Book Review: The Texan's Wedding Escape

Meet the Author:

Charlene Sands is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and historical romance. She has been honored with the National Readers Choice Award, the Booksellers Best Award, The Cataromance Reviewers Choice Award and Romantic Times Magazine's Best Harlequin Desire Award of 2014. She is an active member of Romance Writers of America. When not writing, she spends time with her four "princesses", enjoys sunny Pacific beaches and yummy chocolate mocha cappuccinos! Sign up for her newsletter for fun and exclusive prizes at www.charlenesands.com and on FB and Twitter!

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About the Book:

From friendship to passion…to forever?

Only if she doesn’t marry the wrong man first…

Lauren never got over her childhood crush on Cooper, but she’s grown up now and ready to settle down. She even agrees to plan her upcoming wedding at his ranch, but in close quarters, she’s second-guessing her groom and yearning for Cooper’s forbidden embrace… Then she discovers the rancher’s ulterior motive. Will she walk down the aisle with the wrong man?

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Review:  Charlene Sands is one of my favorite writer's for the Desire line and though I haven't been reading much romance lately, I absolutely had to read this one.

I'm a bit on the fence about my feelings for this one.  That's not to say I didn't enjoy the book, because I did, very much, but I had some issues with Lauren.

Lauren was portrayed as a former boy crazy young woman, who has suddenly decided to settle down after only dating her groom to be for only 6 months. This groom to be is also her late brother's business partner. No chemistry can be found between the two of them at all. I felt that Roger should have at least pretended to like/love her if they were going to be married.

But then there's Cooper. Ah Cooper. He was the best thing about the book. I adored him. He was not your typical Harlequin hero. There wasn't a trace of alpha male to be found here. In fact, he was really just sweet. Any guy that would help his bff's mother to put a stop to her daughter's wedding, is just a sweetie, and he does it with good intentions. He's not overbearing or controlling. He's just the kind of caring guy you want in your life. He is definitely book boyfriend material.

Lauren's mom  is all kinds of awesome too. I love a mom that is motherly and not some evil or just bad mom type character. I like good mother/daughter relationships and this was definitely here, even though mom wasn't quite as trusting as she could have been.

I felt that part of the ending was wrapped up a little to neatly. I understand that Ms. Sands wanted a little bit of suspense at the end, but Lauren's change in behavior didn't seem to work well with her previous actions.

I did love the big reveal about Roger at the end. That was actually pretty perfect and it made me feel like Lauren finally grew a spine.

If you are looking for a quick, sweet read for a lazy afternoon.

Rating: 4 flowers

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Book Review: Million Dollar Marriage Merger

Author: Charlene Sands
Title: Million Dollar Marriage Merger
Publisher: Silhoutte Desire
Publish Date: May 2010
Buy: Amazon
Book Blurb: He'd kept a promise to marry his best friend's widow. But even an obligatory marriage could not diminish the hunger vintner Tony Carlino still felt for Rena Montgomery. Foolishly, he'd walked away from her once before...and she had never forgiven him. As far as she was concerned, no one would be toasting this arrangement anytime soon.

She had married Tony only for the safety his name--and money--would give her, her winery...and her unborn child. Never could she allow herself to reveal the desire she felt for her new husband. For their marriage was meant to be only about business. Neither dared speak one word about love.

Review: Charlene Sands is one of my favorite authors for the Desire line. Million Dollar Marriage Merger takes place in the Napa Valley and centers around two former lovers thrown together after the death of David Montgomery, Tony's best friend and Rena's husband.

I don't usually like stories about second chances when the relationship comes hot on the heals of the death of spouse, especially when it is obvious the spouse was well loved. Charlene finds a way to make this plot work though, and you have to remember this is Harlequin land, which is much like a fairytale. She does it by having David extort a promise from Tony that he would take care of Rena and their unborn child.

Tony lives up to his end of the baragain, and though their is a lot of angst from Rena, the two marry to save her vineyard.

This isn't one of the spicier Desires that I've read. It focuses more on Tony regaining Rena's love and trust and I like that. When the sex comes, it is believable.

Tony is a great hero, in fact, he's the kind of guy, most women would want swooping into their lives. Especially if he could fix our problems the way he did Rena's.

If you have a few hours and are looking for a quick read, this is definitely a good choice.

Rating: 5 flowers

Book Review: Do Not Disturb Until Christmas

Author: Charlene Sands
Title: Do Not Disturb Until Christmas
Publisher: Silhouette Desire
Publish Date: Nov 2008
Book Blurb:  All millionaire businessman Cody Landon wanted for Christmas was sweet payback. Superstar singer Sarah Rose had betrayed him for the limelight—and now she'd taste his revenge. He'd seduce her, then leave her forever. But Cody didn't count on being hungry for more.

Or on the resulting pregnancy. To save her image and career, Sarah Rose would have to marry him. Giving Cody what he'd wanted all along: all access—all the time. Once their baby was born, he'd divorce her. Or would his Christmas bride get what she wanted?

Review: I love Charlene Sands' books for Silhouette and I was prepared to devour this one like the reading candy she usually delivers, but I just didn't quite warm up to Cody the way I felt I should. He was just a little too alpha male for me.  Cody was too hung up on revenge and he didn't soften until the last 20 pages, making the ending come a little too quickly.

The premise of Cody and Sarah being high school sweethearts was a great setup for the story. I liked that they had a history, and that there were feelings still brewing between them.  I wish that history had been developed more. The reader caught glimpses of what Sarah and Cody shared in bits of conversations, but a few flashbacks would have made the story better.

Sarah was a great heroine and I loved that she was a country singer. At times she seemed a bit like a young Loretta Lynn. She was strong and yet she was manipulated by her manager, who kept her away from Cody, and from developing her career the way she wanted to. Robert Gillespie was definitely a villian, but he could have been a better one. When Cody confronts him at the end, he gives in too easily for someone that really has an evil streak.

Then there was the matter of Sarah and the baby. I'm trying to figure out how she had to wait to see a doctor to know she was pregnant. I mean, there are some warning signs. Then she gives up her career at the end to be a mom, or at least it felt like she was giving up a career she seemed to love to be a mom. That kind of fell flat with me.

I usually really love Charlene's books, but this one wasn't one of her best in my eyes.

Rating: 2 flowers