Category / Avon

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Dream A Little Dream by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Format: E-book
Read with: Microsoft Reader
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Chicago Stars, Book 4
Publisher: Avon
Hero: Gabe Bonner
Heroine: Rachel Stone
Date of Publication: February 1, 1998
Started On: December 25, 2009
Finished On: December 26, 2009

The next book in the Chicago Stars series, this is the story of Gabe Bonner, younger brother of Cal from Nobody’s Baby But Mine. There were tidbits of Gabe’s story in the previous novel and my interest was piqued to find out whether the author had ever gotten around to writing Gabe’s story since I felt in my gut that it would be a fabulous one and I’ve got to say it definitely has been a worthwhile read.

Gabe Bonner, a man who lost everything he held dear to his heart when his wife Cherry and son Jamie died in a hit and run accident is a man who just goes through the motions of living a life. A veterinarian who has no interest in healing animals after the accident, he turns all his attention to fixing up the drive-in movie theater in town just so that it would give him something to do to keep those dark memories at bay.

Rachel Stone, a woman who is nearly at the end of her wits for the constant struggle for survival of her and her young son Edward Stone, is a woman who is scorned and hated by everyone in Salvation. Her ex-husband Dwayne had been a televangelist who had ripped the community of their savings, the sole blame of which Dwayne had successfully swayed his followers to believe lay on Rachel’s shoulders. Even then, Rachel is determined to make things work for her son and in a desperate attempt to earn money forces Gabe to hire her to work at the drive-in even though he makes it no secret that he can’t stand to be around Edward and her.

However, gradually Rachel and Gabe both find that they can’t deny the need they arouse in each other, though Gabe still has problems communicating with Edward, who thinks Gabe is no good for his mother. On one side of the story is the tale of how Ethan Bonner the reverend of  Salvation finds himself having to confront his feelings for his life long friend and secretary Kristy who has always loved Ethan from afar.

With everyone except Gabe, Kristy and Jane rooting for Rachel, and a town full of people who refuse to hide their animosity for her, Rachel and Gabe finds that within themselves lie an unending amount of courage to face anything and that this woman who has not a penny to her name and survives with dignity and pride can finally heal Gabe and teach him how to love again.

This story is one packed with complex relationships and emotions that leaves one wanting to finish the book till the last page is through. I loved every bit of the Connor brothers’ stories and have to say that Susan Elizabeth Phillips has done a marvelous job in creating such wonderful characters that would stay with you for a long time even after you finish the series.

Purchase Links: BooksOnBoard | Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Half.com

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by mvbookreviewer

Review: Nobody’s Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Format: E-book
Read with: Adobe Reader
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Chicago Stars, Book 3
Publisher: Avon
Hero: Cal Bonner
Heroine: Dr. Jane Darlington
Date of Publication:February 1, 1997
Started On: December 22, 2009
Finished On: December 25, 2009

Dr. Jane Darlington may be a brilliant physics scientist but she doesn’t really have a clue about what life is all about. Growing up alone with a father, who didn’t know what to do with such a brilliant child with no love lost between father and daughter, all Dr. Jane yearns for is a child of her own, whom she would protect with every fiber of her being, so that mockery & isolation from fellow peers is not the only thing her child would know in life. The only problem for Dr. Jane is finding a suitable candidate to father her child, someone who is dumb enough to compensate for her brilliance so that their child would not be labelled a ‘freak’. By a twist of fate, Dr. Jane meets with Jodie, one of the groupies that were forever after the Chicago Stars, who had been assigned the task of finding a high class prostitute as a birthday present for Cal Bonner.

Someone whose career in football is about to end, Cal Bonner doesn’t do commitment well. Afraid of acknowledging the fact that his high profile career is about to end, Cal doesn’t want or need anyone tying him down. Jodie finds the suitable candidate to pose as Cal’s birthday present from the team members when she meets Dr. Jane and quite by chance finds Dr. Jane fascinated with Cal Bonner thinking him to be a dumb jock, a highly suitable candidate to father her child.

