Book Reviews

8/25/2014

The Love Programme

by Zanna MacKenzie

Ms. Mackenzie's novel The Love Programme starts out with a bit of bang and keeps on going. 

Imagine, going to a wedding only to have the bridegroom protest to his own ceremony on the grounds of still being in love with you? Only problem is, he's not anywhere close to your Mr. Perfect.  

Yes, that's exactly how this book begins, and the MC, Lucy escapes to Scotland and ends up on a reality show, The Love Programme, where participants go through staged dates set up to please the public audience. The story takes off from there, and is a great romantic read that carries the reader on Lucy's journey of learning what she's looking for. Ms. Mackenzie's descriptions were rich, dialogue fun and realistic, and the story line is fabulous. If you love clean reads, you want to get this one. 

My rating: 4.0 stars. 

8/18/2014

Her Best Match 

by Tamie Dearen 

What a great read!!!

Her Best Match was spunky, clean and fun from cover to cover. Ms. Dearen did a wonderful job bringing her characters to life.

I adored how Anne Best wasn't afraid to stand up for herself. Steven Gherring is a multi-millionaire who misses only one thing - someone to share his life with. The magnetism between these two is fabulous, and has you wondering throughout the story why in the world they can't see how perfect they would be together. In fact, every relationship in this book - between the two main characters, as well as Anne's children, Steven's family,  will have you smiling and cheering all the way through.

It's a feel great novel that will leave you with a smile on your face. 

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

6/9/2014

Something Missing

by Hazel Robinson

This is an emotional, cut to the quick, book. 

Word of Warning: I don't do spoilers, so I won't say too much about the story line in this or any of my reviews. It's more fun to read the book when you don't know how it's going to turn out, don't you think?

The book opens at the funeral of Susan's only living relative, her grandmother. Left with no other options, Child Protective Services comes to place her in the foster care system, which leaves her best friend, Max, heartbroken. Before they take her, he begs for her to run away from him, that he'll protect her. Of course, at such young ages, that's not what plays out, and chapter one leaves you heartbroken for two children - one who's future looks overwhelmingly scary, and another, who just wants his friend back.

Years later, Susan returns to her hometown, a woman who has survived the worst in a system that doesn't always rescue children. She suffers emotional scars that will take just the right person to help heal. It'll take Max. 

Susan and Max both have pasts they need to overcome, both individually and as a couple. Curve balls are a constant, and just when you think they might find happiness, something else happens to threaten all they are fighting for.

The one thing I did notice was the story did seem a bit rushed at times.

Something Missing is an emotional journey, and a good read. Since I do focus on clean romances, I do feel I have to mention that this is book is not completely clean - there is sex, though not overly graphic, and a fair amount of language, including the f-bomb. If those kind of things don't bother you, you definitely want to pick up this book. If they do, you might want to wait for my next review.

Congratulations to Hazel, for the emotional story she has created. My rating: 4 out of 5

5/13/2014

A Beastly Scandal

By Shereen Vedam 

A different twist on a classic story. 

Word of Warning: I don't do spoilers, so I won't say too much about the story line in this or any of my reviews. It's more fun to read the book when you don't know how it's going to turn out, don't you think?

A Beastly Scandal is a Victorian type romance and stars Belle, a strong, independent woman who doesn't quite fit in the era she lives in. She also has the ability of seeing ghosts and visions, and it's this ability that brings her to Lord Rufus' house. His mother, Lady Terrance is being haunted by a ghost her son doesn't believe exists, and requests Belle use her ability to rid the house of the ghost. Lord Rufus, while attracted to the beautiful Belle, forbids her to be at the house, a warning Belle flatly ignores. 

This is a fun read, and a nice departure from the typical Beauty and the Beast tales (which I am a fan of). Rufus, though not the typical man/beast monster we are accustomed to in these tales, is nonetheless a beast of a man who is rude, unkind. The paranormal part of the story 

is such a cool twist with a neat blend of ghosts and mystery. There were parts of the story that seemed a bit slow to me, but quickly recovered.

Do I recommend it? Definitely. 4 out of 5 stars for me. 

4/28/2014

Someone Always Loved You 

By Brooke Williams

Wow! What a great read with ton of emotion.

Word of Warning: I don't do spoilers, so I won't say too much about the storyline in this or any of my reviews. It's more fun to read the book when you don't know how it's going to turn out, don't you think?

So Someone Always Loved You is the story of Jordan and Corey James. And within just the first couple pages, the story pulls at your heart, as it opens with Jordan rushing to the hospital to get to her husband, Corey, who just suffered a massive heart attack. Not only is she scared to death she's not going to make it to him in time, but she has something that she has to tell him, something she wants him to know before he dies. The taxi gets her to the hospital, and as she's about the race across the street to get inside, she fails to look, and steps out in front of an ambulance and is hit. Yes, that's how the story opens guys. I know, right?

Someone Always Loved You is a story about the James' life together, along with Jay - who drove the ambulance and his wife, and one more person I won't mention simply because I'm afraid it will give away some of the story. Ultimately, it is the story of love and second chances, although not in a way you may think. 

I totally recommend Someone Always Loved You. It does have a lot of flashbacks in the way of memories for all of the characters, so you have to pay attention as you read to stay on track with what is happening and when. That said, the author executes this part of the book beautifully, and in the end, it will all make sense as to why it was a necessary part of writing the story. If you have a family, be sure to read with a box of tissues, you need them. 

My rating: 4.5 stars

4/21/2014

My first book review is not of a Clean Romance, wouldn't you know? HA! But it is of a really good book.

Fracture Steel by TJ Loveless

My Review

Fractured Steel is a heart wrenching read through one woman's journey through not only horrendous situations, but also the process of healing. 

It is the story of Karen, horse lover and Iraq war soldier who has retreated to her out of the way ranch to heal from the atrocities of war. But it's that very seclusion that leaves her vulnerable to a crew of men intent on not only kidnapping the beloved championship horse Five Alarm, but Karen as well, since she is the only one who can manage the temperamental stallion. These men torture both Karen and Five physically and mentally, and the lengths of betrayal leave not only Karen, but the reader guessing who can be trusted.

This book will leave your emotions feeling raw, all the while making it impossible to put the book down in hopes that Karen and Five can not only survive, but find peace at the end.

Now this book does have some language and violence in it, so if that kind of thing offends you, it may not be the best read. But what I can tell you is that if you don't read this book, you will be missing out on something truly awesome. 

My rating: 5 stars