The Book Girl

5/5 Contemporary Romance Holiday Romance review copy

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Review: CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MARRIAGE by Kieran Kramer

by the book girl

90340974 From the back of the book:

Every woman knows about London’s Impossible Bachelors. They’re daring, debonair – and downright impossible to resist…

HER HEART’S BEEN UNDER THE WEATHER

Every woman dreams of saying “I do.” Jilly Jones did – and years of a deeply imperfect marriage followed. Now living in London and working in a charming bookshop, the free-spirited Jilly is perfectly content with her new found independence…until she meets a dashing naval officer who sparks her longing for a real happily ever after.

IS NEW LOVE IN THE FORECAST?

Captain Stephen Arrow is just home after years of service, and he’s in no hurry to give up his hard-won freedom. The meddlesome bluestocking Jilly Jones is exactly the kind of woman he doesn’t need…But there’s something about her that keeps drawing Stephen back to the bookshop. With her sparkling wit and understated beauty, she seems like a surprisingly real match for Stephen. But will a scandalous chapter in Jilly’s past stand in the way of their heated attraction? For this bachelor, nothing is impossible…

I love Ms. Kramer’s writing style. Her books are funny and sweet. CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MARRIAGE is both of these things. Stephen is a fun character. Having left the navy he just wants to have fun and flirt with ladies. Everything is going according to his plan until his neighbor, Jilly Jones, shows up and tells him to stop. Instead of being offended by her meddling, he is intrigued by the bookstore owner. I loved their relationship from the very beginning. They were flirtatious and fun from the very first page, even when Jilly is trying to be staid and respectable. Jilly is more complicated than she seems and I loved how little bits of her truth are revealed one at a time. I wanted this couple to work out, but they did have some speed-bumps on their way to happily ever after. I felt that the trials they faced were just the right level of angst for this light of a book. I just liked everything about CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MARRIAGE and can’t wait for the last impossible bachelor book featuring Lumley!

the book girl gives CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MARRIAGE a 5/5

to find the book:

5/5 Holiday Romance puchased book

Barnes and Noble

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Review: HOLIDAY SEDUCTION by Jaci Burton and Lauren Dane re-read

by the book girl

31951623 From the back of the book:

UNWRAPPED

Amy Parker’s kind of fantasies wouldn’t cut it in the straight-laced law firm where she’s fought her way to partnership. And she refuses to let a younger man use her to advance in the firm. Justin Garrett might be brilliant, gorgeous and sexy, but he’s firmly implanted in the look-but-don’t-touch realm.

Until a corporate acquisition in Hawaii over Christmas gives Justin the opportunity to show Amy he’s interested in her as a woman, not as a way to advance his career. And he has the ideal plan to help unwrap the perfect Christmas gift for Amy.

TO DO LIST

Since she could pick up a pencil, Belle Taylor has used lists to map out her life. but now, just steps away from her highest career goal, she realizes the life she thought she wanted exacts too high a price.

Exhausted, she heads home for Christmas to make a new to-do list.

She didn’t factor in Rafe Bettencourt, her brother’s best friend, kissing her under the mistletoe! Suddenly, Belle finds herself with a while new set of goals to balance with what she thought she always wanted.

Because Rafe’s plan is to seduce Belle back home where she belongs.

This is another of my annual re-reads. I love both of these stories. They both manage to mix the sweet romance of the holidays with some very hot lovin’. In UNWRAPPED Amy and Justin find out how to let loose in Hawaii. In TO DO LIST two friends find out how much they really mean to each other. Both are perfect reads for the holidays if you like your romance on the spicy side!

the book girl gives HOLIDAY SEDUCTION a 5/5

to find the book:

5/5 Erotic Romance Holiday Romance

Review: Yule Be Mine by Lori Foster Re-read

by the book girl

42758409 From the back of the book:

Sparkling days, crackling fires, long steamy nights…Christmas is all about making memories. In four delicious tales of seduction and romance, New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster brings you all the pleasures of the season – and then some…

Booker Dean knows exactly what he wants for Christmas: his next-door neighbor, Frances Kennedy. And he’s got a gift planned for her that involves lots of delicious unwrapping.

Officer Parker Ross hates Christmas, while Lily Donaldson lives for it. But he’s willing to be converted, especially when Lily is the one doing the persuading.

Sergeant Osbourne Decker suspects pet psychic Marci Churchill is barking mad, but she’s also a knockout. And when she’s accused of stealing a donkey from the local nativity scene, he can’t stop thinking about frisking her.

Furious at her cheating fiancé, Beth Monroe decides to enjoy a payback tryst with his gorgeous best friend, and finds that revenge is best served hot and sweet…

I love this anthology. I’ve read some of the stories every year for at least five years. What’s fantastic is having all the Lori Foster holiday stores in one place. I have two of them in other anthologies, but love this collection. Each story is romantic and sexy. My favorite is the second story, WHITE KNIGHT CHRISTMAS. I love Parker and his selfless attitude (even if he’s a bit of a Grinch). Any fan of holiday romance won’t be disappointed!

the book girl gives YULE BE MINE a 5/5

to find the book:

5/5 Anthology Holiday Romance

Review: ONE WINTER’S NIGHT by Lori Borrill

by the book girl

73419414 From the back of the book:

It’s the hottest winter night on record…

At Stryker & Associates’ fancy Christmas party, a jolly man in a red suit is making the rounds…bringing naughty and nice together!

