The Book Girl

5/5 Contemporary Romance review copy

In My Mailbox / On My Kindle

by the book girl

Just a few books this week!

MESMERIZED by Lauren Dane
INSATIABLE by Lauren Dane
THE DUCHESS OF LOVE by Sally MacKenzie
CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE by Bella Andre

Mailbox Monday

Review: SOMEBODY TO LOVE by Kristan Higgins

by the book girl

About the book:

After her father loses the family fortune in an insider-trading scheme, single mom Parker Welles is faced with some hard decisions. First order of business: go to Gideon’s Cove, Maine, to sell the only thing she now owns—a decrepit house in need of some serious flipping. When her father’s wingman, James Cahill, asks to go with her, she’s not thrilled…even if he is fairly gorgeous and knows his way around a toolbox.

Having to fend for herself financially for the first time in her life, Parker signs on as a florist’s assistant and starts to find out who she really is. Maybe James isn’t the glib lawyer she always thought he was. And maybe the house isn’t the only thing that needs a little TLC…

I enjoyed this book, but didn’t love it like I have some of Ms. Higgins previous books. I felt like something was missing between Parker and James. From the beginning we are told that James is in love with Parker, but not why he is so crazy about her. He thinks of her as a “princess” and is surprised when she isn’t afraid of a little work. His attitude toward her in the beginning didn’t make me think of someone who loved or even respected Parker. Parker, on the other hand, doesn’t even make an effort to know James in the beginning. She refers to his as Thing One and calls him her father’s henchman. They had known each other for five years (maybe more) and could barely exchange a civil word. I didn’t feel like they really got over this until the last quarter of the book and by then I didn’t really care. The romance was only ho-hum and the love scenes were okay. I just expected more out of a Kristan Higgins book.

the book girl gives SOMEBODY TO LOVE a 3/5

to find the book

3/5 Contemporary Romance review copy

Whatcha Reading Wednesday

by the book girl

I just started A LADY’S REVENGE this morning. I haven’t read far enough to have much of an opinion yet, but so far I’m enjoying it.

What are you reading this week??

Reading

Review: HIS SECRET TEMPTATION by Cat Schield

by the book girl

About the book:

Who’s the sexy blonde stranger sleeping in Simon Holcroft’s bed? The workaholic returns from a business trip to find someone stretched out on his sheets. Between the laundry basket at her side and the smell of orange cleaner, he deduces that the young woman is his maid-and resists the urge to kiss her awake.

But when his brother’s fiancé-his own ex-bursts in and strips down to her panties, Simon has to get her dressed and back where she belongs. So he introduces the maid as his fiancée. But his little white lie gets bigger, because now he has to bring his supposed bride-to-be to meet the whole family. One offer-she-can’t-refuse later, Simon has bought himself a temporary fiancée.

In debt up to her eyeballs and all alone for the holidays, how could struggling grad student Caroline Sampson not accept her gorgeous client’s fantasy proposal? But acting like she’s in love comes more easily than she ever expected.

I’m a sucker for the faux-fiance trope and it’s even better if the heroine gets a new wardrobe and updated look to support the deception. So, I knew that this was my kind of book from the description. I was enchanted with Caroline, Simon, and his whole family. The banter and tension between Caroline and Simon is excellently written. I expected a light-hearted romance and for the most part it is, but the ending hit me with a wallop of emotion. I read the last 5% of the book with tears in my eyes. At first they were tears as Caroline heart breaks when she comes to terms that she is in love with Simon and she doesn’t believe that he is with her. Then they changed to tears of joy as the couple worked out their differences and claimed their happily ever after. I adored this book!

the book girl gives HIS SECRET TEMPTATION a 5/5

to find the book

5/5 Contemporary Romance ebook review copy

REVIEW: CELEBRITY IN DEATH by J.D. Robb

by the book girl

About the book:

Money, power, and fame can’t make you safe from danger. Sometimes, they’re dangerous in themselves. No one knows that better than Eve Dallas.

Her career in homicide has taken her into the darkest depths of New York City’s underground – and sometimes Lieutenant Eve Dallas feels more comfortable in those kinds of places than in the high-rise, his-society world of her billionaire husband, Roarke.

But while she’s no party girl, she’s managing to hae a reasonable good time at the celebrity-packed bash celebrating the debut of The Icove Agenda. This time it’s Eve, not Roarke, who’s guest of honor, since the film is based on one of her famous cases. Her partner, Peabody, is practically giddy over rubbing shoulders with Hollywood royalty. Eve, on the other hand, is more likely to roll her eyes than have stars in them. But she has to admit it’s a little spooky seeing the actress playing her, who looks almost like her long-lost twin.

