A Viscount's Proposal (The Regency Spies of London Book 2) by Melanie Dickerson

A Viscount's Proposal (The Regency Spies of London Book 2)
by Melanie Dickerson
Length: 290 pages
File Size: 3480 KB
ASIN: B01L1CEZ8I
Pub Date: February 7, 2017
by Waterfall Press
Current ebook price: $4.99
Source: Kindle Unlimited

Synopsis (from Goodreads):
Leorah Langdon has no patience for Regency society’s shallow hypocrisy and unnecessary rules, especially for women. She’s determined to defy convention by marrying for grand passion instead of settling for a loveless union like her parents—or wedding a stuffy, pompous gentleman like Edward, the Viscount Withinghall. But when a chance meeting in the countryside leads to Leorah and Withinghall being discovered in his overturned carriage—alone and after dark—the ensuing gossip may force them together.

Withinghall has his reasons for clinging to propriety; his father perished in a duel with his mistress’s husband, and Edward must avoid scandal himself if he wants to become prime minister. He certainly has no time for a reckless hoyden like Miss Langdon. But soon the two discover that Withinghall’s coach “accident” was no such thing: the vehicle was sabotaged.

Can the culprit be brought to justice? Strong-willed Leorah and duty-driven Withinghall will have to work together if they have any hope of saving her reputation, his political career—and his life.

My Thoughts:

I have been a fan of Melanie Dickerson for a while now. I have read almost all of her medieval fairy tale retellings and was excited to find that she had written a Regency. Actually two; as this is book two, I can't wait to read book one! (It's no secret that I love a good Regency romance, I may be slightly obsessed with them, maybe...)  

The story has a similar story line to Pride and Prejudice (of which I am a big fan). Our hero and heroine meet and clash from day one. Leorah is determined to dislike the stuffy viscount; Edward couldn't imagine any positive traits in the flighty miss Langdon. However, circumstances throw the two together often, and even place them in a compromising situation. They begin to see beyond the surface and realize that they may have been wrong about each other.

The added mystery element helps keep the story moving forward, and the dialog is fantastic. This is a great, light Regency for fans of Historical Romance.

Rating: 4 and 1/2 stars

Content: Clean

*I borrowed this book as a part of my Kindle Unlimited Subscription, opinions are my own

Hearts in Peril: Destination Billionaire Romance by Kaylee Baldwin

Hearts in Peril: Destination Billionaire Romance
by Kaylee Baldwin
Length: 180 pages
ASIN: B06Y18547C
Pub Date: April 2, 2017
by Gelato Publishing LLC
Current ebook price: $2.99
Source: Kindle Unlimited

Synopsis (from Goodreads): The last person Dr. Riley Rogers wants to meet is her absentee boss, Mr. Bachelor of the Year Dean Matthias. If his notorious reputation is close to true, his visit will only disrupt the peace she’s found caring for people at the humanitarian clinic. With every word, Dean confirms that his head is as big as his billboard. It will take all the manners of her Midwestern upbringing to play nice to the man who controls her contract.

After losing nearly everything to his backstabbing ex-fiance, Dean needs the Worldwide Care project to be a success to prove to the Matthias Foundation that he's not the irresponsible mess the media portrays him as. But from the moment the beautiful, headstrong Riley Rogers appears in his life, nothing goes as planned.

When Dean’s presence, and the lure of his wealth, draws out a local terrorist group, Dean and Riley are forced to flee into the wild Filipino jungle. Sparks of attraction fly between them, but if they don’t learn to trust each other—and themselves—they’ll never survive long enough to know if it’s love.

My Thoughts:

This is one of those books I like to call a great date night book. It has something for just about everyone. Action, romance, and a little comedy (although not much, just an episode where Dean takes some painkillers...you've seen someone on painkillers, I'll let your imagination paint the picture for you.)

This Destination Billionaire Romance did feel a little heavier than some of the other books in this series (the characters do not always intersect in this series, it is just a group of authors that release at least one book a month with the same theme: a romance involving a rich young man in an exotic locale). Our hero is shot early on in the story and has to try to escape through the jungles of the Philippines, in an attempt to escape terrorists who are after his family's money.

The romance begins in the classic guy meets girl, guy acts like a jerk, girl hates guy, but then along the way things change. Forced to rely on one another, they both come to see that there is more than meets the eye about the other, and sparks begin to fly (helped a little at times by the aforementioned painkillers).

This ebook will take you for a romantic adventure through the Philippines, one where you are not sure how Dean and Riley are going to make it out alive.

A great, weekend read.

