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10
Sep
Review: Laid Bare by Lauren Dane (New Author Challenge)
the book girl

39481965From the back of the book:

UNEXPECTED DESIRE

It’s been ten ears since clean-cut, sexy-as-hell police officer Todd Keenan had a white-hot fling with Erin Brown, the provocative, wild rocker chick next door. Their power exchange in the bedroom got under his skin. But love wasn’t in the cards just yet…

Now, life has thrown the pair back together. But picking up where they left off is tough in light of a painful event from Erin’s past. As Todd struggles to earn her trust, their relationship takes an unexpected and exciting turn when Todd’s best friend, Ben, ends up in their bed - and all three are quite satisfied in this relationship without a name. As the passion they share transforms Erin, will it be enough to help her face the evil she thought she had left behind?

This book is amazing! I was so engrossed in the book I couldn’t do anything but read. Even though it is labeled as an erotic romance it is really so much more. Yes, there is a lot of sex and it can be explicit (and hot), but it is the relationship between Erin and Todd that make the book so amazing.  The emotional journey the characters in the book take had me laughing out loud and crying. The way Ms. Dane writes makes the reader feel. I could feel the love between Erin, Todd, and Ben. I could feel the despair of what Erin had gone through in the past and what she still had to recover after the horrific event that changed her life forever. This is the best book I have read this year. I can’t wait to read Brody, Erin’s older brothers, story next. I wish that the book was already out, but until then I’ll just have to hold on to LAID BARE and read it again and again.

the book girl gives LAID BARE a 5/5!!

To find the book (everyone should order a copy!)

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books-a-Million

To find out more about the author:

Lauren Dane

Category: 2009 New Author Challenge, 5/5, Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance  Tags: , , , ,  Leave a Comment
02
Sep
Review: Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase (New Author Challenge)
the book girl

lord-of-scoundrelsFrom the back of the book:

ONE DETERMINED LADY…Tough-minded Jessica Trent’s sole intention is to free her nitwit brother from the destructive influence of Sebastian Ballister, the notorious Marquess of Dain. She never expects to desire the arrogant, amoral cad. And when Dain’s reciprocal passion places them in a scandalously compromising and public position, Jessica is left with no choice but to seek satisfaction…

MEETS THE LORD OF SCOUNDRELS…Damn the minx for tempting him, kissing him…and then forcing him to salvage her reputation! Lord Dain can’t wait to put the infuriating bluestocking in her place - preferably in some amorous position. And if it means marriage, so be it! But Sebastian is less than certain he can continue to remain aloof and steel his heart to the sensuous, headstrong lady’s considerable charms.

I read this book because of a post on Book Binge and am I so happy that I decided to read the book. I loved it. Dain is the ultimate “bad boy” who is changed by love and Jessica is unlike many historical heroines. She is feisty and beautiful, and isn’t going to let the conceited Lord Dain win in any game they play. My favorite scene is when she shoots him. Yes, that’s right she actually shoots him. I will definitely be reading more by Loretta Chase in the future!!

the book girl gives LORD OF SCOUNDRELS a 5/5!

To find the book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books-a-Million

To find out more about the author:

Loretta Chase

Category: 2009 New Author Challenge, 5/5, Historical Romance  Tags: ,  One Comment
01
Jul
Review: Love is All Around by Lori Devoti (New Author Challenge)
the book girl

love-is-all-aroundFrom the back of the book:

Patsy Lee Clark knows a few things for sure. One: she’s way too personally fabulous for a little town like Daisy Creek. Two: ringing up groceries at the local BiggeeMart isn’t going to get her anywhere. Three: the situation is hopeless. But wait - did former bad boy Will Barnes just move back? Did he really sell his Internet company for a few zillion dollars? Is it true that he never stopped thinking about her?

