The Romance Girl

Review: The Always Next

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 21:00:00 -0500

Review: The Next Always

By Nora Roberts

This was a great way to start a trilogy, I can’t wait to read the next one. Unfortunately I have to, because it doesn’t come out until May of next year. It might kill me waiting that long, but if I survive it will be worth it, because this is shaping up to be a great series.

In Brief: Beckett Montgomery is the architect in his family’s construction company. With the kin renovating the Inn in his hometown of Boonsboro he can’t help, but cross paths with Clare, his childhood crush. But they are all grown up now and things soon become more serious between them. Can he protect her from a hidden danger before it is too late?

Love is in the Air: The relationship between these two was really lovely. Watching it grow was the best part of the book, and this book had a lot of great parts. The fact that Clare is a widow with three kids and that Beckett had nurtured his crush for so long, made this relationship unique and interesting. The kids added a fun aspect to their courtship and as a mother I appreciated the fact that were part of the equation.

The Verdict: This book had it all. It made me laugh out load and brought tears to my eyes. There is a hint of danger and an ongoing mystery. But what I love the most is that all of those other things do not distract for the main focus of the book, the two people that are falling in love with each other. This is Nora Roberts at her finest.

A little something extra: Nora Roberts has proved her genius with this book. Beyond the love story this book is about the renovation of an old building. The building is becoming an inn right before our eyes. There are very specific details given about what the inn will look like. Normally that is just good writing, but in this case it is genius. You see, Nora Roberts own the Inn BoonsBoro. Reading the description of the inn, especially the bathroom, made me what to book a room right way. I am already working on my husband and plan to go there on our next special getaway. What better advertising than a best seller?

www.innboonsboro.com

The Romance Girl

Review: Highlander for the Holidays by Janet Chapman

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 22:02:00 -0400

Review: Highlander for the Holidays (Jove, ’11)

By Janet Chapman

Is it too early to start reading Christmas books? Maybe if it was June, but it’s not. It is practically November, which is basically the holiday season. I am getting into the Christmas spirit early and I do plan on reading all the holiday books I can get my hands on!

To Summarize: Jessie Pringle moves from Atlanta, Georgia to the tiny town of Pine Creek, Maine in an effort to put her painful past behind her. Ian is instantly attracted to Jessie and wants to play a part in her recovery. But when her past catches up with her, will Jessie be ready to accept Ian and truly move on?

That Magic Moment: Being that this book is part of Janet Chapman’s Pine Creek series, there is an element of magic involved. This is something that Janet’s fans will expect, but I’m not sure that it was necessary to the book or well explained. Magic was more of a distraction than a working element of the story. Having read the series from the beginning, I imagine someone reading about Pine Creek for the first time would be a lost. Hopefully this will not put them off forever because it really is a good series.

The Verdict: I loved the main characters. Jessie is wounded, but brave enough to try and take back her life. I love her spunk and her willingness to stand up to the domineering men of Pine Creek. Ian, one of those domineering men, is smart enough to see Jessie as a woman instead of a victim. The fact that they both have some personal stuff to work through makes for an inspiring holiday tale. If only the author had broken tradition and left the magic out of it, it would have been one of her best.

Happy Holidays (Almost)!

The Romance Girl

Review: Never Love a Highlander

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 12:05:00 -0400

Never Love a Highlander (Ballantine Books, ’11)

By Maya Banks

The Excitement: Wow! What a way to end an amazing trilogy. I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books, In Bed with a Highlander and How to Seduce a Highland Lass, so I had some pretty high expectations for the finale. Never Love a Highlander fulfilled all my expectations and more with two equally stubborn lovers and an epic battle to end it all.

To Summarize: Rionna McDonald is a pawn in her father’s game. After being jilted by Alaric McCabe, she is quickly wed to his younger brother Caelen for the sake of King and Country. But Rionna is through being used by men, and is determined to prove her worth to her husband, who is equally determined to keep her at a distance. But with an enemy closing in they must pull together to protect all that they hold dear.

