Romance Friday Novella style x3

Emily Allard-Smith enjoys running her tiny bed and breakfast in quiet Bluebonnet, Texas. The only problem? It’s haunted, and she’s got no one to call when things go bump in the night.

Enter Jericho Lozada. He’s tall, sexy, mohawked, and good with his hands. He’s also not scared of Em’s ghost. And just when Em decides that she needs a man in her life with lots and lots of tattoos…her ex shows up again.

Now Emily has to figure out if she wants to keep a hold on the ghosts of her past…or look into a future with Jericho. But does Jericho even want a future with her?

This novella contains a Harley, a hero with a mohawk, and not a single paranormal event. Promise!

My thoughts:

This book was fun, cute and had some smexy times too :D What  I am saying is that this novella, as it was only 60 pages, still gave me everything I needed.

A nice heroine, a cool hero. A haunted house! or? They meet, they fall for each other, there is passion and then love.

I'd like to read more of these Bluebonnet stories

cover

cute

ebook, 71 pages
Published September 1st 2014 by Smashwords
Bluebonnet #4.5
Contemporary romance
Own

Years ago, Rolling Stone magazine dubbed the nine collective children of the most famous band in the world “Rock Royalty.” Now all grown up, the princes and princesses are coming back to L.A.’s Laurel Canyon to discover if love can be found among the ruins of a childhood steeped in sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll.

One touch will start a fire…

World-weary band tour manager Ren Colson leaves his London business behind for a stay in Southern California, never expecting to wake up beside Cilla Maddox. Cilla Maddox—who in the years since their last meeting has turned sexy as hell. But she deserves more than a man hardened by long nights, dark roads, and too many faceless women.

One night will change her world…

Cilla Maddox not once imagined she’d see the bad boy of her dreams again. But then he’s sharing her air, her home, her bed. Though he claims he has no heart, she wants it to be hers. Can she convince him that the flames that leap between them might signify forever?

My thoughts:

A novella, my copy had 160 pages. So it was short, but it worked.

Cilla and Ren are not siblings, but grew up at the same place. Their fathers are rockstars, asshole rockstars who just left their kids at the ranch. And there were lots of kids. So they both have issues.

Cilla is frigid and asks Ren to help. Ok so I get why there had to be a lot of smexing ;) But eh, for a novella like this it felt like it was too much. They just smexed around and suddenly after no time at all they were in love and fighting it. So it was good, just...I am a smex scene skimmer these days.

So if you want a passionate couple that are too headstrong to realise that they are in love then read this one.

Cover

meh

Kindle Edition, 228 pages
Published July 17th 2014 by Christie Ridgway (first published January 1st 2014)
Rock Royalty #1
Contemporary romance
Own

In high school Sarah fell for her best friend’s older brother—one of the sexy, Scottish McLaughlin boys. But a painful betrayal showed her she’d been a fool to give her heart to a bad boy. At least it made it easier to leave him and move halfway around the world when her Navy dad got stationed in Japan.

Eleven years later, the death of her grandmother has forced Sarah back to Whidbey Island for a month. It’s the length of time she must stay in her inherited house before she’s allowed to sell it, take the money and run. But when she sees Ian, bad as ever and still looking like sin on a stick, she can’t keep her mouth from watering.

One look at Sarah stirs up the regret lingering in Ian’s heart—and never-forgotten desire lingering in his body. He should walk away, especially since divorced single mothers aren’t his style. But when she starts showing up at his family’s pub, he can’t resist a little casual seduction for old time’s sake.

One thing quickly becomes clear, though. The heat between them is causing an avalanche of secrets and betrayal and nothing will ever be the same.

Product Warnings

A bad-boy hero who’s good with his hands, a heroine who’s trying to be good. Contains liberal consumption of Scotch whisky, a Highland Games competition, men in kilts wielding large poles, and a potential Sarah McLaughlin of the non-musical kind.

My thoughts:

She sure manages a lot in under 200 pages. But it works, most of the time. I think the only neg thing was that one thing did not get a conclusion. A certain old friend who showed up, showed up again, and then it was done?

Ok, back to the beginning.

Sarah shows up to settle her grandma's affairs. She meet up with her old BFF, and well look at that, she also meets her old BF. The one that got away. The one she is so mad at, and mad about.

Ian is a sexy bad boy Scot. He always loved her, and could not forget her. So duh, of course they can't stay away from each other.

They meet, argue, lust, there are secrets, revelations and a HEA. Cute, I'd read more.

Cover

Cute

ebook, 213 pages
Published June 11th 2013 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
The McLaughlins #1
Contemporary romance
Own

Review: Crush on You - Christie Ridgway

The Baci sisters are on a mission to save the winery that's been in their family for generations-by transforming it into the perfect wedding destination. If only Alessandra Baci-affectionately known as the "Nun of Napa"-didn't need the help of tempting neighbor and business rival Penn Bennett.

My thoughts:

I wanna make this short, I am so tired today for some reason.

Right, so I read book 2 first I think, then book 3 and at last book 1. Don't say anything ;)

I wanted to read about Alessandra since day 1. The Nun of Napa. She was sweet and kind. In a way there was not anything special about her. Except for that her husband to be died 15 min before their wedding and the whole town has tip toed around her ever since. Mourning is one thing, but being the living memory of him and no men looking at her is another thing. As I got to know her, I felt sorry for her.