Rating: 4 stars

Content: Some violence (there are terrorists), no profanity or sexual content

*I borrowed this book as a part of my Kindle Unlimited Subscription, opinions are my own

Hearts On Fire: Park City Firefighter Romance by Christine Kersey

Hearts on Fire: Park City Firefighter Romance
by Christine Kersey
Length: 165 pages
File Size: 1048 KB
ASIN: B01N3BJVVH
Pub date: Feb 3, 2017
by Sapphire Creek Press
Current ebook price: $2.99
Source: Kindle Unlimited

Synopsis (from Goodreads): Arwen Butler has no time for love—she’s too busy focusing on her new career as a therapist. But when she joins a gym and hot firefighter Tyler Reed becomes her personal trainer, she may have to rethink her priorities.

After losing the woman he loves, Tyler is determined to protect his crushed heart by never falling in love again. Then he meets beautiful and confident Arwen. Though drawn to her, he desperately fights his attraction.

When Arwen is thrust into a deadly situation, Tyler will have to choose—overcome his resistance to love or keep his heart locked up for good.

My Thoughts:

This quick read romance has a great deal of depth for such a short book. Arwen and Tyler are both trying to avoid a relationship. Arwen is focused on her career and Tyler is determined to avoid the heartache of losing a loved one by pre-emptively cutting off all possibilities. As often is the case in life and literature, fate has a different plan for our heroes. However; just when you think a catalyst has been enough to send them into each other's arms for good, someone gets cold feet.

I really enjoyed the fact that the story continued beyond the first chance at happily ever after. Real life is full of challenges to relationships, and this story has the main characters pushed and pulled apart several times before the happily every after that we all desire comes to fruition.

Hearts on Fire is the second in a multi author series of books set in Park City, Utah. I truly enjoy what I have read so far in this series, and others that the authors have combined to create. Look for more reviews going forward from this and other series like them.

Rating: 4 stars

Content: There is some violence in one scene, but over all a clean read with no profanity or sexual content.

*I borrowed this book as a part of my Kindle Unlimited Subscription, opinions are my own.

South Carolina Brides by Vickie McDonough

South Carolina Brides: 3-in-1 Historical Collection (Romancing America)
by Vickie McDonough
length: 352 pages
file size: 729 KB
ASIN: B00HZ9JXAM
pub date: Feb 1, 2014
by Barbour Publishing
current ebook price: $6.39
source: Netgalley

Synopsis (from Netgalley)

Visit historic South Carolina where secrets disrupt the lives of three women. A cousin’s quest takes a drastic turn when she falls for the man she thought she despised. A young woman’s sheltered world crumbles after she finds a badly beaten stranger on a nearby plantation. And a sister’s heart is torn when the neighbor who killed her brother in a duel returns home a changed man. Between betrayal and lies, is there room for love?

My Thoughts

This was a very enjoyable collection of sweet, Christian romances. I am never sure what I will think when I grab a Christian romance. They have a tendency to get a bit preachy and Christian historicals can often feel forced. They often give historical characters religious views that are not consistent with those of the times in which they lived. This book did a little of this, but the stories were sweet and entertaining. I really like that they follow the same family through multiple generations on the same land.

Each story takes an unlikely couple and throws them together and love blossoms where it is least expected. Amidst the challenges of life during different eras in South Carolina history, these stories show that love can bloom and grow through it all.

Rating: 4 stars

Content: clean

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent 
by Veronica Roth
length: 501 pages
file size:706 KB
ASIN: B004CFA9RS
Pub Date: May 3, 2011
by Katherine Tegen Books (Harper Collins)
current ebook price: $4.66
source: won a paper copy 

Synopsis (from Goodreads)


In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, Tris also learns that her secret might help her save the ones she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

My Thoughts

I have had this book for over a year now and began reading it shortly after receiving it, but another book I had been wanting to read became available and I never returned to Divergent. At my son's soccer practice last week I was chatting with another mom about books and she mentioned that she had enjoyed Divergent and I remembered my copy sitting on my bookshelf at home, collecting dust. I grabbed my copy to read this weekend as we went out of town for a soccer tournament.

I tried reading some other ebooks first, but struggled to get into them, so I grabbed my copy of Divergent and began reading Friday morning. By Friday night I had read all 501 pages and couldn't wait to download a Kindle copy of book two! 

I don't always enjoy the dystopian genre. I have read a few and enjoyed some of them (like Hunger Games), but I have found that the genre has been a bit overdone lately so I usually find my self avoiding them. This one grabbed me pretty quickly and I was sucked in to the story. Tris is a bit of a classic character in the genre: a strong female lead that is not like the others around her. I like the romance angle added to the story (I am a sucker for a romance, a book without one is lacking, to my way of thinking). The faction concept is an interesting one. Breaking down human strengths and weaknesses and emphasizing one at the exclusion of others is intriguing.

