Category / Contemporary

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Ruthless Magnate, Convenient Wife by Lynne Graham

Format: E-book
Read with: MS Word
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Pregnant Brides, Book 2
Publisher: Harlequin
Hero: Sergei Antonovich
Heroine: Alissa
Date of Publication: November 2009
Started On: January 11, 2010
Finished On: January 11, 2010

Apart from the cringe worthy title, this story is okay for a light read. Packed with the essential ingredients of a Harlequin romance, Lynne Graham has spun a mildly interesting and yet the usually predictable type of story that the Harlequin line is famous for.

Russian billionaire Sergei Antonovich, complete with a football team under his name (which sort of reminds me of Chelsea’s owner) is the typical Harlequin romance hero, with billions to his name, complete with the adoring set of blonde bimbo’s who form an adoring circle around him with a hard childhood, rotten parents and a badly ended marriage which has left him with a cynical outlook of all women in general. However the one person that he holds dear to his heart is his grandma who turned his life around when both his parents died when Sergei was a sullen teenager looking for all sorts of trouble. Sergei’s grandmother, who refuses to bask in the countless wealth at her grandson’s fingertips yearns to see the day her grandson settles down and gives her a great grand child to dote on.

With a bitter first marriage that still leaves a bad taste in his mouth, Sergei decides to approach the task of  finding a wife who would bear him a child with the well intentioned plan of leaving the wife by gaining the sole custody of the child borne. One person who applies for the placement is Alissa’s twin Alexa. As typical in most Harlequin romances, Alexa is the ‘evil’ twin per se who takes advantage of Alissa, the sweet and angelic twin for whom the only thing missing is just a halo on her head. That being said, Alexa tricks Alissa into going ahead with the marriage, and Alissa finds herself of course captivated by the mesmerizing man Sergei is.

The desire and passion is scorching hot, and amidst the fragile relationship that forms between Sergei and Alissa, the actual story behind how Alissa got ‘tricked’ into this contractual marriage rears its ugly head and threatens to drive a wedge between both of them. However, as usual, Sergei finds himself unable to let her go until Alissa has appeased all the hunger he has for her, which in an anti-climatic ending turns out to be that Sergei falls in love with Alissa from the moment that he lays his eyes on her. So typical!

Anyhow, this was an okay read. Disappointed though that Lynne Graham doesn’t weave the magic she used to. With her previous short novels like Angel of Darkness that had the power to leave a gut wrenching ache in your heart and make you cry happy tears at the sappy endings, the novels that come out now tend to be total letdowns in terms of those stories.

Purchase Links: BooksOnBoard | Amazon | Barnes&Noble

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by mvbookreviewer

Review: Night Angel by Renee Reeves

Format: E-book
Read with: Amazon Kindle
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Black Velvet Seductions Sensuous Journeys
Hero: Nick Evanoff
Heroine: Morgan
Date of Publication: February 22, 2009
Started On: January 9, 2010
Finished On: January 10, 2010

This book kept popping up as a deeply loved romance by a lot of readers in many a discussion forums on Amazon. I managed to grab a copy of this and I have to say that based on the nature of the theme of this romance as well this book being the first of the author, this was an okay read for me.

Nick Evanoff, an ex-convict who served time for murder, is a horse trainer who treats abused horses and redefines the word ‘patience’ throughout this novel. Morgan, a woman who has been beaten and scarred emotionally and physically by her now dead husband, settles down in the neighboring cottage on Nick’s land.

Nick catches the first glimpse of this lone and battered woman sitting near a lake on his property and feels an undeniable pull towards Morgan. However when Nick gets to meet Morgan and realizes what she has gone through, although they both cannot deny the effect they have on one another, Nick deems himself unworthy of someone like Morgan and though Nick slowly and excruciatingly wins over the trust and love of Morgan, the crust of their problems in the end lies within the fact that Nick cannot make himself tell Morgan why he was labelled as an ex-convict in the first place.

