(Review) Falling for Max by Shannon Stacey

Title: Falling for Max
Author: Shannon Stacey
Series: Kowalski Family, #9
Published: July 2014 (Carina Press)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Format: Paperback, borrowed from the library

Summary: Max Crawford has reached the point in life where he's starting to think about settling down. Unfortunately, he's always been a little awkward when it comes to social interactions, and working from home doesn't help. He spends so much time alone, painting beautiful, historically accurate model trains that half of Whitford has begun to joke that he may be a serial killer. Not exactly prime husband material.

Tori Burns has found happiness in Maine, thanks in large part to her shifts at the Trailside Diner. She likes the work, and she loves the local gossip. When shy, geeky Max Crawford becomes a regular, she's intrigued. When she finds out he's in the market for a wife, she's fascinated…and determined to help.

Molding Max into every woman's dream turns out to be much easier than expected. But has Tori's plan worked a little too well? As she turns his comfortable life all sorts of upside down, she'll have to find a way to show just how she's fallen for him…the real him.

So, I was all set to use my spare time tonight to sit down and write my review for Level Up, which I read a few days ago and adored. But I plopped down with my Chick-fil-A in one hand and this book in the other, and once I started, I couldn't stop until I'd reached the end. So now I need to tell you about my feelings for THIS book. And be prepared, because I have a lot of them. (But be on the lookout for my other review, too, soon. Because Level Up was awesomesauce.)

Three things I love but can almost never find all together in one package: contemporary setting, a humorous tone, and slow burn.

And guess what?

Falling for Max has ALL THREE OF THEM. Plus awesome characters. And I'm not just talking about the main two, either.

(This review is just basically going to be me gushing. In case you hadn't gotten that vibe already.)

Honestly, though, I already knew I loved Shannon Stacey. But it had been quite a while since I'd read one of her books, and I'm a lot pickier about my romance nowadays. It takes more to hook me and keep me invested in the characters and the romance, much less actually impress me. But that is exactly what Stacey did.

I loved Max. I loved Tori. I loved Tori's best friend, Hailey, who was the town librarian and kept Tori supplied with books. You may think that this is extraneous information, but a) it actually wound up being important and b) she was just awesome. I really enjoyed reading about their friendship, from the book drops to the dialog to the supportive friend moments. Give me a solid lady friendship, and you're already one step further into my good graces. Also, Hailey said this, which has no relevance except for the fact that I love it and want to share it:

Bad things happen to people who write in library books, Tori. Very bad things.

BUT I WILL MOVE ALONG. To, you know, the romance. Or we might be here all night.

Falling for Max is basically a super amazing reverse Pygmalion / My Fair Lady / The Ugly Truth. The heroine offering to help "make over" the hero? HELLO, I'M THERE. I was very excited about this premise, and I love how it worked into the story. Tori didn't go overboard with the advice, never suggested that Max had anything to be ashamed of. She was more of a coach and a cheerleader, all wrapped up into one. Over the course of working together (which involved a fake date at one point, and let me tell you, if I have a single trope weakness, it's Fake Dating), Tori and Max bonded and quickly became friends. Of course, it didn't stop there, but they were friends for a very long time while the chemistry sizzled steadily in the background. But while my toes were curling in anticipation at every longing stare, it wouldn't have made sense for them to get together in the beginning. So they didn't. And I was a happy camper, just waiting for them to get around to figuring things out and then deciding whether or not to do anything about it. And in the mean time, I enjoyed the heck out of their friendship. They made me giggle and swoon, and I genuinely enjoyed every time they interacted.

As for the characters themselves, I was definitely fan.

Max was an introvert and socially awkward, but Stacey did an excellent job of writing him. A lot of times when authors attempt to write socially awkward or anxious characters, the characters wind up feeling like cartoonish stereotypes. But this wasn't the case with Max at all. He felt real. I understood his perspective. And he wasn't All Awkward, All the Time. He was just, in his own words, a bit of an odd duck, and I mean that in the most loving way possible. (And trust me, that's a lot of love.)

Max was very familiar with people saying logical in a tone that suggested the word had a negative connotation to it.

And Tori! Tori was a graphic designer slash waitress, and she was a delight, honestly. She was friendly and outgoing, and unlike Max, she was very engaged with the community. She had major hang-ups about love and marriage, due to her parents' nasty divorce (which weren't magically swept aside by The Power of Love, either), which she was honest and up-front about from the beginning of the story.

