What are you reading this week?

About the book:

When Julie Streeter dropped out of law school to care for her little sister, one of the things she missed most was her crush-worthy classmate, Matt Ellis. Now, he’s visiting the firm where she works as a paralegal and is just as sexy now as he was then.

Matt Ellis never expected to run into Julie again–certainly not at the law firm where he’s been sent to investigate leaks to the opposing team. When he finds the list of things she’d like to try before her thirtieth birthday, very sexy things, on the office copier he offers to be her list buddy while he’s in town. And to his surprise, Julie agrees.

Will their mind-blowing chemistry lead to more than just a fling, or could what started out as a crush turn into something neither one of them expected?

I adored Manda Collins debut historical romance, but her erotic romance didn’t work for me. I liked Julie and felt like her character was fully realized, but Matt was flat. I know that the length of the book (72 pages) has something to do with how deep the author can go into the characters past and reasons for their actions, but there was a distinct lack of back-story for Matt.  The tension between the characters is well written and sexy, I think if this book had been longer and had more character depth I would have enjoyed it more.

the book girl gives LEGALLY YOURS a 3/5

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About the book:

“I don’t want to love you.”

Just one night? Yeah, right. Pippa Laingley should have known better. When an unplanned evening of passion with Cameron Hollingsworth results in unplanned pregnancy, she’s at a crossroads. She knew going in that the enigmatic entrepreneur had built a fortress around his feelings. What she’s just discovered is that he’s loved and lost before—wife and child. Tragically. Now Cam stands to lose it all again. If he lets Pippa get too close. If he pushes her away with loveless arrangements of fi nancial support. Either way, he’s doomed…unless he can let himself love again.

Maya Banks’ writing always gets me emotional. Her characters are so realistic to me that I get way too caught up in what happens. Pippa is a lovely character – full of dreams and aspirations – who has her entire world turned upside down when she finds herself pregnant after a one-night stand. Cam is a damaged character. He was hurt once and won’t open up or allow himself to become vulnerable again. The way to happily ever after for these two is a hard road, but in the end they find that they can’t be without each other. I loved their romance. I also loved the epilogue, where we get to see all four couples from the mini-series living their happily ever after – a perfect ending.

the book girl gives UNDONE BY HER TENDER TOUCH a 5/5

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 About the book:

THE MAN WHO COULD NEVER LOVE

Waking up in a stranger’s bed, Henrietta Markham encounters the most darkly sensual man she has ever met. The last thing she remembers is being attacked by a housebreaker—yet being rescued by the notorious Earl of Pentland feels much more dangerous! Since the cataclysmic failure of his marriage, ice has flowed in Rafe St. Alban’s veins. But meeting impetuous, all-too-distracting governess Henrietta heats his blood to the boiling point.

When she’s accused of theft, Rafe finds himself offering to clear her name. Can Henrietta’s innocence bring this hardened rake to his knees?

I really enjoyed this story. It was wildly romantic. Rafe is a very damaged character and I was thrown when he revealed what had happened between him and his late wife. His actions, which at first seem a little mean and rude, make complete sense. Henrietta is sweet and a bit naive. She grows up during the course of the book and learns things about herself and real life. RAKE WITH A FROZEN HEART is a lovely historical romance.

the book girl gives RAKE WITH A FROZEN HEART a 4/5

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About the book:

Come to Camp Winnehatchee!

For new experiences. (With boys!)

For the great outdoors. (Where you can find yourself in nature. With boys! )

For adults-only activities. (Best shared with men! )

For venture capitalist Adam Sutherland, attending Camp Winnehatchee’s reopening was a no-brainer. He’s even reuniting with former camp counselors to chip in and help revive the camp. What he isn’t expecting is to find a girl sleeping in his bunk. Or that the girl is none other than Julia McKee, who went from shy and awkward Good Girl to
scorching-hot babe….

But the good girl is all gone…and she’s headed off to Paris! But before she goes, Julia intends to show her bad-boy childhood crush just how to put the “wild” back into the wilderness! And this time, he’ll be the one left wanting more….

NOT JUST FRIENDS is a sexy, sweet romance about falling in love with a teenage crush. Julia had a huge crush on Adam for the ten long years they both attended summer camp. What she didn’t know was that the feeling was mutual. When they meet back up after friends buy the camp the attraction is instantaneous and electrifying. I loved how quickly the couple falls in love and how they deal with the feelings that build so quickly. I also liked that Julia doesn’t give up on her future plans for Adam – that they work together to make their relationship work no matter where they are or what they are doing.

the book girl gives NOT JUST FRIENDS a 5/5

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About the book:

A diamond like no other…

From the moment he turned up late to her charity’s meeting, placating everyone with a tip of his Stetson and a lazy smile, Angela Beck knew that Sam Diamond was going to be Trouble with a capital T.

