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

Book Review: The Billionaire's Fake Engagement

Author: Robyn Grady
Title: The Billionaire's Fake Engagement
Publisher: Silhouette Desire
Publish Date: Sept 2009
Rating:2 Stars
Book Blurb: A scandal threatened one of Australia's most powerful bachelor billionaires. The solution? A proposal.

Alexander Ramirez was committed to the idea of family, and Natalie Wilder certainly brought the right assets to his bedroom. The engagement that he'd intended as a media distraction soon became a real possibility. As one obstacle after another got in the way of his plans, Alex became more determined than ever to keep Natalie in his bed. And he always got what he wanted!

Review: This book wasn't all that I thought it would be. Natalie and Alexander become engaged to distract the media from another scandal, however Natalie has some issues in her past that she doesn't want to share with her lover.

I generally like the Desire line, but this book just went over the top too much for me. First, Natalie was an unwed mother at 17, but her baby died at birth. Then she developed a condition that would likely make her infertile.

The thing that gets me is that her lover is accused of fathering a child on another woman and she's worried about not being able to have his baby. At least she doesn't have any issues with trust. I think Natalie is a little misguided, and Alexander has a big mouth. I mean why would you blurt out you were about to marry someone else, after you had been accused of getting another woman pregnant.

I'm pretty sure you can guess what happens in the end, because not only to you get a happily ever after you get something close to a miracle too.

Book Review: Billionaire Extraordinaire

Author: Leanne Banks

Title: Billionaire Extraordinaire

Publisher: Silhouette Desire
Publish Date: May 2009

Rating: 4 Stars

Book Blurb: Mr. May: Damien Medici, überbillionaire
Mission: Revenge...through any means
Method: Seduction, of course!

Finally he could avenge his family. And the key to achieving all Damien desired lay in the hands of his sweet new secretary, Emma Weatherfield. She could reveal the privileged information he so desperately wanted. But in order to gain Emma's trust, he had to win her love.

Romancing his way into Emma's heart was easier than he'd imagined. Doing so without entrapping himself, however, was not something this risk-taker had ever anticipated.

MAN OF THE MONTH: A select member of The Billionaires Club--self-made men...rich in everything but love!

Review: Leanne Banks is another one of my favorite authors for the Desire line and she really doesn't disappoint. The story was for the most part solid and the characters were believable and really likable. I think that's what I love about the Desire line. The heros aren't quite as arrogant as in the Presents line. You can understand why the women are falling all over them.

Emma was really a unique heroine in this story. A top of the line administrative assistent for the firm that Damien is working to downsize and destroy (for revenge of course).

Her mother has a gambling problem and it has made Emma very frugal. I think that is the one part of the story that bugged me. When Damien gives her carte blanche to go shopping for a business trip to Florida, she goes to the outlet mall.

Uh, Emma, I'm a poor girl. If a billionaire offered me a credit card and told me to go crazy on clothes, and I lived in Vegas? Let me tell you, he'd have a pretty wild bill the next month! I would buy and buy and accessorize!

I loved Emma's mother, and I really wished there would have been more story time with her. She was such fun, crazy and loving. I hated that she was painted in such a poor light because of her addiction, especially as it was obvious she loved her daughter.

Damien was the kind of boss we'd all love to work for. He's rich, he's nice and he's got the hots for his assistant. Why can't I be his assistant? Really! This was one of those stories I wouldn't have minded being a character in. Considering that he was in the company to work at downsizing and he had a hidden agenda, he never came across as being hard to work for, plus in the name of revenge he was super nice to Emma all the time. Plus, as we all know, in romances, a happily ever after is coming, you know that he really loves her, so that just makes him seem even better as a hero.

The sex was steamy but there wasn't a lot of it. In fact, the first real hot scene wasn't until the book was more than half finished. I liked that, because the story didn't need that much spice to keep the heat up.

File this one under quick and easy weekend reads. Very fun and sexy story!

Book Review: The Millionaire's Miracle

Author: Catheleen Galitz
Title: The Millionaire's Miracle
Publisher: Silhouette Desire
Publish Date: Sept 2007
Rating: 3 Stars
Book Blurb: She couldn't believe it. Millionaire Bryce McFadden, the ex-husband who had broken her heart, was suddenly back in her life. And he still had the power to make her weak in the knees. How could Gillian possibly spend a single moment in the presence of that ice-cold man?

Then an avalanche trapped them in a remote Wyoming ranch. Forced into such close and intimate quarters, their intense passion burned hot enough to almost cause a thaw. But was a renewed attraction enough to grant them the miracle of a new beginning?