The X Factor: It’s Maya Banks so you can count on the bedroom scenes having a certain amount of sha-Bam! but keep in mind that this is a historical romance. The lovin’ didn’t dominate the story, but it was more descriptive and more creative than what you will find in most historicals.

The Showdown: Who doesn’t love an epic battle between good and evil? All three books were leading up to this final showdown, and I felt that for the book and the trilogy to be successful the battle had to rock. Oh boy, did it ever. It brought to mind images of the film Braveheart, only without Mel Gibson.

The Verdict: Sha-Bam! The best part of this book is the relationship between Caelen and Rionna. :: Mild Spoiler:: In this book the wedding takes place at the beginning with the love coming later. I really enjoyed the way those two tried to figure each other out, each trying to maintain the upper hand. They might not have chosen each other, but it is obvious they are a perfect fit. This is my favorite book in the trilogy, which is saying a lot because this is one of the best trilogies I have read in a long time.

Happy Reading

the Romance Girl

A New Begining

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:22:00 -0400

A New Beginning (or how the Kindle changed my life)

I remember it like it was yesterday. Christmas morning was here and as I ripped off the wrapping paper I saw it, my brand new Kindle. And so my life changed forever. Okay, not really, but it did change how I go about purchasing books and my relationship with the local bookstore. So I pose this question, which would win in a no-holds-barred all-out-grudge-match; the Kindle or the Bookstore?

At first glance it seems that the Kindle has the upper hand. It allows for easy access to most books, some of which are not found in print, from your home. Some authors only offer eBooks, such as Dana Marie Bell whom I discovered through my Kindle. The Kindle also offers samples of books, as well as reader reviews. Convenience is key with an eReader. The best thing about the Kindle is that, for most hardcover books you don’t pay hardcover price; this means I do not have to wait for the paperback before I can buy the book. J

Bt alas the Kindle isn’t perfect. I find it very difficult to browse titles on my kindle, even on Amazon.com. If I don’t know what I want, it gets frustrating trying to filter through all the material available. When discussing the Kindle itself, there are no page numbers. While I am reading, the Kindle saves my page, which is awesome, but if I need to go back and look at something (say, for a review); it becomes exceedingly difficult to find what I am looking for.

I always find what I am looking for in a Bookstore, even when I am not looking for anything. I just love the whole bookstore experience. You walk in and you see books all around. So you head to the romance section, maybe grab a hot chocolate along the way. You could even meet some friends and make a social event of it. You never know what you’ll see while browsing the aisle. Next thing you know, you’ve found a must read by an author that you have never heard of. And nothing beats going to a Bookstore when they are having a sale. I get chills just thinking about it.

While the Bookstore experience is unparalleled, not all Bookstores are perfect. The worst thing that could ever happen is when you go to the Bookstore for a specific book and when you get there, they don’t have it. It is the biggest let down and can really damage a person. And what happens when you get to a Bookstore and the romance section is small, or out of stock, or just not good enough to fulfill you romance reading needs? Then What? HUH?! Breathe…

That is why I employ the Kindle-Bookstore Buddy System. There is no reason why the two should fight to the death when they can work together to take care of all my romantic reading needs. I use my Kindle when I know what I want, or when I have a specific book in mind. When I don’t know what I want, I go to the Bookstore for some serious perusing. So what do you think? Kindle, Bookstore, or Buddy System?

Happy Browsing!

The Romance Girl

Review: Falke's Captive by Anna Leigh Keaton and Madison Layla

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:04:00 -0400

Falke’s Captive (eBook; Carina Press, ’11)

By Anna Leigh Keaton and Madison Layla

Falke’s Captive takes us back to Leavenworth, Washington for another visit with the Falke siblings. This family of mountain lion shifters run Catamount Outfitters in a little tourist town. When I first discovered the Falke family, the eldest brothers Axel and Gunnar were meeting their mate Dakota in Falke’s Peak (Carina, ’10). Now, it is their brothers’ turn.

