The Book Girl

Mar 8

Review: GENTLEMEN PREFER NERDS

by the book girl

159148193 From NetGalley:

Self-professed nerd Maddie Maloney is an expert on jewels. Jewel thieves are another matter entirely! So when a mysterious Englishman warns her that a thief known as The Chameleon is after the rare pink diamond on display in her aunt’s shop, she tells herself it’s just a joke. Even if she can’t get Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome out of her mind…

But Fabian Montgomery doesn’t give up easily. He’s everywhere she goes, convinced the thief will strike. And when the diamond does go missing-and Maddie is suspected of stealing it-he whisks her away from the police and together they pursue The Chameleon.

Fabian plunges her into a glamorous world far from her humble workshop and transforms geeky Maddie into a sophisticated siren capable of espionage. Her mission: to seduce The Chameleon and steal back the diamond.

But Fabian isn’t telling her everything-like who he works for, and why he’s so interested in The Chameleon…

GENTLEMEN PREFER NERDS is a fun and endearing book. I really liked both Fabian and Maddie. Maddie is such a fun character – she’s a nerd and proud. She gets involved in a world of jewel thieves and sexy men without knowing how to really handle any of it. I loved that she is not bowed over by anything she encounters. She is incredibly strong and brave. Fabian is just too sexy. He snaps and a helicopter shows up or he flirts and gets whatever he wants. The romance moves slowly with Maddie and Fabian not realizing their feelings for each other till the book is almost over. I liked that they weren’t having sex constantly while running from the police or chasing down a jewel thief. I can’t wait for more from this author.

the book girl gives GENTLEMEN PREFER NERDS a 4/5

to find the book:

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0070Y00CM?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookgirlwo-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B0070Y00CM

Barnes & Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gentlemen-prefer-nerds-joan-kilby/1108375287?ean=9781426893377&itm=1&usri=gentlemen+prefer+nerds

4/5 Contemporary Romance ebook review copy

1 Comment »
Mar 6

Review: TEMPTED BY HER INNOCENT KISS by Maya Banks

by the book girl

146438958From NetGalley:

Devon Carter was her first; now newly wed Ashley wants their passion to last. But her dreams of true love are crushed by the discovery that their marriage is another of Daddy’s business deals. Her strategy: act the part of perfect wife and make Devon love her.

But Devon misses the bubbly, no-holds-barred woman his wife used to be. Who is this Ashley with the steely demeanor of a society wife? And will he find a way to rekindle the fire in her eyes…especially now that she’s pregnant?

TEMPTED BY HER INNOCENT KISS is a great Harlequin Desire. I absolutely loved the previous two books in this mini-series and was excited to read Devon’s story. I wasn’t disappointed. Ashley is different than a lot of Maya Banks heroines. She is flighty and silly and smart and loving. She lives in color and light. She isn’t a bad-ass and isn’t put-off by being taken care of. When she finds out that her marriage to Devon isn’t all she thought it was my heart broke for her. But I loved that she wasn’t going to just give up. She was going to do whatever it took to at least try and make her marriage work. Devon, on the other hand, isn’t a very sympathetic character in the beginning. Although he says many times that he wants to tell her the truth about why he was with her…he doesn’t. He completely redeems himself in the end and I loved his grovelling. The happily ever after is so satisfying in TEMPTED BY HER INNOCENT KISS.  I can’t wait for Cam’s story and to find out how Dev and Ash are doing.

the book girl gives TEMPTED BY HER INNOCENT KISS a 5/5

to find the book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

5/5 Contemporary Romance review copy

2 Comments »
Mar 5

Bella Riley & Hope Ramsay Blog Tour and Giveaway!

by the book girl

rileyramsaytour-416x143This week’s giveaway is for two FANTASTIC contemporary romances. I loved both of these small-town romances. I’m giving away two sets of LAST CHANCE BEAUTY QUEEN and WITH THIS KISS.

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment with your favorite genre (contemporary, historical, paranormal, etc). US addresses only, please. Make sure to check to see if your name is chosen.

Additional entries can be gained through the following:

Contest runs through 3/11/12 at 5pm cst.

143643990About the book:

Dear Reader,

Gracious me, my beautiful daughter Rocky sure could use my help. I always knew she wasn’t much interested in the local boys – but who’d have thought she’d come home with English royalty?

Trouble is, Hugh wants to buy some of our folks’ land. We don’t want to sell, but Rocky’s job depends on her closing the deal. And though Hugh’s obviously smitten, I’m not sure he’s right for my Rocky. Oh, he’s classy and handsome – and you should’ve seen the way he judged pies and fixed stock cars at our Watermelon Festival! – but what do we know about him, really? I know I sound like a nervous mother hen, but after forty happy years with my Elvert, all I want is to see my little girl find the same.