You know what else is great?

Honesty.

There was no Big Misunderstanding in this book, because the characters were honest with each other. They were up front about things. Was everything hunky dory? No. Did they fight? Yes. Did I believe they would make it in the long run? Without a doubt.

I have only one complaint about the entire book, and that is the ending. It was rather abrupt, and I wish it would have been drawn out a bit longer. It just felt a little jarring. And then there's the fact that it ended, period, which let's face it, was pretty sad. But I do happen to have two other Shannon Stacey books checked out from the library right now, so there's a silver lining.

I wasn't super impressed by the cover or title of Falling for Max, but please don't be fooled by either! This is honestly one of the best contemporary romances I've read in a long time. I laughed out loud on multiple occasions. I saved tons of quotes. And I fell hard for the characters and the romance. (And did I mention that it was slow burn? Because it was slow burn. And this fact alone makes me want to get up and do a happydance.) This book reminded me why I automatically smile when I see Shannon Stacey's name on a book cover, and I definitely recommend it.

First:On the first day of each month, Max Crawford made it a habit to compile a list of everything he wanted or needed to accomplish that month. Without a list, he tended to immerse himself in work and then wonder why he was out of mouthwash and the car payment was overdue.

As the calendar ticked over to October, he catalogued which projects he was working on and their due dates. He noted there were two birthdays on his calendar, which meant shopping for and sending gifts to his mother and niece. The furnace needed its annual checkup. And he wanted to find a wife.

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Favorite:"I have feelings. I intend to kill them with ice cream."

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Teaser:“Did I tell you how nice you look tonight? Definitely the good nice.”
“You didn't have to.” He took her hand and started toward the door.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“I see the way you look at me in this sweater.” He stopped walking. “Maybe I should leave it in the car. This is a family restaurant.”
She slapped his arm and nudged him forward. “I've created a monster.”

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(Review) Almost Famous Women by Megan Mayhew Bergman

Title: Almost Famous Women
Author: Megan Mayhew Bergman
Published: January 2015 (Scribner)
Rating: ★★★★☆
Format: Hardcover, borrowed from the library

Summary:The fascinating lives of the characters in Almost Famous Women have mostly been forgotten, but their stories are burning to be told. Now Megan Mayhew Bergman, author of Birds of a Lesser Paradise, resurrects these women, lets them live in the reader's imagination, so we can explore their difficult choices. Nearly every story in this dazzling collection is based on a woman who attained some celebrity—she raced speed boats or was a conjoined twin in show business; a reclusive painter of renown; a member of the first all-female, integrated swing band. We see Lord Byron's illegitimate daughter, Allegra; Oscar Wilde's troubled niece, Dolly; West With the Night author Beryl Markham; Edna St. Vincent Millay's sister, Norma. These extraordinary stories travel the world, explore the past (and delve into the future), and portray fiercely independent women defined by their acts of bravery, creative impulses, and sometimes reckless decisions.

The world hasn't always been kind to unusual women, but through Megan Mayhew Bergman's alluring depictions they finally receive the attention they deserve. Almost Famous Women is a gorgeous collection from an "accomplished writer of short fiction" (Booklist).

I will preface this review by saying that I don't tend to like short stories. I am all about the characters and getting to know them, and when one has less than 40 pages (sometimes less than 10), there simply isn't an opportunity do so. But I stumbled across this collection when I was at the library the other day, and I was too intrigued to let the opportunity pass me by.

I went ahead and picked it up, and then I took the plunge and began reading it. I am immensely thankful that I did.

Megan Mayhew Bergman's writing is absolutely stunning. She weaves together similes and adjectives and the most unlikely strings of words on occasion, but they all somehow coalesce into a moving reading experience. Whether you are experiencing joy or revulsion or compassion, the words are there to make each moment just that much more poignant.

Her stories are all compelling, though each is completely unique. It is difficult to compare a story about a multiracial swing band to that of a cross-dressing heiress who owns her own island and races boats. What I can say about all of these stories is that they all explored human nature in the most interesting ways and from all different angles.