Although many readers seemed to have found a ‘calling’ within themselves answered in this book, I found it at times excruciating to read just how much patience Nick had to put into woo Morgan. But then again the amount of abuse that was heaped upon Morgan, described in vivid details at times makes it all understandable at some point. But then again, I am not someone who is patient even when the need arises for me to be and maybe that’s why I didn’t feel that sense of having read a gut wrenching & heart warming story when I finished this novel. And maybe, just maybe it had something to do with the fact that Nick continues to be the one who gives and gives in this story and Morgan when at the last moment at first judges Nick when she knows firsthand that Nick deserves the benefit of the doubt, I think that made me a bit peeved with Morgan that made this novel earn not such a good place on my keeper shelf.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | AbeBooks

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by mvbookreviewer

Review: All Jacked Up by Lorelei James

Format: E-book
Read with: Amazon Kindle
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Rough Riders, Book 8
Publisher: Samhain
Hero: Jack Donohue
Heroine: Keely McKay
Date of Publication: November 3, 2009
Started On: January 5, 2010
Finished On: January 7, 2010

This is the first book ever that I tried out of this author. This book is one sure red hot read that the author pulls off quite nicely. I think this is the last book released of the rough riders series and features the lone girl in the McKay family. Keely who wants to earn her own place in their close knit society rather than been remembered as a hell raiser when she was younger.

Jack, best friend of one of Keely’s brother, had always seemed to rub her the wrong way. Whenever Jack and Keely are in the same room, they manage to insult one another to no end. One hot kiss that Jack and Keely shared at one of her brother’s weddings didn’t seem to make things any better.

Now two years later, Keely needs Jack’s help in finalizing her efforts to start her own rehabilitative clinic and Jack needs Keely to act as his fiancé to pull off a business deal which Jack wants so badly, bad enough to want to pretend to be engaged to Keely and take on being part of the McKay clan.

Although their passion could singe away the bedsheets, out of the bedroom they tend to be as divided as ever. And both of them do not realize that with each moment they spend together inevitably leads them to fall in love with another, a love which they both need to realize is way more important than anything else in their lives.

A very hot read guaranteed to sizzle up your insides ladies!

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

outstandingread

 

by mvbookreviewer

Review: The Missing by Shiloh Walker

Format: E-book
Read with: Microsoft Reader
Length: Novel
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Series: None
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Hero: Cullen Morgan
Heroine: Taige Branch
Date of Publication: November 4, 2008
Started On: January 1, 2010
Finished On: January 5, 2010

Nobody spins a tale of love and suspense better than Shiloh Walker. I absolutely love her books. Except for novellas, her stories are insightful and you can just feel the passion between the two characters unfold right in front of your eyes and this story is in no way an exception to the rule.

Cullen Morgan meets psychic teen Taige Branch on a holiday vacation that Cullen’s family takes in the Gulf Shores in Alaska. Taige, whose parents died in a fatalistic car crash, lives with her religious zealot of an uncle, who makes his distaste for the psychic powers that Taige tries to deal with and ignore everyday of her life evident in his dealings with her. And then she meets Cullen, who is the only person Taige feels connected and safe enough with and soon after falls in love with.

Cullen accepts Taige for who she is until Cullen’s mom is brutally raped and murdered. Cullen blaming Taige for not being able to save his mother brutally cuts off all ties with Taige. The story continues years later, where Taige has learnt to channel her psychic powers and now works under contract for government agencies in trying to help rid the society of psychopaths who prey on small children. Taige has never trusted anyone enough to have an intimate relationship with after Cullen though there are these intense dreams that Taige keeps having about Cullen caring for her and loving her as she has yearned for ever since the day Cullen made her walk out of his life forever.