All in all, an enjoyable book, that while long, is an easy, fairly quick read!

Rating: 4.5 stars

Content: Mostly clean, there is mention of young people consuming alcohol, as with most dystopian, there is definitely violence, and some mention of sex but no descriptive scenes.

Inn the Doghouse by Heather Horrocks

Inn the Doghouse (Who-Dun-Him Inn Cozy Mystery #2)
by Heather Horrocks
length: 242 pages
file size: 544 KB
ASIN: B00H3J4L4M
Pub Date: November 30, 2013
by Word Garden Press
current ebook price: $3.99
source: purchased

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

When single mom and mystery buff Vicki Butler pays a visit to her husband’s grave, she stumbles across the body of her twin sister Liz’s estranged husband—the same brother-in-law she argued with just yesterday.

Since Vicki is caught standing next to the body and her sister stands to inherit millions in her dead husband’s will, the twins suddenly find themselves “persons of interest.”

Will they identify the real murderer in time to avoid the slammer? Or are they about to learn firsthand just how many innocent people one doghouse can hold?

My Thoughts
This is a fun cozy mystery. It is the second in a series and I definitely recommend reading the first book (Snowed Inn which is available for only $.99 right now!) before starting this book. You would miss quite a bit of background information that plays into this story. Having said that, I do believe you could jump in here in book #2 and still catch yourself up as you read, it would simply make more sense quickly if you were already familiar with the characters.

There is a hint of romance mixed in (which always makes a cozy mystery better, in my opinion), which helps drive the story forward in places. There are additional side stories scattered throughout the book that will easily carry into additional books, so I definitely want to read the next in the series.

The characters are likeable (except those who aren't supposed to be) and have great quirks (I love a quirky character!). I especially love Liz and Vicky's grandmother. In the opening scene she is causing a disturbance at an anniversary party by loudly demonstrating her Karate skills (and that is just the beginning, this unique lady has her part to play in solving the whodunnit).

I highly recommend this and Heather's other fantastic ebooks. You can find them on her Amazon Page or read more on her website.

Content: Clean

Rating: 4 stars

A Good Lookin' Man by Marcia Lynn McClure

A Good-Lookin' Man
by Marcia Lynn McClure
length: 127 pages
file size: 492kb
ASIN: B00ENSM9Z4
Pub Date: August 19, 2013
by Distractions Ink
current ebook price: $7.95
source: purchased


Excerpt
However, in an instant—in less than a breath or the bat of an eyelid—the elusive pepper spray hiding somewhere in her purse was all but forgotten. For standing before her—right there before her, not three feet away—was the best-looking, most gorgeous, handsomest man she had ever seen in all her life!

“No, seriously,” she thought out loud with lingering bewilderment at how perfectly stunning the man standing before her was, wearing a worn pair of Levi’s, dusty cowboy boots, and a short-sleeved, plaid-print, snap-up shirt that hung open, revealing a bronzed, perfectly sculpted torso that was simply a mass of muscles. She was so unsettled by the man’s appearance that she wasn’t sure whether she was whispering aloud to herself or her car.

Either way, the man asked, “Beg your pardon, ma’am?”

“Oh…oh, nothing,” Fairlee said as she began rummaging in her purse again. But the man’s presence and appearance had entirely rattled her. As her awe-inspired brain obviously quit sending out instructions to the rest of her body, Fairlee felt her purse slip from her hands—watched in humiliated dismay as its contents tumbled out and scattered over the shoulder of the road

My Thoughts

This novella length romance from Marcia Lynn McClure is short and sweet...and fun. I used to be a bit hesitant about reading Marcia's modern tales as I am so attached to her cowboy tales ( I think I just love cowboy stories), but they have really grown on me and I now love them. This story is really cute and has a heroine that I totally identify with! (She tends to talk on and on and on without stopping for breath...I really have no idea why that seems so familiar...hmmm...ok friends, kindly giggle and don't say anything). The characters meet and realize they care for each other quickly, as do most of Marcia's characters. They don't really have a ton of obstacles in their way, but their story is enjoyable all the same. 

Don't forget the Author's Note and Snippits in this book, they will make you giggle.

