"The Duke & The Lady in Red" By: Lorraine Heath Review

Duke and the Lady in Red

By: Lorraine Heath

Synopsis

When Rosalind Sharpe gains the attention of the deliciously wicked Duke of Avendale, she’s torn between her distracting attraction to the notorious rogue and the knowledge that he—rich as Croesus—is the perfect target for a deception that will put her swindling days behind her.

However, Avendale is no fool. After he discovers the tantalizing lady packing up to leave London with his coins in tow, he confronts her with a scandalous proposition: she can have all the money she requires…for a week in his bed.

Desperate for the funds, Rose agrees, but on one condition: he must never question her motives. Avendale quickly sees beneath her mask and discovers she is more than passion and pleasure—she is everything he has ever desired. But claiming her requires he unveil her secrets and lose her forever. Unless he can put his own dark past aside and risk everything for a chance at love.

My Thoughts

     First off, I decided to read this book because the synopsis drew me in so. I adore Lorraine Heath’s writing anyway but somehow I had missed her newest series. I can’t tell you how glad I was to pick this one up, because it led me to two other great historical romances.

     Rose is a grifter, always looking for her next mark, constantly moving around the country. Fresh in London, she is quickly approached by the Duke of Avendale. Alone and used to being singled out for his money, Avendale is surprised to find himself drawn to Rose, a woman who doesn’t seem to want anything from him. Rose initially just views the rich Duke as a means to an end but as she grows closer to him and learns more about his life, she begins to want him for more than his fortune. Unfortunately for Rose, she has people depending on her and she must face unimaginable odds to help those she loves the most.

     The book starts off a little differently and it took me a bit to really understand exactly what is happening. Rose is shrouded in mystery and I initially didn’t like her. However, as Heath unveils the motives behind Rose and her illicit dealing with London’s elite, I couldn’t help but be drawn in and find common ground with this misunderstood woman. Avendale is a wonderful hero and you can’t help but find his honesty refreshing and loving.

    Heath is a master storyteller and it’s never been more clear than with her newest romance. Starting slow, I was drawn into the story of Rose, Avendale and a tribe of misfits looking to belong. Well written, fast paced, and with a fantastic finish, I immediately began reading the first two in this series.  As I said before, reading the previous two in this series is unnecessary but you will absolutely want to when you finish. Another great one, I can’t wait to see what Heath has planned next.

Book Details

Publisher: Avon

Date of Publication: April 28, 2015

# of Pages: 384

ISBN: 9780062276278

Source: ARC for Review

"Chaos" By: Jamie Shaw review

Chaos

By: Jamie Shaw

From the moment she saw Shawn Scarlett perform at a school talent show, Kit Larson has loved two things: the guitar, and the gorgeous, green-eyed boy who inspired her to play. But one careless night in high school shatters her hope of ever being more than a notch on his bedpost.

Six years, two bands, and one mostly-mended heart later, Kit’s about to make her rock star dreams a reality as the new guitarist for Shawn’s band, The Last Ones to Know. He may not remember their reckless night together, but Kit has never forgotten… and she’s determined to make him eat his heart out.

The release of their new album means a month cooped up on a tour bus, sleeping inches away from the ridiculously sexy musician she’s never quite gotten over. And as Kit gets to know the real Shawn—not Shawn Scarlett, the rock god, the player—their attraction becomes too hot to resist. But the past is paved with secrets, and when they finally surface, Kit could lose everything: the band, the music, her dreams… and Shawn. 

My Thoughts
       Kit Larson has loved Shawn Scarlett for years. As a teenager and now as a young woman, Kit has worked on her music with the thought of one day playing with the great “Shawn” or at least showing him up a bit. When the chance comes to finally perform with the band, Kit immediately auditions and is welcomed into the band.

    Little do the band members know though, Kit is still holding back some resentment from her teenage years about a brief experience she had with Shawn. Kit and Shawn go on the road and Shawn shows Kit he isn’t who she thinks he is...not anymore. The past is revisited and wrongs are righted in this newest rock star book by Jamie Shaw.

   I am a fan of the first two books by Shaw, I honestly devoured them. I read this one within a day and still love her band, her dialogue, and her story lines. However, this one didn’t work as well for me as her previous stories. My main concern was with Kit, the main character, and her almost dogged determination to hold on to the past. People make mistakes. People change. We are to believe she has changed and grown, but her relentless inner dialogue against Shawn got pretty old, pretty quick.

    However, on the flip side, I adored Shawn. He was up for anything, sweet, solid, and seems to be the backbone of the band. He didn’t let the past define him the way Kit seemed to, but he also recognized that what had happened was wrong. In short...loved Shawn, and Kit seemed like the whiny girl in high school at different points in the story.