Well, time for me to quit chattering and get back to Miss Bray’s wet set. Always nice talking to you, and remember: the Cut ‘n Curl’s got hot rollers, free coffee, and the best gossip in town.

See you real soon,

Ruby Rhodes

THE LAST CHANCE BEAUTY QUEEN is a fun story about learning to be who you really are and not who you think that people expect. Rocky, who prefers to be called Caroline, is living the life she thinks she wants. She is the aide to a Senator and working towards a job in DC. When she gets sent back home to Last Chance to help Lord Woolham buy the land from her father she is thrown back into the world of Watermelon Queens and Golfing for God. I loved Rocky. She isn’t sure of herself, but comes into her own during the book. I also really liked Hugh, Lord Woolham, too. He is trying to live up to who his grandfather wanted him to be, even though it is the complete opposite of who he is. They are the only two people who can really understand each other and how they feel. I loved their connection. It isn’t sudden, even though the attraction is. Their romance is helped along by a cast of characters from town and the angels seen by her niece and father. I loved every minute. I can’t wait for Stone’s story and to learn more about the “Weeping Angel”.

the book girl gives LAST CHANCE BEAUTY QUEEN a 5/5

144142709About the book:

Love can find you when you least expect it…

Fireworks. That’s what innkeeper Rebecca Campbell wants. And no matter how close their friendship, she and her former fiance never shared that. Now, with a broken engagement behind her and a promise she’s vowed to keep, Rebecca is determined to make a new life for herself in Emerald Lake. She just never expected sparks to fly this quickly…

Coming home and falling for his little brother’s girl wasn’t Sean Murphy’s plan. Rebecca’s sweet smile and kind heart make Sean feel at home – something he’s never felt before. But a secret lingers between them, and no matter how powerful their attraction, Sean can’t give his heart to a woman he can’t trust. Or can he?

As the days pass, Rebecca and Sean find it harder and harder to deny their desire. And they are in beautiful Emerald Lake, the perfect place for falling in love…

Love, love, love this book. Both characters (and many of the secondary characters) are flawed. Rebecca once found herself in a relationship with a married man (she didn’t know and then promptly ended the relationship) and Sean has closed his heart off to love or any other type of close relationship. I loved the way these two circled each other before finally giving into temptation. Their relationship isn’t easy and they both do things to “mess” it up, but I was so happy with the course they take. I loved the secondary story surrounding Celeste and her marriage. It adds so much to the relationship between Rebecca and Sean. This is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance, especially those who love small town romances.

the book girl gives WITH THIS KISS a 5/5


5/5 Contemporary Romance Contest review copy

6 Comments »
Mar 2

Review: WICKED WEEKEND By Gillian Archer

by the book girl

159148207About the book:

Why did Lauren Vaughn introduce her sister to the man she herself was crazy about? Now Lauren is watching the happy couple at their combined bachelor/bachelorette party—while Lauren sits all alone at the bar. Until she spots a hot stranger with the telltale black handkerchief in his pocket: the signal for “seeks no-strings affair with sexy submissive.” Lauren can’t take her eyes off him. So when he comes over, she kicks her inner good girl to the curb and follows Jamie Forman to his room, where he makes her scream with pleasure all night long.

But Jamie is a complicated man. He can’t handle how desperately he wants her in his bed—and his life. It’s up to Lauren to teach him how to make all night last forever.

WICKED WEEKEND is hot, hot, hot! I loved how the author was able to establish an emotional connection between Jamie and Lauren in such a short story. At 25,000 words the action starts fast and there is no slowdown. WICKED WEEKEND is a fantastic short story and I can’t wait to read more from this author.

the book girl gives WICKED WEEKEND a 5/5

to find the book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

5/5 ebook Erotic Romance review copy

1 Comment »
Feb 27

Paranormal Blog Tour Review and Giveaway

by the book girl

paranormal-blog-tour

This week I have a giveaway from Forever Romance. I’m giving away both books to one lucky winner. Read below to see more about the books along with my mini-reviews of both.

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment with the title of the last book that you loved. US addresses only, please. Make sure to check to see if your name is chosen.

Additional entries can be gained through the following:

Contest runs through 3/4/12 at 5pm cst.

148705597About the book:

WHEN NIGHT FALLS

After her fusband’s tragic death, Leigh Kelly arrives of Whidbey Island determined to start over. Yet the tiny town of Chimney Rock is not as peaceful as it seems. Women have been disappearing, and Leigh can’t shake the feeling that she’s being watched…especially at night. Soon, she’s experiencing visions she can’t explain and fighting her attraction to a handsome stranger who seems to know her most intimate desires.

