Category / Good Read

by mvbookreviewer

Short & Sweet Review: Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

Format: E-book
Read with: Amazon Kindle
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Standalone
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Hero: Calvin Morrisey
Heroine: Minerva Dobbs
Sensuality: 2.5
Date of Publication: April 1, 2007
Started On: April 7, 2010
Finished On: April 11, 2010

Storyline: Calvin (Cal) just got out of an intense relationship where the woman wanted more than he could give. What he just wants for now is some peace and quiet in his life. He doesn’t think its too much to ask for and one night he finds himself and his friends Roger and Tony in the company of David who just broke up with Minerva (Min) that very night at the bar. David knowing that Cal is a man who bets to win, bets Cal 10,000 dollars to get frumpy and overweight Min to sleep with him within a month’s time. Though Cal doesn’t agree to this bet, Min overhears David betting Cal and thinks Cal has agreed to the bet. Since Min desperately needs a date for her sister’s wedding in three weeks time, Min decides that she would play along so that Cal would be her date for the wedding.

The first meet: Cal and Min first meet at the bar that they all hang out after work. Cal the almost sinfully handsome hero and Min who needs a crash course in building self confidence and attitude due her mom constantly harping on about her being over weight, these two seems to be the opposites in every way.

Time period: No specific time line given in the story, just that the story takes place in the present day.

Awareness between the two characters: The zing of electricity between the two characters is built up right from the first. Though neither Min nor Cal wants a relationship at the moment, nor do they want to get involved in any other way with each other, they keep bumping into each other and through these chance and not so chance encounters, Miss Crusie keeps the sexual tension and awareness between the two at an all time high which makes the book quite enjoyable.

The turning point: The turning point in the relationship of Cal and Min comes gradually. Since they both do not want to be with each other, but do end up spending time with one another, they do find out that first impressions do not really tell the whole story about a person and that there were layers to each of them that inexorably drew them to one another. With their quirky group of friends and dysfunctional families they are a couple who have got all the odds against them, but somehow, fate tends to work in mysterious ways to bind these two together and before they know it, they are half way in love with one another.

How the relationship grows: Cal and Min’s relationship grows in no ordinary fashion. With David and Cal’s ex-girlfriend Cynthia (a relationship psychologist) who has an axe to grind and wants him back plotting against these two who are reluctant to be with one another in the first place, there doesn’t seem to be much room for their relationship to grow. However, a few well placed bets here and there and a few chance encounters and not so chance encounters somehow bind the lives of these two together and in the process both Cal and Min find stuff about one another that draws them closer to one another. The continuous heat and attraction between the two makes things interesting whilst this goes on.

Ending: Cal and Min’s happily ever after doesn’t come that easily. Both of them have issues to work out, and some grovelling to do and a bet to win or lose before they could both assume the roles of their happily ever after. Wonderful ending though! Loved the stories of all the side characters in the book who made this novel a much more fun and a wonderful read. Reading how their lives turned out in the end made the book a solid hit with me!

Likes: All the cast members in this book were wonderful. The whole time I was reading this book, I was imagining it as a movie which would generate some serious laughter from the audience. Ms Crusie never ever fails to amuse!

Dislikes: None for me with this book!

Recommended for: Those who love romantic comedies, those who would love a story where the chubby girl meets the hot hunk and they fall in love, and for those who love novels by Ms Crusie. You cannot go wrong with this one!

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | BooksOnBoard

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by mvbookreviewer

Short & Sweet Review: Blackwolf’s Redemption by Sandra Marton

Format: E-book
Read with: Amazon Kindle & Microsoft Reader
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Harlequin Presents, #2917
Publisher: Harlequin
Hero: Jesse Blackwolf
Heroine: Sienna Cummings
Sensuality: 3
Date of Publication: May 1, 2010
Started On: April 5, 2010
Finished On: April 7, 2010

Storyline: The story takes place in Montana US.  Sienna Cummings, an anthropologist on her way to earning her PHD visits the Blackwolf Canyon to watch the summer solstice and ends up traveling back in time to 1975, when Jesse Blackwolf was alive and owned the land. Jesse grew up to the tales of superstition that surrounds the Blackwolf Canyon though he doesn’t believe in such nonsense any longer. So he too is in time to view the summer solstice when with a round of green thunder, Sienna is hurtled into his life to forever change it.