Thus begins the highly entertaining story of how Cal finds himself with a woman who is able to give as good as she gets, someone who has an uncanny understanding of himself, and someone who could really get under his skin if he ain’t careful about it. Finding out that Dr. Jane tricked him into getting herself pregnant with his child, when he wasn’t ready at all for such a thing, pushes Cal over the edge and demands Dr. Jane to marry him and vows he would destroy Jane for tricking him and cheating him out of what he wants in life.

Throw in the highly unusual members of Cal’s family and you have got on your hands one hell of an enjoyable romance. I loved every bit of Cal’s and Jane’s encounters filled with moments of laughter, uncertainty, scorching passion and unbeatable romance with a great happy ending at the end. Highly recommended!

Purchase Links: BooksOnBoard | Amazon | Barnes&Noble

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by mvbookreviewer

Review: Then Came You By Lisa Kleypas

Format: Paperbackthencame you
Read with: Paperback
Length: Novel
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Avon Romance
Series: Gamblers, Book 1
Hero: Alex, Lord Raiford
Heroine: Lily Lawson
Published on: June 1, 1993
Started On: August 17, 2009
Finished On: August 22, 2009

My first book from Lisa Kleypas was the second and last book in the Gamblers Series where I fell in love with Lisa Kleypas’ style of writing and her vivid characters that are quite different from most of the characters portrayed in historical romances. Even when I was reading book 2 of the series i.e. Dreaming of You (let me take a breather here to remember Derek Craven *sighs*), I was curious to read the story of Alex and Lily who play minor secondary roles in the story. So here I go!!

Lily Lawson, portrayed as a woman who can live up to anything in a man’s world (she hunts as good as any lord/marquess or whatever & gambles  better than most men) and basically gets away with being notorious because she is such a daredevil. But behind this facade lies endless heartache and pain. Betrayed by the man she was betrothed to at the altar, fleeing to Italy with her eccentric aunt to Italy, finding a man who Lily thinks is the one and surrendering to one night’s passion which is not so passionate for her in the end leaving her pregnant. No one back in England except Derek Craving who secretly yearns for Lily but wants better things for her than he could ever be and shares as close relationship with a woman as he ever would, knows that Lily had Nicole out of wedlock and that her child at the age of 2 years was kidnapped by her father who fled to London with Nicole upon facing various criminal charges. Lily who is left off with a comfortable inheritance by her aunt, spends most of it trying to get her daughter back from her father by paying him off in huge lump sums until finally she is left destitute.

Enter Alex, Lord Raiford’s world. Grieving for his American fiance who had died in a tragic hunting accident and betrothed to Penelope Lawson, Lily’s younger sister for all the wrong reasons  that she would never make him vulnerable enough to hurt him like the death of his previous fiance did portrays Alex as a deeply private man who is immensely wealthy.

The story that unfolds is at times hilarious and heart wrenching too. Penelope who is in love with Zachary, who has a lesser title to present than Alex, desperately seeks the help of Lily to prevent Alex and Penelope from getting married. Lily intervenes, turns Alex’s world upside down, and eventually detains Alex long enough at her home by tying him down to her bed to allow Zachary and Penelope to elope together. Alex who had been keeping the feelings that Lily evokes in him in check, lets them loose and hunts Lily down, wagers 5000 pounds for one night with her and wins Lily over.

Taming Lily who has never wanted to bow to a man and let him lead her life ever before finds herself enchanted when instead of offering her to be Alex’s mistress as she thought he would, finds herself married to him. Lily afraid that the news of illegitimate daughter would drive Alex and his love away keeps it a secret from him until he finds his wife and her daughter’s notorious father in a supposedly compromising position which finally propels Lily to spill the beans.

Though I didn’t love this story as much as I did Derek’s story, this one still had its moments of passion, laughter and love all packed into one.

Purchase Links: Amazon | ReaderStore | Kobo | Barnes&Noble

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