The idea of taking real women from history and writing fictional stories about them is risky, but the author pulls it off splendidly. I felt like I was immersed in each woman's life from the very first sentence of each segment. While it is not an uplifting read – the stories tend to be rather dark in subject matter – it never feels cumbersome or depressing. It is more like seeing each woman when she is most human, whether viewing her in a single moment or in brief snapshots throughout the course of a life.

If I have a single complaint, it would be that “The Lottery, Redux” did not fit with the rest of the stories, being based on a fictional work. I have not, in fact, read “The Lottery,” (or if I have, it's been quite a long time), so reading a *cough*fanfiction*cough* “cover story” on it did not interest me at all. The author does say in her notes, however, that McSweeny's specifically asked her to write a cover story of a classic, so apparently someone felt that it was needed.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this collection, the writing in particular, and I will definitely be checking out Mayhew Bergman's previous short story collection soon.

First:Let me tell it, I said.
No, you're a liar and a drunk, she said. Or I said.

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Favorite:L is choreographing in her head again, making mental diagrams: the arch of a back, a lunge, a flexed foot. Her own bare feet tap the floor of the rented flat. She wants to stumble upon an invisible idea and render it with her body, amplify it. She feels something savage and raw inside and wants to show it on the stage, or in a patron's garden. She wants to begin a discussion underneath the orange trees.

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Teaser:Time didn't matter on Whale Clay. You did what Joe wanted to do, when Joe wanted to do it. That was all.

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(Review) Anticipation by Sarah Mayberry

Title: Anticipation
Author: Sarah Mayberry
Series: Brothers Ink, #2
Published: April 2015
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Format: Digital review copy provided by author for honest review. (Thank you!)

Summary: Blue Sullivan knows a player when she sees one. And Eddie Oliveira—charm and sex personified—was born to play. She never wanted him to say goodbye, so for the last ten years she’s ignored the sizzling attraction between them and focused on being the best sidekick a guy could have. Smart girl, right?

Then Blue has a serious accident, and overnight Eddie changes. Suddenly he’s more intense and singularly devoted…to her. With all this sexy attention, it’s hard to stay within the boundaries she’s scrupulously drawn. The temptation, the anticipation builds and, finally, she has to have what he’s offering. Of course Eddie proves to be brilliant. Now, she worries he’s ruined her forever…and she might regret leaping from friends to lovers.

I love that the title of this book is Anticipation, because that is entirely accurate in regards to my feelings about it. I've been looking forward to Blue and Eddie's story since meeting them in Satisfaction last year. While it is not absolutely necessary to read that one first, I would recommend doing so. It is nice to see Blue and Eddie's dynamic from an outsider's perspective before getting a peek at what is really going on beneath the surface. Plus it's just a great book!

Anticipation does not disappoint! I have a serious weakness for I've-loved-you-forever books. From the very first paragraph, you know that is going to be the case with this one. Blue has had feelings for her best friend Eddie for years, but she is trying to move past them. Alas, she is not, much to her dismay, having very much luck.

This book does have a Big Dangerous Incident. That is common enough in romance novels, and it is usually used as the catalyst to make someone - quite often the hero - realize that he does, in fact, have feelings for the heroine, that he cannot go on living with out her, etc. etc. And I don't know about you, but I've been sick of that plot device since the first ten times I read it. BUT in Anticipation, the Incident actually happens in the first chapter. Blue is hit by a motorcycle while crossing the street, and she winds up in the hospital. While Eddie is extremely upset, obviously, the accident is not merely the hit over the head he has always needed to realize he loves her. He already knows he cares deeply about her; they have been friends for years. It is treated seriously, and it has repercussions. It also leads to her staying at his apartment so he can help her recuperate, which is a 100% awesome setup, let me tell you.

One of the reasons I loved this book is that I was so convinced of how Blue and Eddie knew each other inside out. They were friends - close friends, real friends - for years before the book even started, and that shows in all their interactions. They give each other crap. They joke. They fight. But you always know that there is that foundation of caring that will always remain.

I really enjoyed having Blue as a main character. She is an atypical heroine, definitely, and rather difficult. A talented tattoo artist who wears her hair in varying shades of blue, she has walls a mile thick. She is straightforward and blunt, and she doesn't take crap from anyone. I've seen reviews that said she interfered with their enjoyment of the book, but I personally loved her! My heart broke as she struggled against her natural instincts to run away from anything that might wind up causing her pain.