The first meet: Sienna and Jesse first meet on top of the ledge of the Blackwolf Canyon when Sienna is hurtled back in time while watching the summer solstice.

Time period: The beginning and end of the story takes place in 2010 whilst the major part of the story takes place in the year 1975. Sienna a woman from the present where men and women have equal rights is hurtled into a time period when women were very much treated as the inferior sex, beings that aren’t able to think for themselves or capable of having any opinions for themselves. This irks Sienna more than anything and brings out the fiery spirit in her many a time in the novel.

Awareness between the two characters: This book has one of the best sexual tension sizzling thing going on between the hero and heroine. Ms. Marton always knows how to stir up the reader by creating screaming tension between two characters which is proved by this latest novel by her. Jesse though a loner and would prefer to remain that way has no protection against the intense attraction that sizzles between him and Sienna from the first contact. Hardened by the Vietnam war, with an ex-wife who left him because he is too cold and withdrawn, Jesse is not looking for anything to make his life complicated. Sienna is bewildered by what has happened much less by the passion that catches her unawares every time Jesse touches her or merely looks at her with smoldering heat in his eyes. (sigh!!)

The turning point: The point of no return for these two come when Jesse is unable to let Sienna leave and find her way back to wherever she came from.

How the relationship grows: Though Sienna and Jesse are both reluctant to start any sort of relationship between the two, when Jesse offers Sienna a job as his secretary until Sienna can get back on her own two feet, these two travel to San Fransisco on a business trip and it is there that these two finally succumb to the intense & fiery passion between the two and learn to love one another in the process.

Ending: The ending of the story was a  bit abrupt for me which is the case why this story got a B+ instead of an A-. I felt sort of cheated out when the story ended so abruptly without an epilogue even which would have made the story a much much better one!

Likes: The yummy Jesse Blackwolf. Makes for a truly dreamy hero. Made me wish the story were lengthier than it is.

Dislikes: During the first part of the novel Sienna acts like a total wacko at times growing hot one moment and icy cold the next which irked me. And oh, yes the very abrupt ending. Otherwise no dislikes.

Recommended for: Those who love Ms. Marton’s fiery hot stories. And anyone who just loves a good dose of passionate romance!

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

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by mvbookreviewer

Short & Sweet Review: Dark Torment by Karen Robards

Format: E-book
Read with: Amazon Kindle
Length: Novel
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Hero: Dominic Gallagher
Heroine: Sarah Markham
Sensuality: 3
Date of Publication: March 15, 2001
Started On: April 3, 2010
Finished On: April 5, 2010

I have been thinking about changing the format of my book reviews for quite sometime. So I think I will  give it a go with this review.

Storyline: This story takes place in Australia in the 1800’s, a time when convicts from Europe were shipped to Australia and made to work as slaves in the country. Dominic Gallagher is brought to Australia on such a ship to be sold to Sarah Markham’s father to work on his lands as a slave.

The first meet: Sarah and Dominic first meet on board the ship on which Dominic is brought to Australia. Sarah happens to walk onto the ship to fetch her father since her stepsister Liza was feeling poorly to hasten the journey back home and comes across Dominic been whipped within an inch of his life. Sarah puts a stop to this and pleads her father to buy him back onto their lands.

Time period: The time period in which the story takes place is such that convicts were treated as lepers and no association with them apart from them being put  to work was to take place. Due to the various ill treatments that these convicts suffer with different owners an uprising from the convicts take place during the time period of the story. One such convict who is on the run nearly manages to have his way with Sarah and its Dominic who rescues her from her fate, which makes them even in Dominic’s opinion.

Awareness between the two characters: Ms. Robards has done a splendid job in creating great vibes of attraction between the two. Dominic doesn’t understand why he is so attracted to bossy and prim Sarah who looks most of the time like a lad with her no nonsense looks and posture. And Sarah doesn’t understand why she suddenly feels the urge to look beautiful, wear pretty clothes and be in the vicinity of Dominic.

The turning point: The tremendous attraction between Sarah and Dominic comes to a conclusion on the night of Liza’s coming out party. Sarah gives her body and soul to Dominic that night. However as soon as the deed was done, the shame of having been with a convict returns with full force and Sarah rejects Dominic to the point that the air is fraught with tension whenever these two meet after wards. Then Dominic goes missing and Sarah thinks that he ran away but what actually happens make Dominic thinks that Sarah betrayed him.