Review: This book is an example of when good writers write what my creative writing teacher in high school would call a pot boiler. The characters were strong but there were too many of them and they all had issues that either didn't get resolved or got resolved too easily. For instance, Gillian's sisters are really an intricate part of the plot. They want their father in a nursing home so that the ranch can be sold and they can get their inheritance.

They show up with Gillian and her ex are staying at the ranch to cause trouble, but they really didn't. They just sort of pouted, celebrated and left. If they were going to be wicked sisters, they really needed to be a bit nastier. They didn't do anything to thwart the decision anyone made.

Then there was Bryce, they ex. He's about to get engaged to a woman he supposedly loves, but in the end his feelings for his ex take over and the two of them end up in bed. Yet throughout the book, he's talking to the woman he says he loves and her son. Its kind of hard to believe he's that weak willed no matter what history he shares with Gillian.

The only character that really came across well was Gillian's father. He sticks to his guns. He knows his limitations and he shows love. I cried when they buried the old dog, Padre.

This story could have been great, but I think it needed to be longer than what the Silhouette Desire line allows. I longed for more backstory on Gillian and Bryce's marriage and the loss of their child. I definitely would have loved to really know the motivations behind Rose and Stella's desire to sell the ranch. Money seemed a bit too easy and everyone was too forgiving of them.

I gave the book 3 stars because even though there were plot holes in my opinion the story was well written. It was a quick easy read, and I give props to the author for keeping the lovemaking scenes to a minimum because too much would have ruined the story.

Book Review: Bound By The Baby

Author: Susan Crosby
Title: Bound By The Baby
Publisher: Silhouette Desire
Publish Date: March 2007
Rating: 4 Stars
Book Blurb: Buttoned-up banker Devlin Campbell prided himself on his control. That one passionate night in Atlantic City had been an aberration, but one with lasting consequences: his mystery woman was pregnant. Now that he'd found her -- thousands of miles away -- Dev approached Nicole with a most decent proposal. But would their ardent beginning allow these virtual strangers to forge a bond that was more than skin deep?

Review: This is the third book in the Millionaire of the Month series. It was a good read, but not as good as Maureen Child's book.  Nicole was a strong female character but you got the feeling she was one of those 24 year old virgins and if not that something very close to it.

Dev and Nicole have a one night stand and months later Nicole is pregnant. Dev finds her again and is determined to do the right thing the wrong way. His motives are admirable and there is definitely an attraction there, but Dev's possessiveness borders on obnoxious and the couple's desire to keep the pregnancy secret from their families really comes off poorly. Dev's family for the most part come across as a bunch of nasty snobs, especially the sister that proves she's not loyal after she pops in for a visit.

I think the thing that bothered me about this book, was that these two characters were polar opposites and the only thing they had in common was attraction and yet they were in love and were going to get married by the end of the book. I'd like to see a book about their lives a few years down the road, because their backgrounds are so opposite. Then there was the matter of her high school boyfriend that is still around, protecting her. There really didn't seem to be much resolution with that resolution to that part of the story.

I did like the Nicole didn't give in to Devlin and get married immediately. She showed some spunk there. It was a good story, but it just seemed lacking in many ways.

Book Review: Thirty Day Affair

Author: Maureen Child
Title: Thirty Day Affair
Publisher: Silhouette Desire
Publish Date: March 2007
Rating: 5 Stars
Book Blurb: Hotel Empire Dominant Personality Trait: Always gets what he wants.
When grumpy, rich and gorgeous Nathan Barrister arrives at the Lake Tahoe lodge,
...more Hotel Empire Dominant Personality Trait: Always gets what he wants.
When grumpy, rich and gorgeous Nathan Barrister arrives at the Lake Tahoe lodge, all he can think about is how soon he can leave. His one-month commitment feels like solitary confinement— until a snowstorm traps him with lovely Keira Sanders. Suddenly a thirty-day affair sounds like just the thing to pass the time—if Keira agrees to his no-ties arrangement.

Review: There's a reason why I never hesitate to pick up a book by Maureen Child, her books always have strong characters. This one was no exception. Nathan was the typical alpha male but he wasn't a match for Keira.

Nathan is nothing short of a curmudgeon, but Keira manages to chip away at his defenses, by annoying the hell out of him and throwing his well ordered life into chaos.

Sure the characters are in an unbelievable situation, but you really can't help but loving them, especially Nathan, who is so scheduled in his life that he probably visits the bathroom at designated times.

On the opposite end is Keira, her parents died and she raised her sister, sacrificing her life to make sure her sister had advantages. The good thing is that though you feel a slight woo is me for Keira, she doesn't inspire pity, especially as she's the mayor of Hunter's Landing.