PASSION TRANSFORMS THEM

As the leader of the Team, a pack of werehounds forced to hide their very existence, former special ops soldier Niles Latimer is desperate to prove a man’s hear beats beneath his predator’s body. And Leigh – the mysterious beauty possessing powers she doesn’t yet understand – may be the one woman who can help him. But Niles isn’t the only one who recognizes Leigh’s true identity. Something evil is waiting in the woods – and the hunt has begun…

DARKNESS BOUND just didn’t work for me. I couldn’t get into the rhythm of the author’s writing and the story just jumped a bit too much for my tastes. I really liked Leigh, but felt that there wasn’t much connection between her and Niles. My favorite characters were the animals – Jazzy, Blue (who is really Sean another werehound) and the tiny cat Skillywidden. They added light moments to the story. I’m not sure if I’ll read this author again.

the book girl gives DARKNESS BOUND a 2/5

144142821About this book:

Once a generations, the rift between the paranormal world and the human world opens, allowing supernatural entities to cross. Vampire, demon, or shapeshifter, they can save the world – or send it spiraling into chaos.

Half-demon, half-human, Nix de la Fuente is accepted by neither and mistrusted by both. Determined to prove she’s more human than not, she devotes herself to solving crimes between the world’s mortals and its most unsavory undead. But her latest case brings her face to face with the one vampire she could never resist…

Called in to investigate a string of violent murders, special agent Tobias Caine isn’t interested in rekindling his relationship with Nix. Yet one look and the vampire knows his need for her is as strong as ever. Once, their all-consuming passion nearly cost Nix her fragile hold on her humanity. Now, as their hunger for one another intensifies, exposing them to an unimaginable danger, it could cost them both their lives.

I am a little on the fence about KISS OF THE VAMPIRE. I  enjoyed the story and tolerated the characters, but I had trouble with the world the story is set in. Every 73 years there is a rift and vampires, demons and other preternatural beings are allowed to cross over into our dimension. However, to stay they have to kill someone and take over their body. I didn’t care for this part and it made it hard to find Tobias to be a good guy. He was a killer. The story starts out very slow with lots of world-building, background and info dumping. The book didn’t hold my interest until the second half and then I was just hoping for a HEA for Nix and Tobias. I will read the next book in the series, hoping that it explains some of the question’s I was left asking about the world and the other dimension.

the book girl gives KISS OF THE VAMPIRE a 3/5

2/5 3/5 Contest Paranormal Romance review copy

8 Comments »
Feb 24

Review: A PERFECT STORM by Lori Foster

by the book girl

1517252191About the book:

He never saw her coming…

Spencer Lark already knows too many secrets about Arizona Storm, including the nightmare she survived and her resulting trust issues. But in order to expose a smuggling ring—and continue avenging his own tragic past—the bounty hunter reluctantly agrees to make Arizona a decoy. Yet nothing has equipped him for her hypnotic blend of fragility and bravery, or for the protective instincts she stirs in him.

Arizona wants to reclaim her life, which means acting as bait to lure the enemy into a trap. Sure it’s dangerous, especially with a partner as distractingly appealing as Spencer. But as their plan— and their chemistry—shifts into high gear, Arizona may discover there’s an even greater risk in surrendering her heart to a hero….

I loved the previous Men Who Walk The Edge of Danger books and was anxiously awaiting Arizona and Spencer’s story. I loved Arizona – she is written with such a tough outer shell and a very vulnerable inside. Everyone is pulled into her circle and she slowly builds herself a family without being aware that she is doing it. I really liked the brother/sister aspect of her relationship with Jackson, Dare, and Trace. They are willing to do anything for her. Arizona undergoes a huge transformation during the book, but doesn’t change who she fundamentally is. She is still tough and has a need  to stop human trafficking, but she also has a softer side and has learned about real love. Spencer is fantastically alpha. I loved how he was a big, bad bounty hunter and yet he could still be so very gentle with Arizona. He doesn’t push her into anything or make her talk about things she doesn’t want to talk about. I also loved how he was able to deflect the attention from Arizona when she was having a hard time dealing with something. He made himself the center of attention instead of her. The plot of this book was great and although I thought I knew who the bad guy was I was thrown for a loop at the end. I loved it! I can’t wait for more books in this series and from Lori Foster.

the book girl gives A PERFECT STORM a 5/5

to find the book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

5/5 Contemporary Romance review copy

2 Comments »
Feb 20

Review: BELIEVE IT OR NOT by Tawna Fenske

by the book girl

151003506About the book:

This second quirky romantic comedy from Tawna Fenske features nice, normal accountant Violet McGinn, forced by a twist of fate to combine her accounting business with her mother’s psychic readings service. Bad enough she doesn’t believe in psychic powers-now she never knows whether a client needs a tax return or a crystal ball. And then there’s her infuriating, unconventional, and sexy new neighbor, nightclub owner Drew Watson, who might just be her perfect match…