Not as unsettling, though, as seeing K. T. Harris, the actress who plays Peabody – drowned in the lap pool on the roof of the director’s luxury building. Talented but rude, and widely disliked, K. T. had made an embarrassing scene during diner. She clearly liked being the center of attention. Now she’s at the center of a crime scene – and Eve is more than ready to get out of her high heels and strap on her holster, to step into the role she was born to play: cop.

I am a huge Eve and Roarke fangirl. They are one of my favorite literary couples (second to Elizabeth and Darcy). CELEBRITY IN DEATH was just okay for me. I enjoyed reading it, but didn’t love it like I did the previous two books. It seems to cycle that way for me though. I will love two or three books in a row and then the next one falls kinda flat. In NEW YORK TO DALLAS there was so much action and emotion. I felt that was missing in CELEBRITY. In fact, at the end of the book Eve comments about how she managed to solve a murder without getting punched, stabbed, or hit. I missed that sense of danger and time running out that was present in other books. However, I loved that we were back to Dallas and Peabody working together and their sisterly teasing. I also really loved that there were some changes in Eve and Roarke’s relationship after what happened in the previous book. A deeper connection and an understanding of who each other is. I just think the couple gets better and better.

the book girl gives CELEBRITY IN DEATH a 3.5/5

to find the book:

3/5 puchased book Romantic Suspense

In My Mailbox / On My Kindle

by the book girl

Goodies!!

ABOUT THAT NIGHT by Julie James
IN THE BARRISTER’S BED by Tina Gabrielle
DANCING AT THE CHANCE by DeAnna Cameron
PARTY OF THREE by Lacey Alexander
FEVER by Joan Swan

Mailbox Monday

Review: A LOT LIKE LOVE by Julie James

by the book girl

About the book:

THE FBI WANTS HER COOPERATION.

As the daughter of a billionaire and the owner of the city’s top wine store, Jordan Rhodes is invited to the most exclusive parties in Chicago. But there’s only one party the FBI wants to crash: the charity fundraiser of a famous restaurateur, who also happens to launder money for the mob. In exchange for her brother’s release from prison, Jordan is going to be there—with a date supplied by the Bureau.

AGENT MCCALL JUST WANTS HER.
As the top undercover agent in Chicago, Nick McCall has one rule: never get personal. This “date” with Jordan Rhodes is merely an assignment—one they’re both determined to pull off even if they can’t be together for five minutes before the sarcasm and sparks begin to fly. But when Nick’s investigation is compromised, he and Jordan have no choice but to pretend they’re a couple, and what starts out as a simple assignment begins to feel a lot like something more. . .

I can’t believe this, but someone I missed this book last year. I bought it on my kindle and then forgot about it. So, with the publication of her newest book (ABOUT THAT NIGHT) I realized my mistake and quickly found A LOT LIKE LOVE on my kindle and devoured it. I love the way Ms. James writes her characters and their dialogue. The way Nick calls her Rhodes make me sigh. Sure, it’s her name but the way it’s his voice is described while saying it…sexy. There wasn’t a single thing I disliked about this book. Jordan and Nick are a great couple. I loved the % thing with Jordan. Every time she mentions how much she is annoyed by the percentage goes down. So cute! There is a lot of humor in the story along with the romance. A perfect way to spend an evening or two.

the book girl gives A LOT LIKE LOVE a 5/5

to find the book:

5/5 Contemporary Romance puchased book

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Whatcha Reading Wednesday

by the book girl

Today I’m reading A NIGHT LIKE THIS by Julia Quinn. I love, love, love Ms. Quinn’s romances and couldn’t wait to dive right into this one. LOVING IT! Luckily, my husband is working all day and the kids won’t be home for hours. I’ll be reading…

Reading

Mini-Review: CYNDERS & ASHE by Elizabeth boyle

by the book girl

About the book:

This is a short story (less than 10,000 words and 33 pages long in print) and not a novella. Ella Cynders is a hired companion with a romantic bent. So when she switches places with her charge–who is determined to find true love and elope–it is Ella who falls head over heals in love with the very eligible Viscount Ashe. In one masked night, the viscount and Ella find passion and romance, and then tragically are whisked apart before the midnight unmasking. Now five years later, Ella has once again found a way to steal inside the coveted ball, but can she rekindle the magic they found together before her deception is unmasked? This short story was originally published in The Mammoth Book of Regency Romance.

This very short story is the perfect book to read during a short break. It would be perfect for lunch time reading or a quick story before going to bed. CYNDERS & ASHE is a retelling of Cinderella with Ella (the seamstress) and Ashe (the Viscount). It’s a tale of rekindling romance and going after what you want no matter what the consequences. A completely charming read.

the book girl gives CYNDERS & ASHE a 5/5

to find the book:

5/5 ebook Historical Romance puchased book