Content: Clean, lots of kissing

Rating: 4.5 stars

A Cold Creek Christmas Surprise by RaeAnne Thayne

A Cold Creek Christmas Surprise
by RaeAnne Thayne
length: 224 pages
file size: 361 KB
ASIN: B00DPANPTA
Pub Date: Dec 1, 2013
by Harlequin Special Edition
current ebook price: $3.82
source: purchased


Synopsis (from Goodreads):

USA TODAY bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne brings readers back to the ranch for an emotional holiday visit with The Cowboys of Cold Creek!

Hardened rancher Ridge Bowman has long told himself he has no need for love—just work and his little girl are enough to get him through. But when his "cleaning lady," Sarah Whitmore, gets injured on his staircase, well, of course he has to invite her to spend the holidays with him. It's only the responsible thing to do.

Only, Sarah isn't really there to work on his house. She came bearing precious artwork belonging to Ridge's late mother, and possibly a secret that could devastate them both. But as Christmas draws closer, so does Ridge—and Sarah convinces herself that she will tell him what she knows as soon as the holiday is over. She might be the key to his past—if only he could be a part of her future…

My Thoughts:
I discovered the Author RaeAnne Thayne earlier this year and I am so happy that I did. After reading book two in the Cowboys of Cold Creek Series (which was and still is being offered free on Amazon, find it here ) I found myself seeking out more, and have since read each of the books in the Cold Creek series as well as her Hope's Crossing series. You can find out more about her books by visiting her website at RaeAnneThayne.com.

You could pick up this book and read it out of order, without knowing any of the history of the family, and still enjoy the book on it's own, but this is definitely a book that is enhanced with a bit of background knowledge.

I love the holiday season and the coziness of the setting (a nice, warm ranch house in the middle of a snow storm). The love story is sweet and develops quickly, but not without several bumps in the road. Thayne makes you believe that the characters really could fall in love in the course of a week. (And really, when it's right, it's right, who needs tons of time?)

This book is perfect for cozying up by a warm fire with a cup of cocoa on a cold winter's night.

Content: Some mostly mild language, and some mention of lovemaking but no descriptions and
there is no insinuations that the characters sleep together at any point in the book.

My rating: 4.5 stars

Emma, Mr. Knightley, and Chili-Slaw Dogs by Mary Jane Hathaway

Emma, Mr. Knightley, and Chili-Slaw Dogs
By Mary Jane Hathaway
length: 254 pages
file size: 447 KB
ASIN: B00D1I3GC2
Pub date: May 24, 2013
by Gumbo Books
Current eBook price: $0.99
Source: Amazon, I grabbed it while it was free



Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Caroline Ashley is a journalist on the rise at the Washington Post until the sudden death of her father brings her back to Thorny Hollow to care for her mentally fragile mother. The only respite from the eternal rotation of bridge club meetings and garden parties is her longtime friend, Brooks Elliott. A professor of journalism, Brooks is the voice of sanity and reason in the land of pink lemonade and triple layer coconut cakes. But when she meets a fascinating, charismatic young man on the cusp of a brand new industry, she ignores Brooks’ misgivings and throws herself into the project.

Brooks struggles to reconcile his parents’ very bitter marriage with his father’s devastating grief at the recent loss of his wife. Caroline is the only bright spot in the emotional wreckage of his family life. She’s a friend and he’s perfectly happy to keep her safely in that category. Marriage isn’t for men like Brooks and they both know it… until a handsome newcomer wins her heart. Brooks discovers Caroline is much more than a friend, and always has been, but is it too late to win her back?

My Thoughts

I have to admit upfront, I love anything Austen. I like to see how a modern author tries to spin these classic tales, even if they take liberties in doing so. This really testifies to the long lasting appeal of these classic romances; authors today trying to capture and personalize the characters Austen created two centuries ago. I do not expect complete fidelity to the original characters and actually enjoy when authors deviate and let the characters take on a life of their own.

This retelling, set in the South, does a great job of capturing the essence of Emma. I think the setting has to be my favorite part of the book. It is the perfect place to remake Austen's England. The characters are similar to their Austen counterparts, but have enough of their own appeal that they do not feel simply like a carbon copy. I don't believe that you actually have to have read the original to enjoy this book. The story is darling and an enjoyable weekend read. At its current low price of $0.99, you can't really go wrong. I also suggest reading the first book in the series, called Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits . Each book can be read as a stand alone, but characters from the first book make their way into the second.

My Rating: 4 Stars

Content: Clean

Love on Main Street: A Snow Creek Christmas

Love on Main Street: A Snow Creek Christmas
by Juliette Blackwell, Rachael Herron, Lisa Hughey, Ruby Laska, Cecilia Gray, Adrienne Belle and L.G.C. Smith
Length: 410 pages
File Size: 2350 KB
ISBN: 9781940785028
Pub Date: Oct 16, 2013
Current ebook price: $0.99 




Synopsis (from NetGalley)
  Where love begins on Main Street and ends happily ever after....