This. Book. Is. Hilarious. I laughed so many times while reading. There is also lots of chemistry between Drew and Violet. I loved the quirkiness of the story and the secondary characters like “Dude” and Moonbeam. They helped move the story along and helped Drew and Violet see what they really wanted. The hero and heroine’s professions add so much to the story. Drew owns a bar that has male strippers two nights a week. Violet is an accountant who is filling in at her mother’s psychic business. BELIEVE IT OR NOT is a great light contemporary romance that will have the reader laughing and falling in love with a psychic accountant and her strip club owner.

the book girl gives BELIEVE IT OR NOT a 4/5

to find the book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

4/5 Contemporary Romance review copy

1 Comment »
Feb 15

Whatcha Reading Wednesday

by the book girl

121355629 I’m reading HOW TO DANCE WITH A DUKE by Manda Collins. I AM LOVING IT!! The writing is excellent and I’m adoring the relationship between Cecily and Lucas.

About the book:

What’s a wallflower to do when she’s suddenly in need of a husband? Use all the pluck and moxie she can muster to get what she wants?

Miss Cecily Hurston would much rather explore the antiquities of Egypt than the uncharted territory of marriage. But the rules of her father’s exclusive academic society forbid her entrance unless she weds one of its members. To clear her ailing father’s name of a scandalous rumor, Cecily needs to gain admission into the Egyptian Club-and is willing to marry any old dullard to do it.

Lucas Dalton, Duke of Winterson, is anything but dull. He’s a dashing and decorated war hero determined to help Cecily-even if that means looking the other way when she claims the dance card of Amelia Snow, this season’s most sought-after beauty. But Lucas has a reason for wanting Cecily to join the Egyptian Club: His brother went missing during one of Lord Hurston’s expeditions to Egypt. An alliance with the explorer’s bluestocking daughter could bring Lucas closer to the truth about what happened?or it could lead him to a more dangerous love than either he or Cecily could have imagined?

What are you reading this week?

review copy

1 Comment »
Feb 7

Review: THE ROGUE PIRATE’S BRIDE by Shana Galen

by the book girl

143600238About the book:

REVENGE SHOULD BE SWEET, BUT IT MAY COST HIM EVERYTHING

Out to avenge the death of his mentor, Bastien discovers himself astonishingly out of his depth when confronted with a beautiful, daring young woman who is out for his blood…

FORGIVENESS IS UNTHINKABLE BUT IT MAY BE HER ONLY HOPE…

British Admiral’s daughter Raeven Russell believes Bastien responsible for her fiancé’s death. But once the fiery beauty crosses swords with Bastien, she’s not so sure she really wants him to change his wicked ways…

I have been waiting for this book for a long time and it was worth the wait! Bastien and Raeven are electric together from their first meeting. She wants to kill him for something that happened in the past and he just wants to kiss her. Pretty soon she just wants to kiss him back. THE ROGUE PIRATE’S BRIDE has a lot of action and everything moves at a quick pace. But what put this book over the top for me was the reunion between Bastien and his family. It was a perfect ending to the series.

the book girl gives THE ROGUE PIRATE’S BRIDE a 5/5

to find the book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

5/5 Historical Romance review copy

1 Comment »
Feb 3

Review: MISS HILLARY SCHOOLS A SCOUNDREL by Samantha Grace

by the book girl

139643820About the book:

HE’LL NEVER SETTLE FOR ONE WOMAN…

Debonair bachelor Lord Andrew Forest lives for pleasure and offers no apologies. But he receives a dose of his own medicine when his family’s entrancing houseguest beds him, then disappears without so much as a by-your-leave. He’d like to teach the little vixen a thing or two about how to love and man…if he can find her..

AND SHE WON’T SETTLE FOR HEARTBREAK…

After the dashing man of her dreams is revealed as a lying scoundrel, heiress Lana Hilary is ready to seek a match with a respectable gentleman-if only they weren’t so dreadfully boring. Unable to rein in her bold nature for long, Lana flirts with trouble and finds herself entangled with exactly the type of man she’s vowed to avoid.

MISS HILLARY SCHOOLS A SCOUNDREL is a debut historical romance. I adored this book. Lana and Drew are fantastic characters. There were parts of the story that were a little far-fetched, but I loved every word of the book. Lana is a fun heroine – she is smart and spunky. Drew is quite the hero – he’s been a bad boy in the past, but once he finds the woman of his dreams he changes his way. I loved the way these two banter and flirt with each other. MISS HILLARY SCHOOLS A SCOUNDREL is a very sweet and romantic read that fans of historical romance will love.

the book girl gives MISS HILLARY SCHOOLS A SCOUNDREL a 5/5

to find the book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

5/5 Historical Romance review copy

1 Comment »
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