Eddie is a great guy as well, and it is clear that he cares very much about Blue. He also has a great relationship with his brother, a dynamic I very much enjoyed reading. Then there's the chemistry between the two of them (er, "them" being Eddie and Blue, obviously). Yowza! I thought my Nook was going to start shooting sparks at one point.

Overall, Anticipation is definitely a winner. It could be just a standard friends-to-lovers with lots of long-time pining, but Mayberry makes it so much more. She brings the tattoo parlor and the secondary characters to life. Blue and Eddie are flawed people, but she weaves their story together beautifully.

First:Her life would be so much easier if she could hate him.

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Favorite:Ground rules: anything I can do for myself, I do for myself. Period. End of story. You can, however, bring me food any time you like.

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Teaser:“I can be as gracious as the next person.”
“If the next person is a sleep-deprived rhino with anger management issues.”

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(Review) Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Title: Gone Girl
Author: Gillian Flynn
Published: June 5, 2012 (Crown Publishers)
Rating: Stay Up 'til 2 AM
Format: Paperback, purchased

Summary: On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne's fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick's clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn't doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife's head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media--as well as Amy's fiercely doting parents--the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he's definitely bitter--but is he really a killer?

As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn't do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?

What can I possibly say about Gone Girl that hasn't been said a thousand times? I've heard that this book is very much a love-it-or-hate it thing, and I most assuredly am in the former category. Though I kind of want to create my own little club, called the Hate Myself a Little Bit for How Much I Loved It. Because this book was Messed Up, capitalization included. It was twisted and twenty kinds of disturbing, and it was incredible.

I picked up this book as part of my 2015 project to stop avoiding super-hyped books. It was my second one of the year, right after The Fault in Our Stars. That one did not have high results, which is why you haven't seen my review on it yet. I was bummed by how underwhelmed I was by Fault, so I was a little leery of starting Gone Girl. Surely it would be disappointing, too. Well, guess what. It wasn't. In fact, it surpassed my expectations.

This review probably won't be super long, because I don't want to spoil you. Funny story: I actually thought I had been spoiled for this book before I actually read it. Twice. But the two "spoilers" directly contradicted each other, so I wondered which could possibly be right. And guess what? NEITHER ONE WAS. I can totally see how some people guessed the Big Twist, but in my case, I was so concentrated on the two possibilities I had in my head that I didn't even think of other possibilities. So that was interesting.

But really, let's talk about the hero of this book, and I'm not talking about Nick. I am talking about Gillian Freaking Flynn and her Amazing Words of Awesome. I actually didn't save very many quotes from the book, for a couple reasons. One being that I was extremely sucked into the book and didn't want to stop to take notes. The second (and main) reason being that she had one of those writing styles where everything felt like a quote. Every single page. I could flip to a random spot in the book and pick out something worth quoting within moments, I guarantee it.

When I become enamored with someone's writing style, I kind of become their devoted servant for life (I'm looking at you, Vladimir Nabokov and Tahereh Mafi). And Gillian Flynn certainly made her way into the coveted ranks. Seriously, though. You might think that I'm just talking about the writing because I can't really talk about the plot, but YOU ARE WRONG. Because if I could talk about the plot? I would probably talk about the writing more. In addition to having a unique and evocative style, Flynn's writing was flat-out powerful. She could slam you in the gut, punch you in the face, make you want to throw up, enrage you, intrigue you, repulse you, surprise you, make you laugh, make you cry, all with her carefully crafted, perfectly chosen words. And they weren't always pretty words. Sometimes they were so crude, I wanted to put the book down, BUT IT WORKED. It was so perfect for the characters, and it only served to heighten the scene and what was happening in or around the character.

So, speaking of the characters, there were a few. I suppose I might have to talk about them a little bit. Nick was the husband of Amy, who disappeared on the morning of their fifth anniversary, but whom we get to know through diary entries. And you think these people are all charming but then you know things get messed up, and you are totally captivated by wondering HOW they got messed up and just how far it went. There were also some interesting side characters, such as Nick's twin sister Go (short for Margo) and Amy's parents. All of them were multifaceted, and can I mention how much I love that everyone was flawed? There were no cardboard cutout characters here.