Yes, yes, and yes. Plus the man is six-feet-two of buff perfection - and he’s crazy about her. Fair’s fair - Patsy’s crazy about him. Love is definitely the cure for the summertime blues…

This is a very fun book. I loved the Patsy and her crazy family. I did get tired of her talking about leaving town, but found the relationship between her and Will fantastic. Will is quite a guy. He’s rich, good looking, and settling down in his hometown with the intent to stay of the relationship market for a while. That is, until he gets reacquainted with Patsy. Ms. Devoti has taking a pretty classic romance plot line and made it fun and enjoyable. The cast of characters in both Patsy and Will’s family are as delightful as they are different. I think this book is a perfect summer time read!

the book girl gives LOVE IS ALL AROUND 4/5!

to find the book:

amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books-a-Million

to find out more about the author:

Lori Devoti

Category: 2009 New Author Challenge, 4/5, Contemporary Romance  Tags: , ,  2 Comments
02
Feb
Review: Talk of the Town by Karen Hawkins (New Author Challenge)
the book girl

talk-of-the-townFrom the back of the book:

Do Blondes Have More Fun?

Newly divorced Roxie Treymayne is dying to find out. After years of being the perfect Southern lady, all she ended up with was a cheating husband. So she goes bombshell blond, gets a provocatively placed tattoo, and prepares to live it up as a Bad Girl. But then her mother falls ill…and Roxie is forced to return to Glory, North Carolina.

He’d Love to Know.

Once the town bad boy, Nick Sheppard is now Glory’s highly respected sheriff. When the hot blonde he stops for speeding turns out to be formerly prim Homecoming Queen Roxanne Treymayne, Nick doesn’t quite know where to look - though he’d like a much closer one at the tattoo peeking from her shorts.

But It Takes Two to Tango

Roxie and Nick had a steamy fling in high school, but a love affair between a Southern princess and a boy from the wrong side of the tracks was doomed from the wrong side of the tracks was doomed from the start. Now they have a second chance. Can they get it right? Or will they just end up…the talk of the town?

I have never read any of Karen Hawkins historical romances, but have heard good things. Since I am on a contemporary romance kick I decided to try her new book, Talk of the Town. I loved it. The book is sexy and funny. I love how nothing is very serious in the book, just a fun, light read. Roxie seems to have reverted to a bad teenager, avoiding her mother and trying to get with a guy she doesn’t think is any good for her.  Nick has shed his bad boy past and is now the law in Glory. The role reversal between these two makes their relationship very interesting. I can’t wait to read more by Karen Hawkins!

To find the book click on one of these links:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

For more info about the author: Karen Hawkins

Category: 2009 New Author Challenge, Contemporary Romance  Tags: , , ,  One Comment
28
Jan
Review: Really Something by Shirley Jump (new author!)
the book girl

really-somethingFrom the back of the book:

GETTING EVEN JUST GOT EVEN BETTER…

They say you can’t go home again-and when home is Tempest, Indiana, “Litter Box Capital of the World,” who’d want to? Not Allie Dean. She couldn’t wait to leave the place that made her feel worthless when she was at her most vulnerable. Seven years later and 170 pounds lighter, Allie’s back, scouting locations for an indy flick. It’s the perfect opportunity to exact the sweet revenge that comes with looking seriously hot. And the guy who broke her heart just happens to have made himself very available…

Duncan Henry isn’t used to being stood up, though the gorgeous blond who just ditched him looks like she does it all the time. Still, Duncan’s determined to win the stranger over, if only to get close to someone with no connection to Tempest. The truth is, Duncan hasn’t had anyone he could really talk to since Allison left. Yeah, there are plenty of things the ex-jock-turned-weatherman would change if he had the chance-and maybe his chance is closer than he thinks…

Now, with Allie getting ready to shoot and Duncan trying to score, somethings gotta give. The question is, who will give in first?

This book was just okay. I really wanted to like it, but it fell short. The idea that even though she had lost 170 lbs, someone who was around Allison Grey a lot wouldn’t recognize her was a little hard to believe. I also didn’t like how Allie was trying to get revenge on all of the people who she felt had mistreated her without knowing anything about what had happened to then in their lives. She was a little self absorbed.This was a new author for me and I liked her writing style, but not the story. I am planing on reading another book by Shirley Jump and hopefully will enjoy it more than I did this one!

Here’s where you can find this book:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble

More about Shirley Jump and the books she has written: Shirley Jump

Category: 2009 New Author Challenge, Contemporary Romance  Tags: , ,  Leave a Comment