How the relationship grows: Dominic kidnaps Sarah and it is during their journey in the hot wilderness that these two actually learn to love and trust one another, though none of it comes easy to either of them.

Ending: A happily ever after with an epilogue that shows life between Dominic and Sarah with a few good twists in the end. Loved the epilogue as I usually do.

Likes: The storyline is a bit different from your usual historical romances such that the hero doesn’t always have the upper hand by being filthy rich and being able to do whatever he pleases with his wealth and status.

Dislikes: None really. At the beginning I got a bit peeved at Sarah because she turns hot and cold with Dominic, but then thinking about the situation and the time period and how everything turns out in the end, it wasn’t much of a problem.

Recommended for: Readers who love Ms. Robard’s novels as well as those who love a good historical.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | BooksOnBoard

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by mvbookreviewer

Review: Heiress For Hire by Eric McCarthy

Format: E-book
Read with: Amazon Kindle & Microsoft Reader
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Cutterville, Ohio, Book 2
Publisher: Penguin Group
Hero: Danny Tucker
Heroine: Amanda Delmar
Sensuality: 3
Date of Publication: January 3, 2006
Started On: March 30, 2010
Finished On: April 1, 2010

Heiress for hire is the perfect chic lit read. A wealthy heiress who is forced to find where she fits in when her multi-millionaire father cuts her off and leaves her to fend for herself in the small town of Cutterville. Amanda has never worked for anything in her life. Born and bred to lead the life of the rich socialite she never thought that there would come a day when she would have to work for anything. But Amanda is not your usual rich socialite. She would rather die than beg people for anything and though she knows next to nothing about working she rushes headlong into working at the only saloon in town.

Things don’t work out exactly as she planned and before long she is fired from her job. A source of income comes quite unexpectedly from Danny Tucker, a farmer in Cutterville who has always gone out of his way to avoid her. Danny is shocked out of everything he has to find out that one night of lusty fumbling when he lost his virginity had resulted in a child who is now 8 years old. Danny would do anything to give Piper a good, stable home and the love that has so evidently been lacking in her life for the past 8 years. And the only person Piper seems to have taken a liking to is Amanda and though Danny would rather crawl into a hole than let Amanda know how much he is affected by her, Danny would do right by his child no matter what.

Danny comes to realize with time that Amanda is not the rich spoiled girl that she protrudes to be, but rather a woman who has been as lonely as he has been or for far longer if her pathetic childhood is anything to compare with his. These two polar opposites come together, though not with a bang and makes for quite a good read all round. An author worth giving a try!

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Kobo

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by mvbookreviewer

Review: Cruise Control by Sarah Mayberry

Format: E-book
Read with: Amazon Kindle
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: It’s All About Attitude, Book 3
Publisher: Harlequin
Hero: Marc Lewis
Heroine: Anna Jackson
Sensuality: 4
Date of Publication: May 1, 2006
Started On: March 27, 2010
Finished On: March 28, 2010

Unlike Harlequin Super Romance titles, Harlequin Blaze titles are all about fiery passion which inevitably results in love. Sarah Mayberry writes great Blaze romances and this title has all the essential ingredients to make a great story.

Anna is a woman on a mission. A survivor of breast cancer, she has made a list of things she wants to do before she leaves this world. Going through the various stages of cancer had taught her how short that life really was. So quitting her high profile lawyer job and starting up her own limousine driver business was one thing crossed off that list. And she had succeeded in getting herself made over that few of her friends from her days as a lawyer recognized her.

However the thing she wants to do the most is to invite more passion into her life and she has no clue whatsoever how to get that done. Having always been of the studious minded, Anna had never been one  to indulge frivolously in anything. All that changes in a minute when Marc steps into her limo.

A self made millionaire, Marc is on his way to obtaining a divorce from his wife of ten years. Tara cheating on him had left its mark and Marc was in no way inclined to start off another relationship no matter how much the driver of his hired limo seemed to be affecting his libido.

Both Marc and Anna have pretty straightforward views on what they want and do not need right now. But passion has a away of clouding up even the best laid plans and the best of intentions. And after two chance encounters that leave both of them wanting more, it is inevitable that Marc and Anna start off a no strings attached affair, one either of them could bring to a halt if necessary.

However they both find out just how wrong  they are about the way they feel about each other when the little rules that they had both promised to stick together seems all wrong for their relationship. Love eventually bites these two who are trying so hard not to get caught, and Anna freaks out never wanting put Marc through what her father had gone through when her mom had died of breast cancer.