Angela is the prickliest woman Sam’s ever met—let alone had to work with! He’d love to still her sharp tongue with a kiss, but first he has to get close enough to awaken the complex woman beneath the deliberately cool exterior. And that’s something only a real cowboy can do…

THE LAST REAL COWBOY is a sweet romance with deep and interesting characters. Sam has led a sheltered life and hasn’t had to deal with anything harsh. Now, his father has had a stroke and his mother has left him her seat on the board of a woman’s half-way house. I loved that although Sam was confident and accomplished within his own world, that in Angela’s world he was out of his element and not afraid to admit it. Angela has a turbulent past, but has overcome *most*of her fears and is moving forward to help others that have dealt with abuse. I loved how these two characters learn from each other and become so much better together than they ever could be apart. A very sweet and emotional romance. **This book also includes another story – THE RANCHER’S RUNAWAY PRINCESS – which I have not read yet, but thought I would mention.**

the book girl gives THE LAST REAL COWBOY a 4/5

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About the book:

“Holy Smokes. I’m A Father.”

Sabrina McKinley broke Jonas’s heart when she left him for another man. Then the eldest Callahan brother gets
the surprise of his life when he sees her again…holding his son. Even at six months, his bouncing baby boy was
wearing the legendary Callahan smile Which means Sabrina has got to marry him, even if Jonas has to drag her to the altar.

Sabrina’s been head over heels for the hunky cowboy doctor since the day she first came to Rancho Diablo; it’s always been Jonas keeping her at arm’s length. She won’t settle for anything less than the real deal—the love and happiness that Jonas’s five brothers have found.

But when a revelation about a family secret comes out, Sabrina can see Jonas is ready to look toward the future. He won’t be the last bachelor on the ranch. After all, he’s a Callahan!

A CALLAHAN WEDDING didn’t really work for me. I enjoyed the story, but felt as if I was missing a lot. This book is part of a mini-series and I believe that to get the enjoyment out of A CALLAHAN WEDDING the reader needs to have read the other books. Jonas and Sabrina’s relationship must have started in one of his brother’s story and was picked up in the middle for this book. I couldn’t understand the motivation of the characters and why Sabrina could admit she was in love with Jonas, but not marry him.

the book girl gives A CALLAHAN WEDDING a 3/5

to find the book:

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GIVEAWAY:

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment telling me which book you would choose to win:

• JUST ONE KISS
• SAVAS WILDCAT
• UNDONE BY HER TENDER TOUCH
• RAKE WITH A FROZEN HEART
• NOT JUST FRIENDS
• THE LAST REAL COWBOY
• A CALLAHAN WEDDING

US addresses only, please. Make sure to check to see if your name is chosen.

Additional entries can be gained through the following:

• Follow me on twitter: www.twitter.com/thebookgirl and tweet the link to this post with the tag #bookgirlgiveaway
• “Like” me on facebook and post what book you are reading this week on the wall: http://www.facebook.com/therealbookgirl
• Comment on the other posts this week

Contest runs through 5/20/12 at 5pm cst.

Happy Mother’s Day!! I’m looking forward to being spoiled all day by my kiddos and hubby (till he has to go to work – one disadvantage of having a restaurant manager as a husband is he has to work most holidays).  I sent my Mom flowers during the week and took MIL to lunch, so I have no obligations today except to relax and read a good book.

Here’s the list of what I read:

