Archive for the Category &raquo;4/5 &laquo;

Review: The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Crusie

Category: 4/5, Contemporary Romance, puchased book 2 Comments

Feb

45515793 From the back of the book:

Daisy Flattery is a free spirit with a soft spot for strays and a weakness for a good story. Why else would she agree to the outrageous charade offered by her buttoned-down workaholic neighbor, Linc Blaise? The history professor needs to have a fiancee in order to capture his dream job, and Daisy is game to play the role. But something funny happens on their way to the altar that changes everything. Now, with the proverbial midnight hour approaching, will Daisy lose her prince, or will opposites not only attract but live happily ever after?

This book is a fun romance with some very emotional moments. Daisy is a free spirit and Linc is a stick-in-the-mud professor. These two are the ultimate opposites attract. They have nothing in common and don’t even like each other in the beginning. I loved all the little positive ways that they change each other and hated all of the major ways Daisy changed herself to please Linc. I loved the moral of this “fairy-tale” : Be careful what you wish for. Linc and Daisy both thought they knew what they wanted out of life until they started getting it and it started changing them. Life is about who you are and who you love not what you do for a living or how other people see you. The only thing I didn’t care for in the book was Linc’s attitude. At times I wanted to slap the man! Daisy was so sweet and loving and he wanted her to be someone else. But he redeemed himself in the end!

The book girl gives THE CINDERELLA DEAL a 4/5!

to find the book:

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Countess of Scandal

Barnes and Noble

Category: 4/5, Contemporary Romance 3 Comments

Feb

Review: My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent

47200616 From the back of the book:

BOOK ONE IN THE DAUGHTERS OF ERIN TRILOGY

As children, Eliza Blacknall and William Denton ran wild over the fields of southern Ireland and swore they would be friends forever. Then fate took Will away to England, while Eliza stayed behind to become a proper Irish countess.

Years later, Will finally makes his way home - as an English soldier sent to crush the Irish uprising. When he spies the lovely Eliza, he is captivated by the passionate woman she has become. But Eliza’s passions have led her to join the Irish rebel cause, and Will and Eliza now find themselves on opposite sides of a dangerous conflict.

When Ireland explodes in bloody rebellion, Will’s regiment is ordered to the front lines, and he is forced to choose between his duty to the English king and his love for Eliza and their Irish homeland.

I really enjoyed this book although it took me a little while to get into the story. Eliza is a very interesting character. Her love for her country is so strong that she is willing to join with the Irish to try and break away from the English. Something that could be seen as treason if she were found out. Will is a soldier who is trying to do his duty for family and country. These two have a lot of things obstacles standing in their way, but love is stronger. Once I was able to get into the story I couldn’t put it down. The writing flows and their is enough action to keep everything interesting without overshadowing the romance. The only thing I didn’t like was the ending. It didn’t feel complete enough for me, but I have a feeling that what I was looking for in my ending will happen in book two that releases later this year.

the book girl gives COUNTESS OF SCANDAL a 4/5

to find the book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

CONTEST: I have three copies of COUNTESS OF SCANDAL to give away. Just leave a comment on this blog to enter. Contest will run through February 25th at midnight cst. (US addresses only) Twitter with the tag #bookgirlscandal for extra entries. (You can tweet once daily and they will count as separate entries - max of 7 twitter entries and 1 comment entry)

OTHER BLOGS PARTICIPATING IN BLOG TOUR:

Participating Blogs:

http://frugalplus.com/ Review, Giveaway 2/8/2010
http://www.mybookaddictionandmore.wordpress.com Review, Giveaway, Q&A 2/8/2010
justanothernewblog.blogspot.com/ Giveaway 2/8/2010
http://myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com Review, Giveaway, Q&A 2/9/2010
www.booksoulmates.com Review, Giveaway, Q&A 2/10/2010
http://thebooktree.blogspot.com Review, Giveaway 2/11/2010
www.froggaritasbookcase.net Review, Giveaway 2/12/2010
http://mom2mycrazy2.blogspot.com Giveaway 2/13/2010
www.mgpblog.com Review, Giveaway 2/13/2010
http://chaoticbookobbsession.blogspot.com Review, Giveaway, Q&A 2/14/2010
http://www.rundpinne.com Review 2/15/2010
http://booksandmakeup.blogspot.com Review, Giveaway 2/15/2010
http://brokenteepee.blogspot.com Review, Giveaway 2/16/2010
http://bridget3420.blogspot.com Review, Giveaway 2/16/2010
http://martasmeanderings.blogspot.com Review 2/16/2010
www.bookwormygirl.blogspot.com Review, Giveaway 2/17/2010
http://www.renees-reads.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway 2/19/2010
www.thebookgirl.net Review, Giveaway 2/19/2010
http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/ Review, Giveaway 2/19/2010
http://www.bibliophilicbookblog.com/ Review, Giveaway 2/19/2010
http://www.madhattermom.com Review, Giveaway 2/19/2010

Category: 4/5, Historical Romance, review copy 13 Comments

Feb

my-soul-to-take From the back of the book:

She doesn’t see dead people, but…

She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.

Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who’ll be next…

It’s been a while since I read a YA and I had forgotten how much I love them. My Soul to Take is the first in a series that introduces the reader to several characters. Kaylee a high school student who just wants to live a normal like, but finds out that she is a bean sidhe - a banshee. Nash Hudson, a high school jock who is interested in Kaylee. And Emma, Kaylee’s best friend.

This book offers a very different take on the paranormal. No vampires and shifters, but different characters from mythology and folklore. I loved the way Kaylee had to cope with all the changes in her life and found how it was written to be very realistic. She reaches out to the one person who makes her feel okay and leans on that person. I wish there had been more to the relationship with her father, but I expect we will find out more in the upcoming books. I loved the blossoming relationship between Kaylee and Nash and can’t wait to find out more about them in the second book, MY SOUL TO SAVE.

I’ll be giving away 3 copies of MY SOUL TO SAVE and posting my review tomorrow, so make sure to come back and comment for a chance to win.

the book girl gives MY SOUL TO TAKE a 4/5

to find the book:

Fabulous Friday - Blog Tour and Giveaway - A BLACK TIE AFFAIR

Category: 4/5, YA, puchased book Leave a Comment

Jan

Review: Fugitive by Cheryl Brooks

40492902 From the back of the book:

SUITED FOR SEDUCTION

Fashion curator Athena Smith will do anything to get her perfectly manicured hands on the Clayworth family’s celebrated couture collection for her exhibit. So when she’s called in to make sure the gowns are the read deal, she’s ecstatic…until a dress she’s examining turns out to be loaded with toxins (talk about killer threads!) and Athena faints, only to wake up face-to-face with the One That Got Away, notorious Chicago bachelor Drew Clayworth.

Drew still believes Athena betrayed him all those years ago, and he’s sure he can’t trust her. But when the priceless gowns go missing, she offers to help track them down. Reluctantly allied in the quest, Drew and Athena are soon stunned by the barely restrained passion still sizzling between them…and memories both bitter and sweet. Is their new partnership just a business arrangement? Or is this something more than…

A Black Tie Affair

This is a fun contemporary romance and it is obviously the first in a trilogy about the three Smith sisters. (At least I’m hoping so) I loved Athena’s can-do attitude. There wasn’t anything that was going to stop her from getting what she wants. Drew is too good to be true. He is the ultimate prince charming - sexy, rich, and kind (he helps underprivileged kids). They used to be best friends and now they hardly speak to each other. These two shoot sparks off each other from the beginning. The only complaint I have about the book is the story line involving Athena’s father. It isn’t resolved by the end of the book (which is why I’m hoping for more books) and I feel that it should have been since it was part of the issues between Drew and Athena. All in all, A BLACK TIE AFFAIR is a fun, light, romantic read!

the book girl gives A BLACK TIE AFFAIR a 4/5!

CONTEST - Thanks to the fantastic people at HGBUSA I have 3 copies of A BLACK TIE AFFAIR to give away. To enter leave a comment on this post. Contest will run through the 28th at midnight. US addresses only, please.

Category: 4/5, Contemporary Romance, Contest, review copy 10 Comments

Jan

453991861 From the back of the book:

A Mysterious Stranger in Danger…

The last thing Drusilla expected to find on vacation was a gorgeous man hiding in the jungle. But what is he running from? And why does she feel so mesmerized that she’ll stop at nothing to be near him?

Hypnotically Attracted, He Will Risk His Life To Have Her…

Zetithian warrior Manx, a member of a race hunted to near extinction because of their sexual powers, has done all he can to avoid extermination. But when an uncommon woman enters his jungle lair, the animal inside of him demands he risk it all to have her.

Until he saw her, his loneliness threatened to consume him. Would she risk life to join him…or would their intense pleasure in each other destroy them both?

This is the 5th Cat Star Chronicles book and I can’t wait for #6. Manx might be my favorite “cat”. Manx managed to escape from the Nedwuts and is the only character who wasn’t sold into slavery. He has been hiding out on different planets for several years, but is more than ready to find his mate and be with someone else permanently. Enter Drusilla. Drusilla is enjoying a working vacation, but also wishing for something more. These two are fantastic together, but what I liked even more than the romance was the way the hunt for who had destroyed Manx’s home planet move forward some. Also, I loved Jack, Cat, Leo, and Tisana making an appearance! I did think it moved a little slow in the beginning. I wanted Manx and Drusilla to meet each other way before it happened. I would say that this book could be read alone, but would probably be best if read with the other books.

the book girl gives FUGITIVE a 4/5

To find the book:

Review: Double the Heat Anthology

Category: 4/5, Paranormal Romance, review copy One Comment

Jan

38875528 From the back of the book:

What could be more fun than a game between friends - or lovers? In these four sexy stories of mixed-up couples and mistaken identities, it’s not about winning but how much you like to play.