That's about all I have. I can honestly say that I am not sure if I ever plan to re-read Gone Girl. I am happy that I own it, and I can look at it on my shelves and remember it (sort of?) fondly. But it was dark and disturbing. It was a great experience, but I'm not sure if I am going to put myself through that again. Regardless, Flynn has definitely shot up on my Authors to Watch list, so I will definitely be reading her other two books in the near future.

First:When I think of my wife, I always think of her head.

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Favorite:And then you run into Nick Dunne on Seventh Avenue as you're buying diced cantaloupe, and pow, you are known, you are recognized, the both of you. You both find the exact same things worth remembering. (Just one olive, though.) You have the same rhythm. Click. You just know each other. All of a sudden you see reading in bed and waffles on Sunday and laughing at nothing and his mouth on yours. And it's so far beyond fine that you know you can never go back to fine. That fast. You think: Oh, here is the rest of my life. It's finally arrived.

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Teaser:There's something disturbing about recalling a warm memory and feeling utterly cold.

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(Review) Once More, My Darling Rogue by Lorraine Heath

Title: Once More, My Darling Rogue
Author: Lorraine Heath
Series: Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James, #2
Published: August 2014 (Avon)
Rating: Stay Up 'til 2 AM
Format: Paperback borrowed from the library

Summary: Born to the street but raised within the aristocracy, Drake Darling can’t escape his sordid beginnings. Not when Lady Ophelia Lyttleton snubs him at every turn, a constant reminder he’s not truly one of them. But after rescuing her from a mysterious drowning he realizes she doesn’t remember who she is. With plans to bring her to heel, he insists she’s his housekeeper—never expecting to fall for the charming beauty.

While Ophelia might not recall her life before Drake, she has little doubt she belongs with him. The desire she feels for her dark, brooding employer can’t be denied, regardless of consequences. So when her memory returns, she is devastated by the depth of his betrayal. Now Drake must risk everything to prove she can trust this rogue with her heart once more.

I went into Once More, My Darling Rogue very excited but also a little hesitant. I'm not always a fan of amnesia stories. Although they can be enjoyable, a lot of them wind up blending together in my mind because they're so similar. In order for me to desire to read one, I need something more. The heroine being completely hateful to the hero, followed by the hero taking advantage of the heroine's amnesia and making her act as his housekeeper? That'll do it. I knew Heath would have to tread carefully, because while the story would definitely be unique, it could also be the perfect setting for a good, old-fashioned alphahole, the fastest way to ruin a book. Thankfully, my trepidation was for naught. I fell head over heels for this book and devoured it in a day.

Let's start with the characters. In the beginning, Ophelia Lyttleton was kind of horrid. And I LOVED it. She was spoiled by servants, totally taking them for granted, and you know what? That's real. Highborn ladies of the time were pampered, waited on hand and foot by servants. They weren't expected to do anything for themselves. She was of the upper class, and she was well aware of it, having been raised by a father who drilled into her their superiority to those of lower birth. It was incredibly refreshing to see this, even though it did not make her the most likable of heroines at first. In addition, she was a total witch to the Drake, snubbing him repeatedly in front of others. To be fair, we mostly saw this from his perspective and memories, and the small glimpse we got into Ophelia's head showed that she was using this behavior as a defense mechanism against her attraction toward to Drake, someone with whom she could never be associated without losing her dowry and what was left of her family. There was also a lot more going on beneath the surface with her, secrets she did not reveal even in her thoughts until much later in the story.

Then there was Drake. I think the first line says it all:

I was born Peter Sykes, the son of a murderer, the son of a woman murdered, a heritage that has always haunted me.

Um, HELLO. Way to make an impression with the first line. It wasn't at all what I expected when I cracked open the book. That first line captivated me, and I continued to be intrigued by Drake through the whole book. He was smart, a great businessman, intimidating, but fair, but he had innate inferiority issues due to his birth, despite being raised in a duke's family. (I was completely intrigued by his pseudo-adoptive parents, as well, and I really hope Heath has written their story at some point in the past. I got that impression, and I would love to read it!) He also had a dragon tattoo. I'll let you read the book to discover where, but I'll just say that there was a scene about it that caused some definite swoonage.