1. SAVAS WILDCAT – Anne McAllister
2. THE DUCHESS OF LOVE – Sally MacKenzie
3. JUST ONE KISS - Isabel Sharpe
4. THE WOLF WHO LOVED ME – Lydia Dare
5. A LADY’S REVENGE – Tracey Devlyn
6. FROM THIS MOMENT ON – Bella Andre
7. ONE HOT COWBOY WEDDING – Carolyn Brown
8. SOMEBODY TO LOVE – Kristan Higgins
9. HIS SECRET TEMPTATION – Cat Scheild
10. ABOUT THAT NIGHT - Julie James
11. CELEBRITY IN DEATH - J.D. Robb
12. THE END OF HER INNOCENCE - Sara Craven
13. A LOT LIKE LOVE - Julie James
14. TROUBLE IN A PINSTRIPE SUIT - Kelly Hunter
15. PARTY OF THREE - Lacey Alexander
16. CYNDERS & ASHE – Elizabeth Boyle
17. THE DUKE’S PERFECT WIFE - Jennifer Ashley
18. HOLDING THE CARDS – Joey W. Hill
19. SLOW RIDE – Lorelei James
20. AFTERSHOCK - Jill Shalvis
21. THE LAST BOYFRIEND - Nora Roberts
22. THE SAINT WHO STOLE MY HEART - Stefanie Sloane
23. SERIOUS PLAY - Bonnie Dee
24. MIDNIGHT RESCUE – Elle Kennedy
25. THE PRETEND PROPOSAL – Jackie Braun
26. THE NANNY WHO KISSED HER BOSS - Barbara McMahon
27. PLEASURE CRUISE - Michelle M. Pillow
28. BAREFOOT IN THE SAND – Roxanne St. Claire
29. HOW TO RAVISH A RAKE - Vicky Dreiling

About the book:

How to turn a good girl bad…

A week of temptation:

Yiannis Savas, the irresistible playboy of the Savas dynasty, was every girl’s dream. But he quickly turned into Cat’s nightmare when his promises led no further than a fiery affair. Now Cat MacLean has grown up and out of her
girlish fantasies. Determined not to fall prey to smooth talk and fast charm again, she’s engaged to someone sensible.

Then she’s forced to spend a week with the one man she’s never forgotten. Yiannis’s heated gaze pierces her defences, and suddenly sensible doesn’t seem quite so good…

I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved Cat, but at times found her behavior silly. She immediately recognizes that she still has feelings for Yannis, but believes that she is committed enough in her relationship with her fiance for those feelings to mean nothing. Even as she admits that she feels things for Yannis that she had never felt for Adam. Yannis comes across as a bit of a jerk. He doesn’t want anything to do with marriage, but not for the usual reasons. He comes from a loving family and had no real relationship trauma. He just doesn’t think that kind of commitment is for him. However he grew on me as the story continued. His dealings with Cat’s nephew, Harry, her grandmother and his parents showed the real Yannis. I wish I had enjoyed the characters more and that the romance between Cat and Yannis would have progressed faster.

the book girl gives SAVAS WILDCAT a 3/5

to find the book:

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What are you reading this week?

About the book:

Andrew Valentine, Duke of Greycliffe, never thought arriving at his own household a week early would cause so much trouble. The housekeeper thinks he’s his own cousin. Actually, the chance to not be the duke for a while is a pleasant opportunity indeed. It might even help him interrogate the delectable little nymph he’s discovered swimming in his pond—if he can manage to get a word in edgewise…

This sweet, funny novella is the perfect introduction to a new series. I loved both Drew and Venus. They are both young and fun. I can’t wait to find out how Venus’s matchmaking goes with her own children. My only complain is that I have to wait till June to read the next story – BEDDING LORD NED.

the book girl gives THE DUCHESS OF LOVE a 5/5

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About the book:

Tempted by taste…

Nestled in the heart of Seattle, A Taste for all. Pleasures is a warm hub of decadent baking delights. Sweet buttery cookies with melted chocolate, yummy cupcakes with creamy soft icing…and the owner, Angela Loukas, is about to meet a mouthwatering morsel of a man—one she can’t resist!

Unfortunately, Daniel Flynn is officially celibate. No sex. No dating. It’s criminal, really. But once he steps into Angela’s shop, he remembers what temptation—in the form of chocolate icing and a mischievous set of chocolate-brown eyes—feels like.

Now he wants to have his cupcakes…and Angela, too!

I absolutely loved this book. Angela and Daniel are fantastic together. They are both damaged by past relationships and aren’t sure just how to be in a relationship again. Daniel, in the beginning, is a little whiny. His fiance died and he promises to stay single until the date of their wedding passes. It was a very selfish thing for her to ask, but he doesn’t see it that way until he finds Angela. They are drawn to each other in a huge way and their chance meeting at her bakery changes their lives forever. There are some incredibly romantic and sexy parts in the story. JUST ONE KISS is a fun read.

the book girl gives JUST ONE KISS a 5/5

to find the book:

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• CAPTIVATED by Lauren Dane
• ONE NAUGHTY NIGHT by Laurel McKee
• LUCKY IN LOVE by Jill Shalvis
• TAMING THE LOST PRINCE by Raye Morgan
• IT STARTED WITH A CRUSH by Melissa McClone