    All in all though, Shaw has crafted a pretty solid romance with fantastic secondary characters. I adore how the author incorporates the bandmates and previous characters into the story so expertly while crafting the new story. All in all, Chaos is a strong story, just not my favorite. Chaos can be read alone, but I STRONGLY suggest reading the previous two books because they are friggin awesome.

Book Details

Publisher: Avon Impulse

# of Pages: 432

ISBN: 9780062379702

Source: ARC For Review

"Riot" By: Jamie Shaw Review

Riot

By: Jamie Shaw

Synopsis

When Dee Dawson meets sexy mohawked guitarist Joel Gibbon, she knows it won’t be long before she has him wrapped around her finger. No guy has ever been able to resist her… but Dee’s met her match in a player like Joel.

Dee’s not the relationship type—not after seeing the pain “love” has caused her friends and family—yet she’s desperate to make Joel want her more than anyone else. He quickly becomes an obsession, and when a reckless attempt to make him jealous ends in disaster, Dee turns into the damsel in distress she never wanted to be. With her carefree world crashing down around her, the last thing she needs is Joel’s pity.

But Joel is suddenly determined to prove he cares, and no matter how hard Dee tries to push him away, he refuses to let her shut him out. Now the girl who swore she’d never say those three little words must choose between guarding her heart and losing Joel forever… or falling head-over-heels for the tattooed rock star of her dreams.

My Thoughts

     First off, I am going to be completely honest and say that you can read this book as a standalone if you absolutely must. If you can however, read Mayhem. It’s Adam and Ro’s story and absolutely adds a ton to this story. Regardless though, Jamie Shaw knocks Riot out of the park and has an anxiously awaiting reader here in Missouri.

    Dee Dawson has a huge attraction for rock and roller guitarist, Joel Gibbon. Content as a hook up for several months, she begins to want more than a casual night of no holds barred passion. Joel doesn't want or need a girlfriend and is content to leave their relationship the way it is. After a harrowing attack on Dee that leaves her traumatized, Joel realizes that his feelings for Dee run deeper than he ever imagined.

     I adore the world that Jamie has created. Filled with great main characters, extraordinary secondary characters, and really fun sexy times, Shaw writes unique stories. What I loved the most is how excellently she really writes 20-somethings. No one has everything figured out and she allows her characters to change and grow without assuming anything. Sure you know there will hopefully be a happy ending, but beyond that, her books don’t seem to follow a formula and are ultimately delightful.

     Fans of Jay Crownover will have a new author in Jamie Shaw. A great writer with wonderful characters, Shaw’s take on the rock star world is fresh and fun. Fast paced with plenty of angst and a lovely happily ever after, Shaw’s books seem to only get better as time goes on.

Book Details

Publisher: Avon Impulse

ISBN:9780062379689

Date of Publication: February 10, 2015

# of Pages: 384

Location: Virginia

"Four Nights with the Duke" By: Eloisa James Review

Four Nights with the Duke

By: Eloisa James

Synopsis

As a young girl, Emilia Gwendolyn Carrington told the annoying future Duke of Pindar that she would marry any man in the world before him—so years later she is horrified to realize that she has nowhere else to turn.

Evander Septimus Brody has his own reasons for agreeing to Mia's audacious proposal, but there's one thing he won't give his inconvenient wife: himself.
Instead, he offers Mia a devil's bargain...he will spend four nights a year with her. Four nights, and nothing more. And those only when she begs for them.
Which Mia will never do.

Now Vander faces the most crucial challenge of his life: he must seduce his own wife in order to win her heart—and no matter what it takes, this is the one battle he can't afford to lose.

My Thoughts

     Horribly embarrassed as a teenager by the future Duke of Pindar after a love poem that she has written is discovered, Mia swears that she will find a way to have her revenge. Over a decade later, Mia is in a bind. Her entire family has passed away and she is left trying to keep custody of her young, disabled nephew. In order to keep her nephew from the clutches of an evil uncle, Mia must marry someone powerful enogh to stand up to the uncle while also staying respectable. Who else does she turn to, except for her childhood nemesis, Vander, the future Duke.

     Eloisa James continues her newest series by delightfully delving into Mia and Vander’s story. Always a wonderful ride, James has exceeded my wildest expectations with Vander’s tale. With glimpses of previous characters, Vander and Mia don’t seem to match at all. Mia begins her relationship by blackmailing Vander with evidence that puts his father in an almost treasonous light. Yet, you can’t help but feel this desperate mood is called for when you see how desperate Mia is to save her only living family.

