Review: It takes two to tangle - Theresa Romain

Henry Middlebrook is back from fighting Napoleon, ready to re-enter London society where he left it. Wounded and battle weary, he decides that the right wife is all he needs. Selecting the most desirable lady in the ton, Henry turns to her best friend and companion to help him with his suit…

Young and beautiful, war widow Frances Whittier is no stranger to social intrigue. She finds Henry Middlebrook courageous and manly, unlike the foppish aristocrats she is used to, and is inspired to exercise her considerable wit on his behalf. But she may be too clever for her own good, and Frances discovers that she has set in motion a complicated train of events that’s only going to break her own heart.

　

My thoughts:

I am not a huge fan of the "in love with the heroine's best friend plot", but, yes it worked and I will tell you why.

1. First Henry was never in love. His brother and sister-in-law told him that she would be a good wife and that he should marry.

2. Frances makes a BIG mistake so she really has herself to blame when Henry thinks Caroline likes him.

3. When he gets to know Frannie he starts to like her.

4. Frannie already likes him, and cos of the Mistake she makes it all worse.

5. This book has a HEA so we all know it will end well.

There you have it, in 5 points why the plot worked for me.

In other news, I wonder who will be the next hero or heroine. I want Caroline to get a HEA. And I want a story where an old friend of Henry's gets his HEA. I do love when a book has interesting side characters you want more of.

Conclusion:

A cute romance where mistakes are made but love is found.

 

Cover

Nice

　

　

Mass Market Paperback, 352 pages

Published September 3rd 2013 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

The Matchmaker Trilogy #1

Historical romance

From the Publisher for an honest review

Review: Bad Nights - Rebecca York

Private operative and former Navy SEAL Jack Brandt barely escaped a disastrous undercover

Since her husband's death, Morgan Rains has only been going through the motions. She didn't think anything could shock her--until she finds a gorgeous man stumbling naked and injured through the woods behind her house. He's mysterious, intimidating--and undeniably compelling.

Thrown together into a pressure cooker of danger and intrigue, Jack and Morgan are finding in each other a reason to live--if they can survive the assignment, thanks to the most intriguing woman he's ever met. When his enemies track him to her doorstep, he'll do anything to protect Morgan from the danger closing in on them both...

My thoughts:

 This book has lots of running and suspense. But then that makes sense since it's romantic suspense ;)

The book starts when Morgan finds a nekkid man outside in the rain. She is nice and takes him inside. Now she is careful too, I mean he is a weird nekkid man. She has compassion and common sense.

The naked man is Jack. He was working undercover and was found out. Ex navy seal, tough guy, good guy. Together are they, well there is suspense so you can understand that it get intense (for I reason I wont say.) At the same time there are some feelings slowly growing (well slow and slow, but thinking how much they go through I will say slow.) But she is a widow and mourns, and he is the tough guy whose work is not safe.

There were a few parts that were a bit so and so, but overall they did not bother me too much.

Oh and the evil guy was a total creep.

Conclusion:

Romance, suspense, danger!

 

Cover

Eh

 

Paperback, 352 pages

Published September 3rd 2013 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

Romantic Suspense

From the Publisher, for an honest review

Author Interview and Giveaway: Victoria Roberts - To Wed a Wicked Highlander

Today I am interviewing Victoria Roberts and giving away her new book.

 

Welcome!

 

1. Tell me 3 strange things about yourself...

First, thank you so much for having me here today.

Three strange things, huh? Even though I write Scottish historical romance, I’m a big fan of paranormal, urban fantasy, etc. I love vampires and not the Twilight kind. I’m a huge KISS fan and have a custom Ace Frehley Les Paul guitar. I’m obsessed with anything Scotland and do not have a single drop of Scottish blood.

Is that strange enough?     

 

2. Your new book is called To Wed a Wicked Highlander, could you tell us a little about it?

I think the back cover blurb says it best. 

She always wanted to be one of the boys...
Sybella would do anything to prove she's just as valuable to the MacKenzie clan as her brother is. She'd go on any hunt, take any dare. But her father has a different sort of mission in mind: marriage. It's simple, he explains. All she has to do is marry Alexander MacDonell and report back on his family's secrets. It will be easy, he says, as long as she doesn't do anything foolish...like fall in love.
Until she got a man.
As laird of the MacDonells, Alex has a duty to produce an heir. It's a duty he won't mind with the lovely Ella as his wife―even if she is one of the dreaded MacKenzies. He's wooed and won many ladies, but Ella is a challenge like no other. He can tell she's holding something back. But not for long. Because inch by inch, he plans to expose everything she's been hiding and claim the ultimate prize: her heart.

 

3. What was the inspiration behind this book?

Alexander MacDonell appeared in my debut novel, Temptation in a Kilt. He was Rosalia’s cousin from Glengarry. The man wanted to make his father so proud in the first book that I knew Alex had to have his own tale told.

 

4. Will there be more books in this series?

That’s the question of the hour. I’m currently working on a new series called Royal Rebellion. My Highland Spy is the first book and will be released fall 2014. Readers have been asking me to continue with the Bad Boys, particularly wanting James and Colin’s story. I’m not ruling anything out. Who knows what the future holds?