TOTALLY TABOO – Ice-queen exec Monica Newell melts for Kit Baldwin – a sexy cowboy, and a client!

FROM HATE TO HEAT – Longtime rivals Nick Castle and Allie Madison finally ignite their combustible attraction for each other.

PARTY CRASHER – Anna Cole sneaks into the festivities…and gets a wicked weekend with the hunky company heir, John Stryker, Jr.

SWEET SEDUCTION – Under-appreciated admin Jeannie Carmichael finds romance – and passion – where she least expects it: Troy Hutchins, quiet, serious…seriously amazing!

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Usually I’m not a fan of this Blaze miniseries (4 Encounters). The stories usually feel flat and way too short. In ONE WINTER’S NIGHT I didn’t feel that way at all. Each story is short, but the romances are hot and believable. The only one where the couple didn’t previously know each other is the story between Anna and John. Each of these stories start at a company Christmas party where they are approached by a mysterious Santa. I loved this part of the story. The Santa asks each person what they want for Christmas and points them in the right direction. There is plenty of romance and hot, sexy times in this book. It’s perfect for a cold winter night!

the book girl gives ONE WINTER’S NIGHT a 5/5

to find the book:

5/5 Contemporary Romance Holiday Romance puchased book

Review: A CHRISTMAS PROMISE by Mary Balogh

by the book girl

58567693 From the back of the book:

Weddings are supposed to be joyous occasions – especially when a couple seems as well matched as Randolph Pierce, Earl of Falloden, and his bride – to-be, Eleanor Transome. Ellie brings to the marriage a vast dowry, while Falloden, though distant, is handsome, tremendously desirable, and possessed of a title most young ladies can only dream of sharing.

Yet Ellie is not most young ladies. She knows that she must honor her dear father’s dying wish for her to wed the proud earl, but she dreads a lifetime in a union without love – and how can Falloden claim to love her when he married her only for her fortune? As Christmas descends upon the Falloden manor, the warmth of the season may yet melt away the trappings of duty and wealth, leaving behind only a man and a woman destined for each other’s arms.

A CHRISTMAS PROMISE was originally published in 1992. The only thing that was “dated” in the story is the first sexual encounter between Ellie and Falloden. It is not quite a forced sex scene, but only because she does allow him to have relations with her. The sex is forceful and much more than a virgin should have to endure her first time. I almost stopped reading, but I’m so glad that I didn’t. Once I got past this one scene, the book gets oh-so-good! Falloden is used to being alone and spending Christmas with Ellie and her family changes him. Ellie also undergoes a change of her own, but it isn’t as drastic as Falloden’s. Their happily ever after is assured by the end of the book for sure.

the book girl gives A CHRISTMAS PROMISE a 4/5

to find the book:

4/5 Historical Romance Holiday Romance puchased book

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Review: WICKED WONDERLAND

by the book girl

65465473 From the back of the book:

HOT WHISPER by LuAnn McLane – After missing her train, Claire Collins is stranded in a snowy small town with no place to stay and no hope of getting home for Christmas. When a sexy local offers Claire lodging to wait out the storm, she can’t resist. A night of eggnog lifts more than her flagging spirits, and the two decide to seek comfort from the storm between the sheets.

HOT FOR THE HOLIDAYS by Susanna Carr – Thanks to a Christmas office party gone wild, corporate rivals Rachel and Justin become much better acquainted when they indulge in a fling that Rachel desperately wants to forget. then in a twist of fate, the two find themselves stranded in a blizzard in a small town. Though both try to resist, it’s only a matter of time before they’re back in each other’s arms for more hot holiday fun.

HOT ARCTIC NIGHTS by Janice Maynard – Hallie Prentiss loses her Christmas spirit when she loses her job. A holiday stint running a B and B in the northern reaches of Alaska isn’t going to change that. But no one warned her about Daniel, the undeniable hot long-term tenant. His strong, warm arms are an irresistible temptation, and not even the cold arctic nights can dampen Hallie’s new found joy in the season.

I am a huge fan of the Christmas anthology and this one was right up my alley. Each story was different enough that I didn’t feel like I was reading the same story over and over. I’m going to break it down story by story.

HOT WHISPER by LuAnn McLane – After missing her train Claire goes home with a kind stranger, Jesse. After I got past the part where she just goes home with a complete stranger I really enjoyed this story. The attraction between Claire and Jesse is instant and I believed that they were falling in love even though it happens over a couple of days.