Anna’s stubbornness nearly costs her everything, but finally these two get the happily ever after ending they both deserve. Making  things pretty interesting is the little side story of Anna’s brother Danny and his complicated issues dealing with who he is and his love life.

Great read as always by Ms. Mayberry.

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

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by mvbookreviewer

Review: Prince of Dreams by Lisa Kleypas

Format: Ebook
Read with: Amazon Kindle
Length: Novel
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: Stokehursts, Book 2
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Hero:  Prince Nikolas Angelovsky
Heroine: Emma Stokenhurst
Sensuality: 3
Date of Publication: August 1, 1995
Started On: March 24, 2010
Finished On: March 25, 2010

Though I read this book sometime last year, this story failed to make that great an impression on me back then. But after reading Midnight Angel by Ms. Kleypas where the story of Emma and Nikolas begins, I had the urge to go back and re-read this romance to see what I would make of it now. I have always held the notion that two characters that have a prior history between them always make a better romance and this story too had a deeper impact on me upon re-reading the story with the knowledge of prior acquaintances between Emma and Nikolas in mind.

Nikolas, a prince from Russia has been exiled from his country for treason. Having made his home in London for the past seven years or so, Nikolas has been biding his time for Emma to grow into womanhood so that he can claim her as his wife. Though Nikolas doesn’t really believe in love he can’t resist the pull that has him waiting for Emma all this time.

The Stokenhurst family has never fully forgiven Nikolas for what he put Tasia (the heroine from Midnight Angel, distant cousin to Nikolas) through. Tolerated at best at Emma’s home, though Tasia seems to have forgotten and forgiven Nikolas, Emma has had only brief episodes of contact with Nikolas until he actively starts to seek her out. Unknown to Emma, Nikolas chases off Adam, the only man in the eyes of Emma who has wanted her, a woman well on her way to becoming a spinster by the look of how things were going. Though Luke, Emma’s father doesn’t agree to a match between Adam and Emma, and Luke doesn’t have anything to do with Adam’s abrupt departure from Emma’s life, Emma blames Luke which drives a wedge between father and daughter for the first time in their lives.

Reading about Adam’s engagement to another woman is the final straw for Emma and Nikolas swoops in during this vulnerable moment of her life to play the knight in shining armor and win her hand in marriage. Though Luke vehemently opposes the match, Emma’s resolve to marry Nikolas is strengthened by this fact.

Though Nikolas acknowledges the burning need he has for his wife, he refuses to let her into his life in any other way. Scared to the pits of other dangerous emotions Emma seem to evoke in him, Nikolas decides to drive Emma away by being his most cruel self and goes as far as to sleep with another woman just to drive the wedge between them deeper.

However, with a twist of fate, Nikolas travels back in time to find that he was once capable of loving someone and learns that with Emma he has found his love once again. However proving that he was a different and changed man proves to be rather difficult after everything he has put Emma through.

Thoroughly enjoyed this romance the second time round. If any of you are planning on reading this novel, I recommend that you start with the first book of the series before moving onto this one. Makes the story more meaningful.

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

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by mvbookreviewer

Review: Midnight Angel by Lisa Kleypas

Format: Ebook
Read with: Amazon Kindle
Length: Novel
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: Stokehursts, Book 1
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Hero:  Lord Luke Stokehurst
Heroine: Lady Anastasia Ivanovna Kaptereva
Sensuality: 3
Date of Publication: January 1, 1995
Started On: March 23, 2010
Finished On: March 24, 2020

Another winner by Ms. Kleypas, this romance focuses on a heroine from Russia, a princess nevertheless that reminded me of the cartoon Anastasia that I adore so much. Princess Anastasia is on the run for her life, after being framed for the murder of her fiance’, a happenstance that Tasia has no recollection of whatsoever.

From childhood Tasia has been labelled as a witch because she could foresee certain elements of the future of people who were close to her. Now a woman of great beauty with a mysterious aura surrounding her, Tasia flees to England after escaping the death penalty by faking her own death.

Fate lands her eventually as the governess of Emma Stokenhurst, Lord Luke Stokenhurst’s daughter from his first marriage. Emma is an awkward girl in her teens, badly in need of female companionship and understanding of the subtle and the  not so subtle changes taking place within her as she moves onto womanhood.