 

5. Tell us a few juicy details about Alexander McDonnell?

He’s verra handsome, verra proud, and he’s not too happy when he finds out his wife is keeping something from him.

 

6. A few short ones:
The Hottest Scot is: Gerard Butler
Most beautiful place in Scotland is: Highlands
I love Highlanders because… What’s nae to love?

 

Thanks!!!

Thanks for having me today.

 

Giveaway

Where is your favorite place to travel?

Sourcebooks will give away one copy of To Wed a Wicked Highlander to a lucky commenter. (US and Canada only, please)

 Ends Sep14

 

Praise for To Wed a Wicked Highlander:
Reviewer Top Pick
“Victoria Roberts knocked it outta the ballpark with this one!!! It is Highland romance at its best, loaded with likable characters, and an engaging plot with lots of angst and heartache that put a few tears in this reader’s eye. It was so good that I couldn’t put it down.”
―Night Owl Reviews

Reviewer Top Pick

“Roberts has created the baddest boy of the Highlands for her third in her series. This action-packed romance has everything Roberts’ fans adore: a strong heroine who meets her match in a to-die-for hero, deception, betrayal, love and redemption. To Wed a Wicked Highlander has all the elements that make readers sigh with pleasure.”

―RT Book Reviews

 

About Victoria Roberts:
Victoria Roberts writes Scottish historical romances about kilted heroes and warriors from the past. She was named by RT Book Reviews as "one of the most promising debut authors across the genres" and was also a 2012 Reviewers Choice nominee for Best First Historical for Temptation in a Kilt.
X Marks the Scot and To Wed a Wicked Highlander (Bad Boys of the Highlands #2 and #3) were reviewer TOP PICKS, and the first of Victoria’s new Royal Rebellion series is scheduled for release fall 2014. 

 

Represented by Jill Marsal of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, Victoria is a member of Romance Writers of America®, Celtic Hearts Romance Writers, several local chapters, as well as a contributing author to the online magazine Celtic Guide.

 

Victoria lives in western Pennsylvania with her husband of twenty years and their two beautiful children—not to mention one spoiled dog. When she is not plotting her next Scottish romp, she enjoys reading, nature, and antiques. She also drags her clan to every Scottish festival under the sun.

Purchase/Links:
Sourcebooks:
Amazon: 
Barnes and Noble:
Website: www.victoriarobertsauthor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/victoria.roberts.395
Celtic Guide: www.thecelticguide.com

Mishel Reviews: Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Release Date: May 2007 (First Published May 2006)

Publisher: Algonquin Books

Pages: 369 (Kindle Edition)

Author Site: http://saragruen.com/

My Rating: 4.75/5

Source: Amazon Borrowed

Cover: Eh – It’s alright. Not horrible, but it could have had some more added to it for some spunk.

As a young man, Jacob Jankowski was tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. It was the early part of the great Depression, and for Jacob, now ninety, the circus world he remembers was both his salvation and a living hell. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie.

It was there that he met Marlena, the beautiful equestrian star married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. And he met Rosie, an untrainable elephant who was the great gray hope for this third-rate traveling show. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and, ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.

 Review:

I’d like to think one day, when I have nothing else to do but read until my heart’s content (which is probably impossible to do btw) I will re-read every book that has hit my favorites list. Honestly though with all the newly discovered titles, authors, backlists, series, etc I fear I’ll never get to revisit my beloveds anytime soon. But when (and if) that day comes, Water for Elephants will be on that list!

I’ve never really been a big circus fan – reading about them or attending them, but I liked the atmosphere of circus life of the 1930s. It is both beautiful and gritty in detail. After reading this I must read more Great Depression era books. I can’t imagine how hard it was to live in that time period and I find it fascinating and frightening.

Bouncing between young and old Jacob’s POV was actually a great way to read the novel. I felt as if I was re-living Jacob’s memories as he did, rather than being told a story.  Jacob is utterly honest and humble as a young man and it’s hard not to like his character. Harsh reality is thrust upon him after he tragically loses his parents and is forced to find a way to survive without money or family. Normal life is hard but living life under the famous Benzini Brothers’ big top is even harder. Despite elderly Jacob being extremely (and understandably) cranky (I probably wouldn’t want to be around him – family or not) Gruen does a spectacular job portraying his life and state of mind at the assisted living facility.

Gruen actually does a spectacular job at a lot of things. She delivers a cast of characters that become just as important to me as Jacob, Marlena, and even Rosie, the larger-than-life elephant that is supposed to save the Benzini Brothers show from biting the dust. The characters are really the hands-down winner for me in this story. But it certainly was coupled with some amazing story-telling.

I think I didn’t give this one a solid 5 stars because the ending didn’t quite sit well with me. While I’m glad of the outcome for Jacob I felt the HEA was sort of – slapped on, for lack of a better term. Kind of like “Come on, let’s hurry and wrap it up here” ending…if that makes sense. It’s happy (which made me happy; I happen to really like Jacob). Maybe a little too convenient for my tastes though. However, I have a hunch that if the ending were any different I’d still have a problem with it. Maybe I just didn’t want Jacob’s story to end *shrugs* …Definitely a good thing about a book, if you ask me!

As a side note I have not seen the movie adaptation but I want to. Nothing could really ruin the story for me but I’d hope the movie did some sort of justice to the book.