The stuck in a snowstorm scenario may be old, but it works so beautifully here. After all, who would mind being stuck in a snow storm with a hunky millionaire? I know I sure wouldn't mind.

I think Keira is probably one of the best heroines I've seen in the Desire line. I love how she really keeps Nathan in his place, even when he's being his rudest. She doesn't take no for an answer, except when Nathan uses his head instead of his heart, but you'll have to read the book to understand that part.

Maureen Child has definitely created another wonderful story. Desires are all modern day fairy tales and this is one you can really lose yourself in.

Book Review: Bride Of The Bad Boy

Author: Elizabeth Bevarly
Title: Bride Of The Bad Boy
Publisher: Silhouette Desire
Publish Date: January 1998
Rating: 4 Stars
Book Blurb: BLAME IT ON BOB: Endicott, Indiana is gearing up for a very big event - the "Welcome Back, Bob" Comet Festival - and you're invited to join in the festivities. Heroines Angie, Rosemary and Kirby were all born the year Comet Bobrzynyckolonycki passed by the earth, directly above their hometown. And legend holds that if a person born in a year of Bob's passing makes a wish the next time the comet comes around, then upon Bob's following visit to the planet, that wish will come true. This time it will happen for three adult friends who sent wishes skyward when they were fifteen years old.

Angie's wish was for something exciting.

Angie Ellison had just married a gorgeous mystery man in a hastily arranged wedding ceremony. Clearly, the folklore about the comet passing by her small town was true--it affected everyone's morals! Surely that was why she was looking forward to her wedding night with one heck of a bad boy ....

Sexy undercover agent Ethan Zorn wasn't interested in silly comet lore, shotgun weddings or sticking around this crazy town once his assignment was over. But he also knew it wasn't the comet making him act like such a hot-and-bothered newlywed in love. It was Angie....

BLAME IT ON BOB: The comet passes through once every fifteen years...but leaves behind a lifetime of love

Review: This was the first in the three book mini-series Elizabeth did for Silhouette Desire back in 1998. It is a cute story with Angie Ellison out trying to be a sleuth, and really not doing to well.

She really thinks Ethan is a mobster and she won't take no for an answer. It really makes you wonder about her intelligence, especially when you find out who her source is. She definitely wouldn't have made the crime beat on a real newspaper.

Ethan is doing his best to keep her out of the loop for fear she'd get hurt, because there's definitely chemistry between these two from the minute he finds her on his bed, after a rather sad break in attempt.

These two really hit it off despite their being at odds for obvious reasons. Yet, when Ethan gives her the truth about his job, Angie freaks.

Doesn't make much sense to me.

Thankfully the comet gives them their happily ever after.

I've read another book in this series and I have to say that it had a much better storyline, though this one was very cute. Now I just have to hunt down the one book I haven't read!

Book Review: Secrets Of The Playboy's Bride

This is the last of the books about the Medici Men, only the hero, Leo Grant doesn't know he's a Medici.

I still have to read the middle book in the series, but I have to say I really loved the brothers that Leanne created with this mini-series. They were strong, stubborn and even when they felt they were wronged, they still stood by their women.

I loved that it was Calista out for revenge for the death of her father after his finances crumbled due to a bad business dealing with Leo's "dad". Their courtship was pretty quick, which was a bit hard to believe, but it fit with Leo's personality. When he wanted something he got it and it was what Calista was aiming for too.

It became quickly apparent that though Calista didn't have plans for this marriage lasting very long her heart had other plans. If only she didn't have a sleazy PI looking into Leo's background. That's where things get interesting. One of Calista's sister's has some personal issues and Leo helps out and gets her on the straight and narrow.

And when things go from bad to worse with the PI, Calista brings him news of a family he didn't know that he had. I loved the ending with the reunion of all the Medici brothers. It was a fitting ending to an awesome mini-series

Book Review: Marrying For King's Millions

Maureen Child's Kings Of California mini-series for Silhouette Desire is probably one of my favorite mini-series. I was introduced to her books by Harlequin Ambassadors, first with the free ebook Wedding At King's Convenience and then this current book.

Maureen really knows how to write a good, spicy book, without neglecting the plot. Even though its hard to identify with the super rich King family, its easy to fall for Travis King, just as easily as Julie does.

In this story, Travis and Julie have entered into a marriage of convenience. Travis gets a wife for the year so that he can get a distribution deal for the King family wines, and Julie gets paid a tidy sum so that she can open the bakery she's always dreamed of owning.

However things start going wrong from the minute they say "I do" and that's what makes the story so great. Julie's ex shows up with blackmail on the mind, and with a little tidbit of information that causes havoc.