HOT FOR THE HOLIDAYS by Susanne Carr – This was my least favorite story. The absurdity of Rachel thinking she was attracted to Justin because of Christmas. I was also bothered by their sexual encounters. She doesn’t want to be attracted to him, but then she pulls him behind a Christmas tree in their office and has sex with him. The story has a great ending, but it was hard to get past the silly stuff.

HOT ARCTIC NIGHTS by Janice Maynard – HOT ARCTIC NIGHTS was my favorite of the three. I loved everything about it. It takes place in Alaska and the main character is definitely a fish out of water. The romance between Hallie and Daniel is sweet. My only complaint is that it wasn’t long enough. I wish this had been a full length novel, so we could have had more of Hallie and Daniel.

Even though I had issues with one of the stories I really enjoyed the anthology.

the book girl gives WICKED WONDERLAND a 4/5

to find the book:

4/5 Anthology Holiday Romance

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Review: HIS CHRISTMAS PLEASURE by Cathy Maxwell

by the book girl

75156194 From NetGalley:

When her father threatens to marry Abigail Montross to a man twice her age (and with 13 children!), she elopes instead with the irresistibly handsome Baron de Vasconia. She knows he’s London’s most notorious, seductive playboy, but he vows to protect her…so, guarding her heart at all costs, she allows herself to be tempted into his bed.

Andres believes he’s merely entering a marriage of convenience with the charming and wealthy Abigail. But the days – and nights — they spend together soon reform this rogue. He’ll do anything to gain her love — until old heartbreaks resurface when each lover discovers the other’s dark secrets.

I really liked this book. Abigail is headstrong and a little silly, but I really liked the character. She first discovers Andres in the library at a ball. She thinks he is about to kill himself and decided to rescue him. She wasn’t far off, but before she can really talk to Andres the man she’s been waiting to see alone comes into the room. Andres keeps himself hidden for most of the conversation and Abigail forgets all about him – until he comes to her rescue. I love this couple. Andres isn’t what he seems, but neither is Abigail. I love how there is more to this couple and that the reveal things to themselves and each other slowly. The only problem I had with the book was Andres lying. He lies to everyone in the beginning and it does catch up with him.

the book girl gives HIS CHRISTMAS PLEASURE a 4/5

to find the book:

4/5 Historical Romance Holiday Romance review copy

Review: BELIEVE by Lauren Dane

by the book girl

87103899 From Amazon:

Their First Christmas, Bound Together…

All Jude wants for Christmas is Rori, all to himself. It’s their first holiday season as a couple, and staying home, seeing friends and family, means they’ll be surrounded by the memory of Rori’s late husband. It’s time for Jude and Rori to create their own traditions. Time for them to fully explore their most intimate desires to dominate and submit.

Rori is thrilled when Jude whisks her away to a luxury resort in the mountains. Spending Christmas away, just the two of them, is the perfect time to show him she’s ready to give herself to him completely…

BELIEVE is a continuation of the story in SECOND CHANCES. I really think you have to read SECOND CHANCES to love BELIEVE. These two characters go through a lot in SECOND CHANCES. I love Jude and Rori and was so happy when I heard there was going to be another book about them. BELIEVE is about both Jude and Rori coming to terms with their relationship and letting the other know that it is forever. They have no doubts, but are still a little haunted by Zach’s memory. BELIEVE is like a snapshot of what happens after the initial story ends. The couple still has struggles and still has to work to keep their happily ever after. This story is very hot, but for me the emotion between the couple was much more important. I love the connection that Jude and Rori have and was happy to visit this couple again!

the book girl gives BELIEVE a 5/5

to find the book:

5/5 ebook Erotic Romance Holiday Romance review copy

Review: UNWRAPPED by Megan Hart

by the book girl

87103887 From Amazon:

Naughty is Nice

Newlyweds Leah and Brandon Long are finally taking a honeymoon. But just a few days into their Christmas-in-Vail vacation, Leah takes a tumble on the slopes, severely spraining her ankle. Being stuck indoors isn’t so bad though: the luxurious chalet boasts a hot tub and cozy fireplace. Besides, sitting with her feet up while Brandon serves her in every way a man can serve a woman is exactly how both of them like to spend their time.

Leah would be in heaven, if only Brandon didn’t insist on playing with the dynamic of their relationship. With kinky sex and deep conversation the only things on the agenda, Leah can’t avoid the discussion of how things might change. Will she be ready to take their marriage to the next level in the New Year?

I enjoyed UNWRAPPED, but I think it helped that I had read the books featuring Leah and Brandon. I’m not sure I would have enjoyed it as much if I hadn’t read those. We are thrust into Leah and Brandon’s first Christmas as a married couple. Instead of spending it with his family, they decided to take a vacation together and focus on being together. There is a lot of kinky sex in this book, but it is perfectly countered with emotional moments. Leah and Brandon are each trying to put the other first (even when it is something they don’t enjoy doing) and they learn to blend their desires to find a middle ground.

the book girl gives UNWRAPPED a 4/5

to find the book:

4/5 ebook Erotic Romance Holiday Romance review copy