenna Petersen book and I liked it very much.
Dominic is the hero who's tormented by his past. He is the result of an affair his mother had and he doesn't know who his father is. His only goal in life is to find out his parentage. His mother's husband and his halfbrother never accepted him and their actions and those of his mother lead to him not believing in love.
Until he meets Katherine (Kat).
Because of the problematic relationship her parents had, Kat also doesn't believe in love. Love is humiliating and painful in her eyes.
Until she meets Dominic and must marry him to prevent scandal to come over her and his family.
Once they are married they start developing deeper feelings for each other. But because of their pasts they won't admit to it and settle for just the physical side of marriage.
Of course lies and secrets puts a wedge between them and drive them apart but fortunately everything works out just fine.
Jenna Petersen has a delightful writing style, easy to read and accessible. This book was't fast paced but that wouldn't do the story justice. This story is meant to be taken in slow and easy so you can savor every word, every feeling, every emotion.
She knows how to pen down a beautiful story of love that conquers all.
While reading I went through a whole bunch of emotions but what touched me most was their hurt caused by their pasts and in the end of the book I just had to cry.
The secondary characters were also brilliantly pictured and true additions to the storyline. They also made me feel emotional but in the angry sense of the word. Man....At some point I really wanted to strangle the halfbrother Cole and his wife Sarah. They were so evil and selfish.
Halfsister Julia was a nice and lovable character though.
I'm really looking forward to reading more by Jenna Petersen because this one has sparked a flame that hopefully won't extinguish very soon!
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Nice to meet you!
- Pearl
- Netherlands
- 39, married to my real life romance hero, addicted to TV shows, reading romance novels and Twitter. I'm a chronic (e)book hoarder and my absolute favorite genres within romance fiction are contemporary romance and romantic suspense, but I don't shy away from historical, paranormal or erotic romance either. Even the occasional (urban) fantasy romance, futuristic and sci fi romance may make it to my Mount TBR. This is my corner of the world wide web where I let you know what books I'm hoarding, reading and reviewing.
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