     Mia makes her living as a romance writer.  I thought it was incredibly clever how James worked in Mia’s work with the actual romance of the story. It gave me a little insight into the novel writing process and allowed us to get even farther into Mia’s head and motivations. Plus it was just really fun to read her novel and how it related to her current predicament.

     I adored Mia’s story but fell in love with Vander all over again. He truly came into his own and was absolutely one of my favorite James heroes to date. Delightful with plenty of witty banter, Mia and Vander’s story was worth the wait. There are even some subtle nods to Julia Quinn and Lisa Kleypas, so keep your eyes peeled. This may even be my favorite James novel to date and is an excellent addition to her canon.

Book Details

Publisher: Avon

Date of Publication: March 30, 2015

ISBN: 9780062223913

# of Pages: 384

Location: London, England

Codi Gary's Guest Post - Rock Canyon!

Rock Canyon Book Tree

  

A few words from Codi...

    So, you’ve heard of family trees, right? Well, the thing I love about any series, is the way the books connect to each other. The way past and future characters pop up and give you a glimpse of what they have been up to or who they were before they found their happily ever after. It’s what makes series such a hit with readers.

    Which brings me to my Series Tree for my small town of Rock Canyon, Idaho. When I first wrote The Trouble with Sexy (Ryan and Gregg’s story), I knew I wanted to write Gemma and Gracie’s stories after, but it didn’t work out that way. Instead, Chase (who had also vied for Ryan’s affections and lost out to Gregg) and Katie, a briefly mentioned hairdresser in The Trouble with Sexy, came next and with it, a host of characters I could play like the puppet master I am. (Insert Sheldon Laugh) Muah-ha-ha.

    In the next book, Good Girls Don’t Date Rock Stars, I finally got to tell Gemma’s story. She is the single mother of a nine year old and best friends with Gracie, the coffee shop owner who gives Ryan the makeover in The Trouble with Sexy. She is reunited with her first love, Travis Bowers, and after a whole lot of drama, they get their second chance. Which leads us to book three, Bad Girls Don’t Marry Marines, whose hero is Justin Silverton, best friends with Jared Brown (the husband of Katie’s best friend Stephanie) and who was introduced to Chase in Things Good Girls Don’t Do. Justin pursues Valerie Willis, who has two sisters with the same perchance for trouble, Ellie and Caroline.

     Caroline was brought home at the end of Marines and her story, Return of the Bad Girl, picks up where Marines leaves off. It introduces one delicious bad boy, Gabe Moriarty (yes, I love Elementary), who is actually an old friend of Chase’s (from Things Good Girls Don’t Do.) Caroline becomes friends with Callie, the town dj, who was mentioned in Rock Stars and Marines. So, when Callie’s story picks up months after Caroline and Gabe’s story ends, we find her falling hard for Everett (Justin’s older brother who was introduced in Marines.) We don’t realize that as Callie and Everett are working through their issues, Mike Stevens is fighting his attraction to Zoe the veterinarian (introduced in Return of the Bad Girl) in Rock Canyon Number Six. Mike has been about since The Trouble with Sexy, and was totally in love with Gemma until he lost her in Rock Stars. After everything I put this guy through, I think he deserves a happy ending, don’t you?

     And last but not least (for now) Gracie McAllister and Eric Henderson, who have bickered and caused all kinds of speculation, will FINALLY get some air time in Rock Canyon Number Seven, but it’s not just the heroes and heroines that make Rock Canyon come alive. It’s Sam Weathers, the friendly, doesn’t know when to mind his business police officer. It’s bitchy Mrs. Andrews, who still hasn’t explained why she likes Gemma when she gives nothing but disdain to everyone else. And Miss Know It All, the town’s own Gossip Girl, who loves putting everyone’s secrets out there for the towns amusement. Many people have an idea of who she is, but we won’t know until she’s caught…maybe in book seven?

     So remember, as you read through this series, pay attention to the little things and every character…you never know when they will pop up again.

A bit more about Codi:

An obsessive bookworm, Codi Gary likes to write sexy small-town contemporary romances with humor, grand gestures, and blush-worthy moments. When she's not writing, she can be found reading her favorite authors, squealing over her must-watch shows, and playing with her children. She lives in Idaho with her family.

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"Mayhem" By: Jamie Shaw Review

Mayhem

By: Jamie Shaw

Synopsis

When college freshman Rowan Michaels meets gorgeous, up-and-coming rock star Adam Everest, she knows a player like him is the last thing she needs after her ex-boyfriend shattered her heart. But she can't stop thinking about the kiss they shared on his tour bus.