When its discovered that Julie is still married to her first husband Jean-Claude, Travis find it hard to trust Julie, even though he's finding himself passionately attracted to her. But scandal after scandal follows them, threatening his business deal and then Julie ends up pregnant, something Travis wasn't planning for either.

I loved the way the character's interacted. Travis definitely fit the bill as a wealthy celebrity and Julie was properly out of her element as his "Queen."

It was great to watch Travis fall for Julie and the baby, even though he had his doubts about her. You could understand his weariness as a result of each scandal, just as you could understand Julie's frustrations and her inability to control the situation.

Maureen has created a strong cast of characters and a great read that will happily reside on my keeper shelf.

Book Review: From Playboy To Papa

Leanne Bank's introduces us to the first Medici brother in From Playboy To Papa! and we quickly discover that Rafe is a hero not to be tangled with when it comes to getting what he wants and after he sees a photo he wants his son. However when he finds him, the woman taking care of him isn't the woman he thought he'd find, Tabitha Livingstone, his ex. Instead, he meets her twin, Nicole, who is everything her wild sister was not. Nicole isn't ready to hand her sister's son over to just any man, even if that man is Joel's father.

The two come together to help Joel transition into a new life easier, but what both of them didn't expect was for love to find its way to both of them. Sure there were sparks but the seeds of love were definitely being sown.

Rafe Medici is truly one of the most perfect heroes. Even though he doesn't quickly admit to having feelings for Nicole, he shows all the signs of being a good father and husband. Its harder to believe Nicole's lack of trust for him, though she has some demons to banish.

Nicole Livingstone is more than a heroine, she's already a great mother. Her feelings for Joel will draw sympathy to her. How could they not. She's raised this boy just about from birth and here's Rafe come to take him away.

The sex was downplayed in this book which was a good thing, because relationships and family were more key to this being the wonderful story that it is. Leanne gave just enough back story to keep you interested and then towards the end she throws a teaser in, so that you definitely want to read the next two books.

My keeper shelf is buckling under the weight of all these great books I've been reading lately.

When Did This Happen To Me

I'm sitting around reading Nancy Warren's Under The Influence. Its a Harlequin Blaze and I started to think, when did I start loving these kinds of books. In the past few months I haven't touched much that wouldn't be described as smut or trashy, not that I have any problem with either kind of books, but I used to grab something different every now and then. Right now I'm all over Silhouette Desires, Harlequin Blaze and Harlequin Presents, and I have to tell you, I've never ever been a fan of the Presents line.

What has happened to me?

Has my brain turned to much and my hormones kicked in?

I'm not sure, but I've read and re-read some pretty great books from those lines lately. I'm even venturing into the Spice line, which is really smutty aka erotic right now. I have the new Jina Bacarr novel on my nightstand. It's not a book I want to carry around with me ya know, but I really am enjoying it when I get the time to read a few chapters.

I haven't read when I like to call a "brain" book in over a month. You know, the kind of book that you read and actually have some thoughts about other than "OMG is it getting hot in here."

I plan to rectify that soon. I can't have my brain going to mush now. The big decision will be what book to read, to get those brain cells working again.

Review: Wedding At King's Convenience

Maureen Child's Wedding At King's Convenience has to be one of the best Silhouette Desires that I've read in a long time.

Maureen wrote all of the characters well, not only just Maura Donohue and Jefferson King, but all their siblings and the townspeople of Craic, Ireland.

This was a book that was hard to stop reading, and that's saying quite a bit as it was the first full length eBook that I've read. So it really kept me staring at the computer screen. I wanted to know what happened next, but most of all, I didn't want the story to end.

In 180 pages I became attached to Maura and Jefferson. I loved the fight scenes because Maura really knew how to give it when she was angry. I also loved Jefferson for the stupid secret that kept them apart. Another thing I liked was that through both characters stubbornness, I found that I didn't want to do either of them bodily harm for it, like some characters. Jefferson was never nasty, maybe a little cunning, but never nasty.

All in all, it was a great read and one I highly recommend to my romance reading friends.

An Author To Rave About

Have you ever read a book and been about halfway through and already you know that this is an author that you'll read no matter what.

Well I'm reading Maureen Child's Wedding At King's Convenience and she's won me over with this one book. I got it as a free download and its really one of the first ebooks I've read.

What I really found impressive about her are the characters. Maura is strong female and not the kind that has hidden wussy traits that come in after a few chapters. Maura wasn't going to let herself be walked on by any man. That's refreshing.

The other thing I found refreshing was the hero who didn't act like a total ass.

But I won't go on anymore about the book. I'll review it when I'm done. What I will tell you is that Maureen Child is an awesome writer and one that you should definitely check out. She's definitely going on my must read everything list.