In Brief: Beth Coldwell comes to town to do scientific research on the local cougar population. Unfortunately, the first cougar that she catches is a shifter, Kelan Falke. Kelan manages to escape, but he and his brother Reidar must make sure that the family secret is not exposed. The closer the brothers get to Beth, the more the attraction grows. What will Beth do when she discovers the Falke family secret?

The X Factor: The love scenes in this book were flavorsome, but did not dominate the book. There was, of course, the ménage aspect, which I admit I liked. Light bondage excited the scenes.

The Verdict: I love the Falke brothers. I appreciated the brotherly bond and the fact that they had distinctly different personalities. That being said, I thought it as very appropriate that Beth came to care for each of them as individuals; for their own unique reasons. There is a foreboding element at the climax that leads to a satisfying conclusion. I cannot wait for the next one!

Happy Shifting!

The Romance Girl

Coming Soon...

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 22:34:00 -0400

Here is a sneak peak at what I will be reading and reviewing next.

October 25^th:

Never Love a Highlander by Maya Banks

Maya Banks is releasing the last of her Highlander trilogy featuring the McCabe brothers. I really enjoyed the first two books of this trilogy and I hope this one lives up to my lofty expectations.

November 1^st:

The first Tuesday of November brings two books I’ve been looking forward to!

The Next Always: Book One of the Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy by Nora Roberts

I LOVE her trilogies and cannot wait to start this one.

Fun Fact!: Nora Roberts owns the inn that this trilogy is based on.

Wanted by Her Lost Love by Maya Banks

This is the second book of the Pregnancy and Passion Series. It seems like a lot of Maya… Perfect!

In the Meantime:

Until the new releases come out I will be visiting with the Falke brothers and give the recently released Falke’s Captive (Carina, Oct. 10^th) a read. Written by Anna Leigh Keaton and Madison Layla, this eBook is about mountain lion shifters. I love shifter romance and really enjoyed the first book about the Falke brothers, Falke’s Peak (Carina, ’10).

SO there is what’s ahead for me, what are you looking forward to reading?

Happy Reading!

The Romance Girl

Review: Men Out of Uniform by Maya Banks

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 16:22:00 -0400

Men out of Uniform: Three Novellas of Erotic Surrender (Berkley Trade, ’11)

By Maya Banks, Karin Tabke, and Sylvia Day

I’m not the biggest fan of anthologies, but I will make exceptions for Maya Banks and other amazing writers (see: My Definitive Top Five). So I gave this one a go. There are three stories: Soul Possession, Taking the Heat, and Wanted.

Soul Possession, Maya Banks

In Brief: Detectives Rick and Truitt want Jessie Callahan in their bed. That’s right, three people, one bed. The morning after she finally succumbs to their seduction, all three are shocked when Jessie is accused of murder. This tests their fragile new relationship, but not as much as when Jessie becomes the target of a serial killer.

The X Factor: My glasses steamed up! The sex was ménages, which just added to the hotness level. That sense of the forbidden lust made things very exciting.

The Verdict: Guilty (in a good way)! I loved it. I enjoyed the main characters and the way they interacted with one another. The suspense kept the pages turning and I stayed up all night reading. The ménage a trois aspect of the book may bother some. But I think that once they take the stick out of their behinds (or put it in, or whatever) they will enjoy it for what it is, a really good read.

Taking the Heat, Sylvia Day

In Brief: Layla Creed has been in the Witness Protection Program and has come out of hiding to give her testimony. Charged with her safety is Brian Simmons. The two share a red hot history that threatens to distract them from the danger they are both in.

The X Factor: The sex was Spicy. Layla and Brian are familiar with each other and know just what to do to drive the other crazy, which made for some very tasty scenes.