From the start, Emma takes a strong liking towards Tasia towards which Luke has mixed feelings. Knowing that he wouldn’t allow Tasia to stay for more than a month in his household doesn’t make him any less immune to the tug of attraction that flares unwillingly between the two.

Luke has no room in his life for a wife. Having lost his childhood sweetheart and the only woman he has ever loved to a tragic death, and having his own scars from the tragedy to deal with, Luke is quite content with his mistress on one side and his daughter on the other front until Tasia comes along and knocks everything haywire in his life.

Its no surprise that ultimately these  two succumb to their attraction and Luke proposes to marry Tasia knowing the story of how Tasia might be a murderess. However that doesn’t stop Luke from professing to protect her from Prince Nikolas, brother of Tasia’s murdered fiance who has vowed to find Tasia and bring her to justice no matter what.

Ultimately Nikolas does find Tasia and takes her back to Russia where she is kept captive at his residence until the date on which she is to be hanged. Nikolas forces Tasia to remember what took place on the night of the murder and this unblocks Tasia’s memory so that she is no longer ridden with guilt over the murder knowing well enough who is responsible.

Luke follows Tasia and Nikolas to Russia and claims his wife once again. Through all this Ms. Kleypas keeps the romance and sensual encounters between Tasia and Luke going which makes this romance more worthwhile. Finishing this novel has made me want to read the Prince of Dreams, the story of Nikolas and Emma once again. Since their story begins in this novel, I think I might like their story better the second time round.

Most probably will post a review for that story pretty soon.

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

[xrr rating=3.75/5]

Caliber Seal: GOOD READ!

by mvbookreviewer

Review: When Strangers Marry by Lisa Kleypas

Format: Paperback
Read with: Paperback
Length: Novel
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: Vallerands, Book 1
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Hero:  Maximilien Vallerand
Heroine: Lysette Kersaint
Sensuality: 3
Date of Publication: January 1, 1992
Started On: March 19, 2010
Finished On: March 23, 2010

Murder, mystery, romance and politics play a vital role in one of the first novels by Ms. Kleypas. This title was previously released as Only In Your Arms. However, Ms. Kleypas later gave this book a new title and re-wrote it a little bit and voila “When Strangers Marry” came about. Though this book seems to lack certain elements which makes Ms. Kleypas’s novels hard to put down, the story of Maximilien and Lysette nonetheless enchanted me till the end.

Lysette runs away from her step father who is trying to marry her off to someone she despises for the sake of the money that would bring. Lysette encounters Max’s twins Phillippe and Justin while trying to steal something belonging to the Vallerand’s  to make her escape. Bedraggled, dirty and exhausted more than she would admit to, all fight leaves her when Max confronts her and finds the truth about her within a matter of minutes after meeting her. And it certainly helps that Max feels the sudden flare of attraction for Lysette and the fact that she was betrothed to the man who stole Max’s wife from right under his nose which makes the package Lysette presents more attractive.

With vengeance on his mind, Max sets out to seduce and marry Lysette. Labelled as the man who murdered his previous wife in a town where gossip and half-truths linger way too long, Max is surprised by the ultimate trust Lysette places in him. Inevitably Max finds himself less interested in the vengeance he set out to achieve, but rather embrace the second chance at love he has been given.

A story which could have been told better, but still managed to set my senses afire.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Kobo 

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by mvbookreviewer

Review: Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James

Format: E-book
Read with: Amazon Kindle
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Standalone
Sensuality: 2.9
Publisher: Penguin Group
Hero:  J. D. Jameson
Heroine: Payton Kendall
Date of Publication: March 3, 2009
Started On: March 9, 2010
Finished On: March 10, 2010

Finishing this book means that I have read through the list of available books by Ms. James and I would have to say that she is one helluva of a writer, one that I would definitely be on the look out for in the future. It’s too bad that she has published just only 3 novels. Now if there were like 15 more so titles to go through, I would indeed be a very happy bookworm for a couple of weeks.

Anyhow, I have identified that Ms. James likes to write romances that feature lawyers, that factor into the story their busy lives, how they juggle their careers, how stressful their lives actually are trying to become a partner of their firm and of course scenes of the courtroom drama makes it all a more worthwhile read. This book is in no way an exception to this rule.

Payton and Jameson have been working for the same law firm for the past 8 years, during which they have both worked their asses off foregoing everything just so that they would be able to make partner after the 8 year term is up. Never having a cordial relationship between them has boded well for them since they have never had to work together on anything as their branch of law took them in different directions most of the time.