On the first day of school, Rowan is stunned when Adam saunters into her French class. He's soon failing miserably, and, on a whim, she offers to tutor him. But Adam doesn't recognize her as a makeup-free, glasses-clad college student—a far cry from the beautiful, mysterious "Peach" he met at his concert.

During a wild weekend on tour with the band, Rowan can't help falling for the sweet guy buried beneath Adam's rocker persona. Yet she knows she could never compete with the girls constantly throwing themselves at his feet. She'd just end up hurt … again.

Peach is all Adam thinks about, though, and when Rowan realizes this, she has a decision to make: stay just friends to protect her fragile heart … or reveal the truth about the night they met and admit she's fallen completely, hopelessly in love with him.

My Thoughts

   Rowan is a freshman in college living the dream. She’s living with her boyfriend who she thinks she loves. Yet one night her dreams for the future are dashed when she sees him with with another woman. That very same evening, she meets Adam Everest, local college student and rock star extraordinaire. While dealing with the heartbreak of her first love, she looks to Adam. Hijinks ensue as there are mistaken identities, rock band parties, late night/early morning study sessions and some super sexy times.

    This is going to get a bit confusing, so pay close attention.  I started out strongly disliking it, and ended up freaking loving this book. The first ⅓ of the book, I absolutely couldn’t get my mind around. I began reading it and I didn’t like the characters one bit. Rowan seemed needy and Adam was just a huge dirt bag. But once I got through my initial dislike of them, I truly saw Rowan and Adam for what they were. These two twenty something people, looking at the world in a different way and just trying to find their way through life when they are confused. Ultimately these two are just trying their best and I had initially met them at their worst.

     Adam is fantastic. I think I’m glad that I didn’t like him in the beginning because he became redeemed as you meet him through the story. He’s this partier who goes through women like socks. Yet he knows that Rowan is different. First of all, she’s the only woman who has ever turned down his advances. She doesn’t seem super impressed by his rock star status. Rowan likes his friends and they like her. Dealing with the heartbreak of her boyfriend cheating and then fighting loneliness in a city by herself, Rowan and Adam find friendship first, then a fantastic relationship. Adam is the true definition of a reformed rake and I wish I was lucky enough to have found him when I was going to college!

     A little hard for me to get into to begin with, I am thrilled I was lucky enough to read Jamie Shaw’s newest book. She plans to continue this series with the other band members. I’ve been stalking her like a crazy person. Her followup to Mayhem is titled Riot and will explore the story of Adam’s bandmate Joel and Rowan’s friend Dee. Filled with fun sexy times and a great voice in the New Adult genre, Jamie Shaw is a rising star! I wouldn’t mind being one of Adam’s socks...just sayin’!

Book Details

Publisher: Avon Impulse

Date of Publication: January 20, 2015

# of Pages: 258

ISBN: 9780062379610

Location: Virginia

"I Do!" By: Rachel Gibson Review

I Do!

By: Rachel Gibson

Synopsis

In New York Times bestselling author Rachel Gibson's newest novella, Vince Haven and Sadie Hollowell are headed to the altar, and all their friends are headed to Lovett, Texas, to join them for the party of the year.

But Becca Ramsey doesn't have time for all that. Fresh out of beauty school, Becca's all business … and the last thing she needs is bad boy Nate Parrish anywhere in her life.

In the past, Nate was trouble. He's been trying to repair his reputation—heck, he's even got just one girlfriend. The problem is, she isn't Becca. Now Nate's in a whole lot of hot water. He needs to get Becca from "I won't" to "I do" … but how can he do that when she won't even say "I might"?

My Thoughts

     Becca Ramsey is the local hairdresser in Lovett, Texas. She’s ready to handle the Sadie Hollowell’s hair for her big day, but before she can, Becca has to deal with Nate Parrish. Nate is the town’s mechanic, ultimate bad boy, and falls immediately for the slightly wild Becca.

     I am a huge fan of Gibson’s work and this novella is no different. Fun, quirky, and fast paced, Gibson’s voice shines through. Offering quick glimpses of our favorite characters from previous Lovett, Texas novels, the main portion of the romance centers around Becca and Nate. Will they, won’t they?

     Cute and a fun read, I enjoyed reading about past favorites and meeting both of these new characters. A great addition to the series offering a great look at what comes next, I enjoyed I Do! immensely and am eagerly anticipating Gibson’s next book!

Book Details

Date of Publication: January 20, 2015

ISBN: 9780062247513

Publisher: Avon Impulse

# of Pages: 150

Location: Texas

Other Gibson Reviews...

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The Trouble with Valentine's Day

Crazy On You