When Cullen’s daughter goes missing, it drives him back to Taige. Now Cullen who once couldn’t forgive her for not saving his mother asks for Taige’s help in finding his daughter. As they find Cullen’s daughter, Taige is pushed headlong into finding a killer who kills children with special powers like herself and the killer that she seeks just might be too close to home for comfort. All through this, Cullen finds what the severe ending of their relationship had cost Taige and vows to win her back into his life no matter what.

The only part that I was unhappy with was the fact that Taige lost so much in her life when Cullen abruptly ended their relationship, and Taige never got the chance to put up a fight when Cullen wooed her back into his life. I guess the intense connection between them that did not cease with time or distance really played a big part in making this all believable. I can’t believe that I put off reading this book for so long. Should hunt down all Walker’s new releases and start going at them ASAP.

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

greatread

 

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Led Astray by Sandra Brown

Format: E-bookledastray.jpg
Read with: Microsoft Reader
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Hell Raisers, Book 1
Publisher: Mira
Hero: Cage Hendren
Heroine: Jenny Fletcher
Date of Publication: March 1, 2005
Started On: December 29, 2009
Finished On: January 1, 2010

This was a book written by the author under one of her pseudonyms Erin St. Claire during the 1980’s. This is a re-read for me, as it happens mostly with me cos every now and then I always remember this story and how much I loved the book when I first read it.

Cage Hendren is the second son of Reverend Bob Hendren and his wife Sarah, both of whom have never disguised the fact that they find Cage and his wild ways despicable. Hal their first born had always been the one who has had their affection and love as he was the one who was following the footsteps of his father. Jenny Fletcher is brought into the Hendren family when her parents and only sister were killed in a fire at their home. Having nowhere to go, the Hendrens had taken her in and brought her up as one of their own.

Hal and Jenny were expected to get married, and Jenny never one to want to create disharmony amongst the people who had loved her like their own has gone along with the plans and convinced herself that being Hal’s wife is what she wants in life. Meanwhile, Cage has always loved Jenny from afar though Hal and Jenny are practically engaged to be married.

When Hal goes off on a mission to rescue some refugees from a war torn country and gets killed in the process, Jenny finds herself depending on Cage and finds out that Cage is not the wild and crazy person that everyone portrays him to be. In the process of falling in love with Cage, Jenny finds the strength within herself and help from Cage to become the woman she needs to be.

Lovely story with two strong characters and interesting plot to keep things going.

Till next time!

And a wonderful new year to everyone!

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

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by mvbookreviewer

Review: Texas! Sage by Sandra Brown

Format: E-booktexassage
Read with: Microsoft Reader
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Texas!, Book 3
Publisher: Bantam
Hero: Harlan Boyd
Heroine: Sage Tyler
Date of Publication: February 1, 1992
Started On: December 27, 2009
Finished On: December 29, 2009

The 3rd and final book in the Tyler family’s series, this is the story of the youngest and the only daughter Sage Tyler. Sage who just finished her Masters Degree from the University of Texas and is engaged to be married to Travis from a moneyed background, who is on his way to become a dentist, suddenly finds herself without a fiancé when Travis breaks up with her on Christmas Eve.

Harlan Boyd who has been sent by her family because Chase’s wife Marcie is in labor witnesses the breakup and Sage finds herself meeting with the new hired help of their company Tyler Drilling. No man has infuriated her or been able to invoke feelings as savage in her as Harlan does.

Harlan who is a drifter who never stays in one place long enough to settle down finds that he is unable to stay away from Sage no matter what the consequences of a relationship with her might be.

Although this story is not as wonderful as Chase’s story, it was pretty good, though I felt the story line could have been better with a more believable explanation for Harlan’s behavior at the end.

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

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by mvbookreviewer

Review: Texas! Chase by Sandra Brown

Format: E-booktexaschase
Read with: Adobe Reader
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Texas!, Book 2
Publisher: Bantam
Hero: Chase Tyler
Heroine: Marcie Jones
Date of Publication: August 1, 1991
Started On: December 26, 2009
Finished On: December 27, 2009

This book is Sandra Brown at her best.