Includes a brand-new novella featuring Hart Winston, whose switch with his hot identical-twin brother has one woman calling foul play. You can bet that in the game of love no one is going to follow the rules…

This anthology features stories by Lori Foster, Deidre Martin, Elizabeth Bevarly, and Christie Ridgway. I enjoyed the stories by Lori Foster and Deidre Martin, but didn’t care for the other two. The Foster story, Hart and Soul, features one of the Winston cousins. I just love those Winston boys. The Martin story features her New York Blades hockey team. I have enjoyed all of the previous stories in this series and loved that this one mainly took place within the O’Brian’s pub. The other two stories fell flat for me. The Bevarly story, Double Booked, is about two acquaintances who are booked into the same condo during their vacations. I just couldn’t get into the fact that two people who disliked each other so much in the beginning could fall in love so fast. The Ridgway story, Original Zin, was okay but I think it would have worked better as a longer story.

The book girl gives DOUBLE THE HEAT a 4/5

To find the book:

Review: One Lucky Cowboy by Carolyn Brown

Category: 4/5, Contemporary Romance, puchased book Leave a Comment

Jan

43557092 From the back of the book:

NO BIG BLOND COWBOY IS GOING TO INTIMIDATE THIS SPITFIRE…

If Slade Luckadeau thinks he can run her off his ranch, he’s got cow chips for brains…

THIS SMART-TALKING RANCH WOMAN IS GIVING HIM SERIOUS PAINS…

She’s winning every argument, and he’s running out of fights to pick…

With his granny up to some serious matchmaking, and trouble with a capital “T” threatening the Double L ranch, suddenly it’s Slade’s heart that’s in the greatest danger of all…

This is the second book about the Luckadeau cousins. I enjoyed this book, but didn’t like it as much as LUCKY IN LOVE. I had trouble following along in a couple places. I felt that there were a couple places where the author jumped ahead in the story before it was time. That said, I still liked the book. Slade and Jane are a fantastic couple. I loved how Jane didn’t put up with any crap from Slade. I also really liked Slade’s grandmother Nellie and aunt Ellen. They were a hoot. The secondary plot, the mystery, was important to the story but didn’t over shadow the romance. It only helped the romance along. I love when books balance both as well as this book did. I’m reading the next book in the series, GETTING LUCKY, right now and it’s fantastic. I’ll post my review on Thursday afternoon.

the book girl gives ONE LUCKY COWBOY a 4/5!

to find the book:

Review: Switch by Megan Hart

Disclaimer: I bought this book to review. I received no compensation from the author or publisher.

Category: 4/5, Contemporary Romance Leave a Comment

Jan

44454449

From the back of the book:

Don’t think.

Don’t question.

Just Do.

The anonymous note wasn’t for me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not in the habit of reading other people’s nail, but it was just a piece of paper with a few lines scrawled on it, clearly meant for the apartment upstairs. It looked so innocent, but decidedly - deliciously - it was not.

Before replacing the not - ant the ones that followed - in its rightful slot, I devoured its contents: suggestions, instructions, commands. Each was more daring, more intricate and more arousing than the last…and I followed them all to the letter.

Before the notes, if a man had told me what to do, I’d have told him where to go. But submission is an art and there’s something oddly freeing about doing someones bidding…especially when it feels so very, very good. But I find that the more I surrender, the more powerful I feel - so it’s time to switch up roles.

We play by my rules now.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand I enjoyed the story. Since it is written in 1st person, it is very much about Paige and no one else. There are several characters that I would have loved to “hear” what they were thinking. On the other hand I felt that the story dragged in places and had a hard time finding any empathy for Paige. She was a hard character to like. I don’t think that you necessarily have to like every character, but since this was her story it would have better if I did. This story is really about finding out who you are more than a romance. In fact, I wouldn’t classify it as romance at all (even though there is a HEA). I think this book leans more towards woman’s fiction. The story isn’t so much about a couple, but one person. I’m saving this book so I can re-read it without the expectations I had the first time. If you are looking for a story about a character learning who they are and learning to except it, this is a great book!

the book girl gives SWITCH by Megan Hart a 4/5

To find the book:

Review: Breakfast in Bed by Robin Kaye

Disclaimer: I bought this book myself. I didn’t receive any compensation from the author/publisher.

Category: 4/5, Erotic Romance 2 Comments

Jan

44357386 From the back of the book:

He’d be Mr. Perfect

if he wasn’t a perfect mess…

Rich Ronaldi is almost the complete package - smart, sexy, great job - but when his girlfriend dumps him, Rich swears he’ll learn to cook and clean just to win her back…

She’ll be glad to make him over,

but not for another woman…

Rich is the only guy Becca Larsen’s ever met who hasn’t tried to change her. She’s happy to help him master the domestic arts, but she’ll be damned if he’ll start cooking in another woman’s kitchen - or bedroom…

This is the third book in the “domestic gods” series. I loved the first book, ROMEO, ROMEO. I liked the second book, TOO HOT TO HANDLE. I enjoyed this book. In my opinion BREAKFAST IN BED isn’t as good as ROMEO, ROMEO - but it is still a fun read. Becca was hard for me to put up with, because she isn’t happy with herself. She does show growth through the book, so I learned to love her. Rich was one of my favorite secondary characters from the first two books. He is a like a little boy in a man’s body at first, but grows up throughout this book. I liked watching them get it wrong and then so very right.

the book girl gives BREAKFAST IN BED a 4/5!

to find the book: