The Book Girl

4/5 ebook Erotic Romance Holiday Romance review copy

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Review: ALL SHE WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS by Jaci Burton

by the book girl

87103893 From Amazon:

Big Star, Small-Town Christmas

Country singer Riley Jensen would never have returned to her small Missouri hometown if her publicist hadn’t come up with the scheme to tape a Christmas special there. So she never would have known that the man who broke her heart at eighteen—causing her to flee to Nashville—was now a widower with a seven-year-old daughter. Riley has ten years of angst-filled hit songs and Grammy awards to prove she doesn’t need Ethan Kent. But suddenly, she can’t help thinking of all she gave up by running away…

Ethan Kent knew Riley had the talent and the drive to make it as a singer. He also knew she wasn’t going anywhere if she stayed in their nowhere town for him. Then one night and one huge mistake sent her running on the road to fame. Which doesn’t mean he ever stopped loving her…

But with so much separating them, can Riley and Ethan find their way back together one magical country Christmas?

Jaci Burton is one of my favorite authors. I love the way family plays an important part in her books. (The Demon Hunters and Rough Riders both have a family theme – even if it isn’t a biological family). I loved Ethan’s family in this book. They way they open their arms up to Riley after her ten year absence and the way the interact with each other is fantastic. They don’t automatically take Ethan’s side and really seem to care about Riley as much as they do Ethan. Ethan’s daughter, Zoey, is beyond adorable. I love the way she always calls Riley – Riley Jensen. Plus, I’m really hoping that we get books with Ethan’s brothers as the heroes - I want to know what happens to Brody and Wyatt. There is a lot of back-story to this book and I really liked the way the past was woven into the present. There was no info dump, which can happen in a novella length story. Riley and Ethan both have a lot to overcome in a short time, but true love has a way of finding them even after everything that has happened. ALL SHE WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS is a story with a lot of heart, emotion, and romance - exactly what a Christmas romance should have.

the book girl gives ALL SHE WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS a 5/5

to find the book:

5/5 Contemporary Romance ebook Holiday Romance review copy

Review: HOLIDAY SPARKS by Shannon Stacey

by the book girl

87103881 From Amazon:

House-sitting for her parents seemed like a good idea, until the microwave blew up and the lights went out.

Now Chloe Burke thinks upgrading the electrical system of her childhood home while they are away would make the perfect Christmas gift. Fortunately, there’s an electrician in town who can get the job done by the holidays.

Scott Quinn has wanted to get his hands on the Burkes’ wiring for almost as long as he’s wanted to get his hands on their daughter. Chloe didn’t notice Scott back in high school, but she’s noticing him now, and soon they’re indulging in a little festive fun: no strings, no expectations. After all, Chloe plans to get out of this goldfish bowl of a town and back to her real life in Boston by New Year’s.

But Chloe and Scott discover they enjoy each other’s company just as much out of bed. Could their holiday fling turn out to be the real thing?

HOLIDAY SPARKS is a sweet, romantic holiday story. Scott Quinn used to fantasize about Chloe Burke in high school and she didn’t even know he was alive. Now, years later, he is answering her emergency call for an electrician at her parents house and they are the ones giving off sparks. I really like the ugly duckling turned hunk story line. Chloe and Scott are a fun couple, but even knowing that their would be a happy ending I wasnt’ sure how it was going to work. Ms. Stacey managed to suck me in and make me care about her characters a lot within the space of a novella. I wanted to know that Scott and Chloe were going to make it and be happy beyond their Christmas fling.

the book girl gives HOLIDAY SPARKS a 5/5

to find the book:

5/5 Contemporary Romance ebook Holiday Romance review copy

NAUGHTY AND NICE Anthology

by the book girl

871038631 I love almost everything about this anthology from Carina Press. I decided to review each book separately and the reviews will post at different times today. You can purchase either the individual stories or in this bundle. The only thing that I wasn’t fond of was the difference in the tone of the stories. This collection really is “naughty” and “nice”. The first two stories are sweet and sexually tame stories. The second two are erotic romances. It was a little jarring going from the nice stories to the naughty ones (for me).

These four stories will definitely put you in the mood for a Christmas romance!

Holiday Romance

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Review: I’ll Be Yours For Christmas by Samantha Hunter

by the book girl

84977325 From the back of the book:

Enough of “nice” – it’s time to be “naughty”!

From the time they were kids and neighbors, Reece Winston tugged Abby Harper’s pigtails and tormented her. but when Abby – now the sole owner of her parents’ vineyard – sees Reece Winston again after years apart, she’s unexpectedly struck by the need to play a much more adult kind of game…

Then a freak accident forces her to stay with Reece, and Abby decides that what she really wants for Christmas is Reece – perhaps wrapped with a red bow. But as Abby and Reece explore their naughty lists, they begin to realize that nothing is quite as easy as it seems!

This was a fun holiday romance. I love books where the characters have a past together and it is believable that they fall for each other so fast. Reece was home for the holidays to get his parents vineyard and home ready to sell. Abby has always had a crush on the older next door neighbor, but other than one time by accident has never acted on her feelings. These two are thrown together and the sparks fly. I really liked how well the knew each other and took into account what was going on in their lives when one of the would start to pull away. I’LL BE YOURS FOR CHRISTMAS is a perfect holiday romance to cuddle up with!

the book girl gives I’LL BE YOURS FOR CHRISTMAS a 5/5

to find the book:

5/5 Contemporary Romance Holiday Romance puchased book

Review: Christmas with her Boss by Marion Lennox

by the book girl

715600081 From the back of the book:

All he wants for Christmas…

Meg Jardine, personal assistant extraordinaire, is convinced she’s about to lose her job. Her gorgeous, dark and deeply unimpressed boss, William McMaster, is stranded in Melbourne over Christmas – and it’s all her fault! With her heart in her mouth, she invites the intimidating billionaire home for the holiday…

…is her!

At Meg’s chaotic, cozy family farm, William’s cold reserve begins to melt away. Suddenly they’re seeing each other in a whole new light, and country girl Meg has shot straight to the top of William’s Christmas list!

I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved the ending. It is super romantic, but totally unbelievable. William is so cold in the beginning that it was impossible for me to believe that he would have changed at all by the end of the book (which takes place over three or four days). He had spent most of his life keeping himself closed off from other people, but we are led to believe that after a couple of days on Meg’s farm he completely changes. I just couldn’t. However, I loved the way the ending was written. I loved the grand romantic gesture that William makes for Meg. If only I could have believed that William would have changed that much.

the book girl gives CHRISTMAS WITH HER BOSS a 3/5

to find the book:

3/5 Contemporary Romance Holiday Romance puchased book

Mistletoe and the Lost Stiletto by Liz Fielding

by the book girl

71560014 From the back of the book:

Chasing his Christmas Cinderella!

Lucy Bright can’t believe it when she’s plucked from secretarial obscurity and transformed into the pampered fiancee of a slick retail guru. But then she discovers it was all a publicity stunt! Rushing away from the media frenzy, she bumps – literally – into the arms of delicious tycoon Nathaniel Hart…

Spooked by their instantaneous chemistry, Lucy flees – but Nathaniel is determined to find his barefoot beauty. Though all he has is one very expensive red designer stiletto to help him!

What a fun holiday story! It does take some suspension of reality, but it is still fantastic. Lucy finds out her life isn’t what she thought it was at all and runs away. She ends up in the arms of Nathaniel, a rich business man who couldn’t be any more different than the man she is running from. There were several points in the book that had me laughing. Her mad dash through the story and down into Santa’s grotto is comical even though I was holding my breath that she escaped from her bodyguards. My favorite part of the story is Nathaniel. He is a man who knows what he wants, even when it seems ridiculous to want it. After having a bad romantic past he isn’t afraid of his feelings for Lucy or how fast they come about. I’m a sucker for the hero who falls in love fast and doesn’t try to deny it.

the book girl gives MISTLETOE AND THE LOST STILLETTO a 5/5

to find the book:

5/5 Contemporary Romance Holiday Romance puchased book

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Winner!!

by the book girl

The winners of DUCHESS OF SIN are…

Mary (Bookfan)

Cecile

Terri C.

Last week’s winner didn’t contact me within the 7 days, so I’m picking another winner for RULES OF AN ENGAGEMENT. The winner is…

Babs

Please email me at carrie@thebookgirl.net with your information. Winners have 7 days to contact me!

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Christmas Romance Week x 2!

by the book girl

Every year I read as many of the holiday romances as I can possibly get my hands on! There is just something about those books that are set around the holidays that I love! This year I’m putting aside the first two full weeks of December to post only about holiday romances. I told my son what I was working on and he made me a graphic to post to the blog. So here’s my 7yo’s book girl Christmas 2010 graphic: christmas-tree Isn’t it fantastic! He was so proud of himself he send an email to all of the grandparents to show them what he made. So, stay tuned for all of the holiday romance reviews and giveaways!!

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Review and Giveaway! DUCHESS OF SIN by Laurel McKee

by the book girl

63905776 From the back of the book:

Blonde and beautiful Lady Anna Blacknall is in the mood for mischief. Entering Dublin’s most notorious den of vice, she finds herself in the arms of a mysterious, emerald-eyed Irishman. And although he is masked, his tender kiss is hauntingly familiar.

Conlan McTeer, Duke of Adair, has come to Dublin to fight for a free Ireland. But he’s suddenly reunited with the young Englishwoman who had once claimed his heart, and his passion turns from politics to pleasure. When their sizzling encounter brings danger to Anna’s door, she must decide where her loyalties lit – and quickly. For someone will do whatever it takes to destroy Conlan…and anyone he dares to love.

DUCHESS OF SIN is the second book in the Daughters of Erin trilogy. (Book #1 is COUNTESS OF SCANDAL) The thing that sticks out the most for me is the history included in this book. I love how real facts are woven into the fictional love story. Conlan is the ultimate alpha. He takes care of his people and does what he believes right no matter what others think. His immediate feelings for Anna, wanting to protect her and keep her safe, are very sexy. Anna is an interesting character. She pretends to be a bit of society fluff, but is really so much more. The romance between these two if full of obstacles. I loved reading how they overcome them and find their true place with each other. The writing is fantastic and flows perfectly. I loved the story from beginning to end!

the book girl gives DUCHESS OF SIN a 5/5!

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