Penn is a bit full of him at first, I wanted to smack him over the head (yes I do love to do that ;). Quite a few times actually. Truth be told, I never truly warmed up to him. I did not feel all gaga over him.

I did rush the end a bit as it took a 3 days to finish the book (just not enough time). I did not like it as much as the other books. And I think that if I had read this one first I would not have gone for the rest. Still it was good, just not special.

Conclusion
I liked it, but it could have been better.

Cover 

Cute

Paperback, 304 pages
Published June 1st 2010 by Berkley
Three Kisses #1
Contemporary romance
Own

Book review: Can't hurry love - Christie Ridgway

Series: Three Kisses 3
Genre: Contemporary romance
Pages: 320
Published: July 5th 2011 Berkley

Liam Bennett staked his claim to Tanti Baci after stepping in to help the Baci sisters save their family legacy. But Giuliana Baci doubts his motives. They've been at odds since the hot summer long ago that ended in heartache. With the fate of the winery on the line, the former lovers need to get a handle on their barely leashed hostilities-and the attraction that still draws them toward each other.

 

My thoughts:

This is the third and final book about the 3 Baci Sisters from Napa Valley. It can easily be read as a stand alone (though I did read book 2 but I have not read book 1 yet.)

Giuliana "Jules" Baci fell in love when she was young, but their love story came to a halt and they have not been civil to each other for ten years. Why they broke up is a mystery to everyone else and to the reader. Back to the characters, Jules is the mother hen for her two younger sisters, and Liam is still in her life as he owns a share of the winery and his half-brother is married to her sister.  These two sure can not get along and I did wonder what on earth made them like that, but little by little we understand what happened that fateful summer so long ago.

Jules has a lot on her plate. She is a strong woman but at the same time there is sadness over her cos of the things she has lost. While Liam also is portrayed as strong and the one who is doing the chasing. He wants her or just wants her out of his system. I do like a good lovers reunited story and these two clearly love each other and always have. But then there is that summer....

There is also other things going on. What will happen to the winery? And a slowly building romance between Kohl who works at the winery and Grace who also works there. I liked this story because they both had big emotional scars. Grace had been abused and Kohl was traumatized from the war.

Conclusion:

A lovely romance about lovers who find their way back to each other, and at the same time we get a second lovestory playing in the background. It was very enjoyable and sweet.

Rating:

Sweet summer read

Cover

Meh

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I am over at Alternative read today with a guestreview of Star of the Morning by Lynn Kurland

From the USA Today bestselling author comes the first in a magical romantic fantasy trilogy.

Darkness covers the north, since the black mage has begun his assault on the kingdom of Neroche. Legend has it that only the two magical swords held by Neroche's king can defeat the mage. Now the fate of the Nine Kingdoms rests in the hands of a woman destined to wield one of those blades. In this land of dragons and mages, warrior maids and magical swords, nothing is as it seems. And Morgan will find that the magic in her blood brings her troubles she cannot face with a sword-and a love more powerful than she has ever imagined

 

 

 

Come say hi :D

Review: Then He Kissed Me - Christie Ridgway

Three Kisses, book 2

Genre: Contemporary romance
Pages: 304
Published: January 4th 2011 Berkley

The three Baci sisters are on a mission to save the family winery by transforming it into a wedding destination. When Stevie Baci playfully names her own side business Napa Princess Limousine, she never dreams she'll be driving a real prince around Napa Valley.

Jacques Parini, aka "Jack", is looking to expand his family's wine interests. But after kissing Stevie, he finds this California girl in a black chauffeur's hat does more than drive him crazy.

Plot:

Stevie gets roped into arranging her ex fiancé's wedding to his princess bride. She is not too happy about that, and less happy is she about Prince Jack who seems to be everywhere she is.

My thoughts:

I truly must read more contemporary romance, it is so refreshing, and real, and still fairytale love, awww.

This is the second book, but I jumped right in and missed nothing. In the last book the first Baci sister found true love, and in this one it is time for Stevie, the tomboy to find her love. She always played with boys, and she is not seen as the most feminine person around, she also hides her feeling. But I liked her, she was perfect as she was, and behind that mask she hid a lot. Then there is the playboy prince from Europe, oh every woman should get to kiss a prince, so of course I liked him. Especially when they both start to realise how strong the attraction truly is between them.

There is also the sidestory with princess Roxanne and her groom, Emmerson, or shall we say Stevie's ex. What I did not like is how fast that happened, and truth be told, I never did see the attraction there between them. On the other hand I did not care, if it is there it is, if not then it is not.  Dunno of I liked her either. Anyway I was more focused on the main couple and not these two getting ready for their wedding. There was also some drama with Stevie's older sister, and that looks to be a good third book.

They are hiding a lot of feelings in this book. Stevie from way back, and Jack is still dealing with a kidnapping that happened when he was younger. It is not a whirlwind romance, there is lust, doubt about the lust, and exploring the lust.

Final thoughts and recommendation.

Oh, yes I wanna give this one a 4, I am so contemporary romance starved. It was so wonderful to read about real people in my own era. And I am such a sucker for a woman who falls for a prince, I always loved that scenario. The book was fun, romantic, and with a nice feeling all the way through. It also made me wonder about the next book, and made me wanting to read it. Because I liked her style.

Reason for reading:

He is a prince ;)

Cover:

Not perfect, but still lovely, and he is making a heart with his hands, awwww.