The Texas! series features the Tyler family. The first book focuses on Lucky, the second book being this one and third book is the story of their younger sister Sage Tyler. All three books provide unforgettable romance with searing passion. I read this book quite sometime back and remembered it to be my favorite. I always tend to love a romance which has a previous history linking the hero and heroine in some manner whether it be romantic or otherwise.

Marcie Jones nicknamed Goosey for being nerdy during the years of high school which she shared with Chase and had a major crush on him, is now a successful real estate agent having amassed quite a fortune with her work. She meets Tanya, Chase’s beloved wife, when they seek to buy a house for themselves before their baby comes along. On the way back from viewing the house Marcie was sure would make a lovely home for Tanya and Chase, a senseless accident kills the pregnant Tanya and leaves Marcie with serious but not life threatening injuries. Chase’s world is shattered when in a day’s time he loses his beloved wife and their child who had not even had the chance to breathe into this world.

Two years later, Marcie encounters Chase at a rodeo where he nearly gets himself killed on the arena. Marcie stays with him during his brief time at the hospital and finally brings Chase back home since the accident. Whilst Chase has been away immersing himself in alcohol and whoring, their family business Tyler Drilling had gone under and things look really bad for them until Marcie proposes that Chase marry her in order for her to help bail out their business. The idea seems ridiculous to Chase at first but soon he makes up his mind to go along with the marriage even though Chase’s family doesn’t feel too comfortable about the decision.

Marcie has her work cut out for her in a marriage where she has to fight with Chase every step of the way to gain his trust, affection and love. Chase determined not to betray the memory of his loving wife doesn’t want to acknowledge the intense feelings that Marcie is able to invoke in him and this ultimate battle of wills proves to be a scorching read. Loved every minute of the sexual tension between the two characters hot enough to scorch the memory chips of my laptop.

Loved every bit of the novel. Highly recommended to anyone who loves a good dose of romance packed with a brooding hero who I guarantee you would make your hearts go aflutter.

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

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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

outstandingread

 

by mvbookreviewer

Review: A Mutual Favor by Ann Jacobs

Format: E-bookmutual
Read with: Adobe Reader
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Hero: Dr. Kurt Silverman
Heroine: Shelly Ware
Date of Publication: July 30, 2002
Started On: December 20, 2009
Finished On: December 21, 2009

I went on a hunting binge after reading the last book, to find more books of my favorite theme. I came across this book on Amazon’s recommendation list and since it has got great reviews, thought I would give this book a try.

Dr. Kurt an orthopedic surgeon with a bad divorce under him can’t for the life of him see himself ever married again. And the continuous demand for his time which his first wife had always claimed and he could never give has made him antsy at the thought of being that vulnerable with someone ever again. The only woman he feels comfortable around with enough to drop down his guard and be himself with is his best friend and physiotherapist Shelly Ware. Good at giving mind blowing massages after Kurt spends grueling hours at the surgery, Shelly has always made him feel good about himself and made his problems seem less intense.

Now with the custody of Kurt’s child Jason at a balance, with his ex-wife Adrianna making life hellish for him by revoking visitation rights claiming Kurt doesn’t provide a suitable enough environment for a young boy of 12 years, Kurt is at his wits ends. However, Shelly in a moment of weakness after finding out her sister has ovarain cancer and fearing that at 32 years she is fast losing her chance of ever having children of her own, asks Kurt to donate the sperm for the  baby that she so craves.

Angry at first, Kurt begins to realize that they both could do each other a favor and asks Shelly to marry him. Kurt is forever afraid of a repeat episode of his first marriage taking place but soon finds out that Shelly as his best friend and as the woman who understands him more than anyone else makes a totally different experience of being married to.

Add in a rebellious teenage son to the mix with a complicated pregnancy for Shelly, this story proved to be a good read.

Purchase Links:  Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Jasmine Jade

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