The Verdict: The action/danger element moves the story along and the sex scenes certainly spice things up, but some of the conversations are redundant and total downers. They talked a lot about their failed relationship, blaming each other and then themselves. Eventually becoming depressed about their upcoming separation, the two cry on and on about it. This became a speed bump in an otherwise fast-paced story.

Wanted, Karin Tabke

In Brief: Rough around the edges lawman Colin Daniels is dispatched to wrangle in the wife of a Mafia Don. The scorned wife turns out to be ready and willing… to take her husband down.

The X Factor: The juicy bits were hot and varied; which I appreciated because, who wants to read about the same old thing? Unfortunately I had trouble buying the relationship itself.

The Verdict: Yawn. The plot felt forced and unrealistic. ::mild spoiler:: the two knew each in high school. So they meet again after ten years and bam! They’re in love. I don’t buy it. I found myself skimming anytime the characters had down time (inevitably exploring their lame relationship) instead of running from bad guys or slamming. I needed more from the characters and didn’t get it.

Happy Reading!

The Romance Girl

My Definitive Top Five

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 21:11:00 -0400

1. Nora Roberts, noraroberts.com

Style: Contemporary

Strengths: Superhuman. Such a pro that almost any book of hers is going to be a good read.

Coming up: I am very excited about the first book of her upcoming series The Next Always: Book One of the Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy (Berkley Trade, Nov. 1^st)

Weakness: Can be monotonous (see: Face the Fire, ’02). I also hate waiting six months between books, but that seems more of her publishers weaknesses than hers.

Read it Now!: The Search (Putnam Adult, ’10)

2. Maya Banks, mayabanks.com

Style: A bit of everything, with Hot Sauce.

Strengths: Her versatility is amazing. She writes contemporary, paranormal, historical, and some erotica, all of which are awesome reads.

Weaknesses: Some of her stuff might be too hot for some readers. She also writes about non-traditional relationships; often involving a woman and multiple men?! (see: Colters’ Woman, Samhain ’07). With such a wide selection of main characters, satisfying character development can be lacking.

Read it Now!: No Place to Run – A KGI Novel (Berkley, ’10)

3. Linda Howard

Style: Contemporary

Strengths: Her books are true page-turners. Her characters are realistic and relatable.

Weaknesses: Linda Howard is the only author I have heard of that does not have an official website. It is very difficult to keep up with what she is working on and I find that to be incredibly frustrating.

Read it Now!: Prey: A Novel (Ballantine Books, ’11)

4. Lynsay Sands, lynsaysands.net

Style: Paranormal, Historical

Strengths: Her books have literally made me laugh out loud and they often have a hint of mystery that will keep those pages turning. Her vampire series’ bring a fresh take on an old theme.

Weaknesses: Sometimes her plots can be redundant, but as her Vampire series’ have evolved that becomes less of an issue.

Read it Now!: A Quick Bite (Avon, ‘05)

5. Hannah Howell, hannahhowell.com

Style: Historical, Paranormal

Strengths: I love her characters and the way she develops the relationship between the hero and heroine. I also adore her Murray series because she follows the characters through three generations. Her newest series looks to continue in the same vein.

Weaknesses: Periodically I feel that her books all follow the same outline and you can almost predict what is going to happen. This would bother some people, but in my opinion if it isn’t broke don’t fix it.

Read it Now!: Only For You (Kensington, ’96)

SO there it is, my first post! Do you agree, disagree? Did you accidentally click on this blog and have no idea what’s going on? Tell me about it!

Happy Reading!

The Romance Girl

Hi Everybody! Well, you… only you. There’s only one...

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:26:00 -0400

Hi Everybody! Well, you… only you. There’s only one person reading this. This is my test post for an exciting new blog covering the latest news and reviews of Romance novels. Thanks for reading, and yes, I’m talking to you.

Happy Reading!

The Romance Girl