Christmas, the most magical season, is almost upon the small mountain town of Snow Creek. For seven couples, holiday wishes mean more than just gifts or parties. Can Snow Creek pull off its annual holiday miracle of bringing love to town?

Seven original romances from sweet to sinfully sexy by New York Times and bestselling authors as well as promising new talent.

QUEEN OF HEARTS BY JULIET BLACKWELL
Serafina Rogers is not an impulsive person, but lately something’s gotten into her. She walked away from warm San Diego, her scumbag ex-fiance, and her teaching job in order to come to Snow Creek and take over her deceased aunt’s witchy supply store. Unfortunately, her hunky cowboy landlord, Joe, has other plans for the space, which hasn’t turned a profit in years. Neither Joe nor Serafina believe in magic, much less romance. But when a Yule log is tossed on the fire, Serafina begins seeing things in her aunt’s deck of cards, and Joe’s niece goes missing…they might just have to change their minds.

THE HOLIDAY SHOW BY LGC SMITH
Christy Monroe hates Christmas. The excess, the inevitable disappointments--bah. Dan Rose loves Christmas. The fun, the way his bakery smells—it’s all a little magical, especially in Snow Creek. When their first-grade daughters decide they want to be sisters, Christy and Dan had better watch out. The girls maneuver their parents into organizing the elementary school holiday show together. It doesn’t take long for Dan to make it his goal to change Christy’s mind about Christmas—and taking a chance again on love.

LET IT SNOW BY CECILIA GRAY
After losing her parents, Jessica can't bear to lose her childhood home and family bookstore, too. When they're taken from her, she has nowhere to go…except the arms of Daniel, Snow Creek's resident hero paramedic. It's not be the Christmas miracle Jessica wanted, but it might the one she needs….

SECOND CHANCES BY ADRIENNE BELL
There’s no doubt in Eileen Ledger’s mind that the last time she saw hockey superstar Paul McAlester she made the biggest mistake of her life. Only, she’s never been sure if the mistake was in kissing him, or in running away. But ten years later, Paul is back in town for Christmas, and Eileen has a second chance to make things right…as long as she can keep herself from falling in love again.

A CHRISTMAS YARN BY RACHAEL HERRON
Knitting has always served as a distraction, something that Clara can hide behind. After a significant weight loss, though, she's still not sure if she wants to be noticed. When sexy Lincoln ends up on the front porch of her yarn store, he seems to seeeverything clear as day. Will Clara finally be seen for her true self?

MISS BONNY'S BURIED TREASURE BY RUBY LASKA
Caroline Bonny has always known about her family curse: no Bonny daughter will ever marry until her great-great-great-grandfather's buried treasure is found. Caroline has made her peace with her life as a spinster-turned-cosmetologist, until easy-on-the-eyes schoolteacher Lance Carter comes to town determined to drown his recent breakup in holiday festivities.

ONE SILENT NIGHT BY LISA HUGHEY
Nick and Ally Carpenter split up months ago after years of infertility treatments crushed their marriage and their dreams of children. When the couple reunites for the holidays to make a dying woman happy, can an unexpected miracle show them the way back to love or is it too late?

My thoughts

This was a pretty fun anthology. The stories blended together quite well, even though they were written by different authors. There was a bit of confusion for me with the bakery (all of the other authors called it Rosie's, but in the one story it is run by the main male lead) but other than that, the story lines were well co-ordinated to go together. The small town of Snow Creek is cute and cozied up in the Sierra Nevada mountains (an area that I am quite familiar with, having grown up at the base of these mountains).

While I read romances, I really prefer my romance novels to leave the bedroom activity behind closed doors, and all but the last story did so. I had hoped that it would be this way all the way through the anthology, and was a bit disappointed that it didn't continue. I enjoyed the storyline of One Silent Night, but wish the author had left out the descriptive scene. It would have fit better with the rest of the tone of the anthology (it really felt like a sweet romance book until then).

Aside from my above preference, I really enjoyed the feel of this anthology. Having multiple authors write novellas that encompass one town with characters that cross over from one story to the next really showcased the abilities of the authors selected. Each did well and it was fun to encounter the town from a slightly different perspective each time.

My Rating: 4 stars

Content: For Adults. Very mild language. Sexual content, fairly descriptive in the last of the stories.

I was able to read this ebook for free from NetGalley. This does not have an effect on my opinion.