However, fate works towards bringing these two together when a 20 million dollar legal case jumps into their firm’s lap and Payton and Jameson are both assigned to woo this client into hiring their firm for the job. Once this becomes a done deal, however Payton and Jameson both realize that somewhere along the way, the rules of making partner in their firm has been changed and that only one of them would come out as the winner.

All the bets are off when slight misconceptions of actions by both Payton and Jameson to one another brings out moments filled with hilarity that I couldn’t stop myself from laughing out loud several moments during the novel. Especially the part where Payton has her naked butt in the air in front of everyone at the court house and the hilarity that ensued is something any romantic comedy lover would definitely love to read.

As much antagonistic and distrustful these two are of one another, they both slowly come to realize that the facade of anger and animosity that they have put up around one another is just a defense mechanism against letting themselves recognize what they actually feel for one another.

Its a journey fraught with misunderstandings, hilarity, passion and sweet moments that definitely makes this book a worthwhile read.

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

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by mvbookreviewer

Review: Facing It by Linda Winfree

Format: E-book
Read with: Amazon Kindle
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Hearts of the South, Book 8
Sensuality: 3
Publisher: Samhain Publishing Ltd
Hero:  Deputy Chris Parker
Heroine: Ruthie Chason
Date of Publication: April 7, 2009
Started On: March 5, 2010
Finished On: March 7, 2010

This is the first book that I tried from Ms. Winfree and I would have to say she is pretty good at writing romantic suspense. I seem to have started from her last book of the Hearts of the South series. I loved the characters of this series, many of whom you encounter in this story as well.

The most striking thing about this novel is how Ms. Winfree juggled two equally beautiful blossoming romances in one novel. Unlike most authors if and when in a book there are two budding romances, one tends to take the center stage and the other romance would take the backstage and any issues if any between the couple would be resolved pretty quickly. However I was delighted that this wasn’t the case in this novel.

Facing it is the story of Chris, a man who has scars left over from being in domestically abusive relationship which had nearly cost him his life. Chris doesn’t handle women in his personal space well. However all of that changes when he offers to help his friend Tick Calvert, Ruthie’s brother and Chris’s boss in looking after Ruthie and her adorable three kids who need protection from Ruthie’s controlling husband.

Ruthie had tolerated being under Stephen’s thumb as long as she could. Finally it took its toll when she saw how his controlling attitude towards everything in their family lives had taken its toll on her three children, with whom any reader is bound to fall in love with.

Unknown to Ruthie and Stephen, Stephen has been under surveillance by the FBI for shady money laundering and this is where the delicious second romance comes in. Harrell Beecham and Jennifer are the agents that have been occupying the house across from the Chason’s and keeping an eye on the family’s activities for the past year, pretending to be a married couple. The pretending stuff has been playing havoc on both Harrell and Jennifer, so much that the simmering attraction between them breaks out onto the surface when Jennifer decides to take matters into her own hands and confront Harrell with it.

Harrell is leery of commitment from growing up with a mother who has 8 failed marriages under her belt. Reluctant in believing that any relationship that Harrell is part of could end up in any other way except in disaster, Harrell doesn’t want to give into the intense feelings that Jennifer tends to rouse in him. However in Jennifer, Harrell has met his match for stubbornness and ultimately Harrell has no choice but to give in to the need that has been hounding him ever since they became partners. However the road towards ultimate happiness between these two characters isn’t a smooth one either. I loved how Ms. Winfree gave time for each of her characters to work through their issues so that the ending was sweeter and better for the reader.

Meanwhile, Chris and Ruthie slowly find one another as well. Ruthie having witnessed how cruel a controlling man in her life could be, is still willing to give Chris with his gentle yet skittish nature the chance to get to know her and ultimately give into the hot attraction that flares between these two and catches both of them unawares. Chris has his own frightening issues to work out and Ruthie remains patient throughout all this, which made me really admire Ruthie as a heroine, which is a rare thing for me.

I liked the fact that Ms. Winfree didn’t try to garner the reader’s sympathy for Ruthie by going on and on about how Stephen’s abusive behavior had shattered Ruthie and so on, but gave Ruthie a fighting chance to become a beautiful and strong character that any reader would empathize and root for.

Great book, I might give a go at reading the other books in the series some other time.

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

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