Drake and Ophelia each brought out the worst in each other. She was mean to him to keep him at a distance, and the easiest method was to remind him of his inferiority. This was his one big weakness, the one issue that would really get to him. While usually in amnesia stories, I prefer to know how the hero and heroine would have gotten together without that particular plot device, I don't think this one would've worked without it. They were caught in a circle of animosity. They needed some reason to see beyond the barriers they had erected. And in their particular case, I don't believe that really would've happened in normal circumstances.

BUT ANYWAY. Now that I've written an essay on the first 50 pages or so, I can move on to the rest of the book.

When Drake found Ophelia washed up on the side of the river, he rescued her. After he got her safely to his house and discovered who she was, he had the brilliant housekeeper idea. And this is where it all could've gone horribly wrong. Thankfully, it didn't. At this point in the story, Drake hated Ophelia, and I could absolutely see why. He had every reason to. He had an irrational whim and went with it. He just wanted a laugh, a little revenge, something to keep her in her place when she tried to humiliate him again in the future. He wasn't going to make her do anything potentially dangerous or harmful, only tedious things like preparing dinner and dusting the library shelves.

But - insert shocked face here - things didn't go as planned! Due to circumstances, Ophelia had to stay with him longer. And while Drake had a few idiotic moments and should've told her the truth way earlier, I always understood his reasoning. With the way things played out, Drake and Ophelia got to know each other for real, in a way they never would have before the accident. And oh, oh but it was wonderful to watch. I enjoyed both of their perspectives. Ophelia knew instinctively that something was wrong with her new life, knew that something was off, but she was a good sport and went along with it. Her attempts were sometimes rather hilarious, like when she went to prepare a pheasant for dinner:

She couldn’t cook something that had the ability to glare at her, to make her feel guilty about preparing it.

By the end of the story, Ophelia had a new-found respect for servants and their jobs, having been in their shoes for a while. But that was pretty much all that changed. It wasn't a magical transformation from evil termagant to glowing saint, something that is common and drives me absolutely bonkers. Ophelia always had a good heart: loyalty, devotion, compassion towards animals, and many other qualities. We just didn't see them until she (albeit, unwillingly) let her guard down and allowed Drake to see them.

And did I mention the chemistry? Because yowza! The chemistry between these two was phenomenal. You could tell from the beginning that there was something explosive there that was being strongly repressed on both sides. Obviously Drake held back for a long time once she was in his care, but there was still attraction simmering between them. While I wouldn't exactly call it a slow burn, it unfolded slowly and deliciously, and I enjoyed every moment.

Once More, My Darling Rogue fulfilled every one of my wishes and expectations. Heath took a prevalent plot device and put a unique spin on it with refreshingly real, flawed characters. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys actual hate-to-love stories, because this one was well executed and absolutely lovely. It made me want to go look up more books by her, which I will very likely wind up doing.

First:I was born Peter Sykes, the son of a murderer, the son of a woman murdered, a heritage that has always haunted me.

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Favorite:Friendship isn’t measured by time. It can happen in the blink of an eye when you meet someone you like.

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Teaser:If looks could kill...well, hers might wound him, but it wasn’t going to be the death of him.

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(Review) It's in His Kiss by Jill Shalvis

Title: It's in His Kiss
Author: Jill Shalvis
Series: Lucky Harbor, #10
Published: August 26, 2014 (Grand Central Publishing)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Format: Egalley provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review (Thank you!)

Summary: Becca Thorpe has uprooted her life and escaped to the beach. Now's her chance to get away from city living, throw caution to the ocean winds, and live in the moment. Especially if the moment includes the deliciously sexy surfer she meets shortly after arriving in Lucky Harbor. Something about the dark intensity of Sam's eyes and the thrill she gets at his touch convinces her to stay awhile.

Boatbuilder and investment genius Sam Brody is a self-made man who knows how dangerous it can be to mix business and pleasure. But he can't resist offering Becca a job just to hear her laugh and have her near. Yet when her brother comes to town asking for help, will he tempt her back to her glamorous life in the city? Or do Sam and little Lucky Harbor have a chance to win Becca's heart?

If I could pack up and go live in my choice of any fictional setting I've ever read, I would choose Lucky Harbor. And not just because I've always had an obsession with small towns or the fact that it's constantly overflowing with hot, available men (though that certainly doesn't hurt). Maybe I'm just feeling a little melancholy and bittersweet because this is the beginning of the end - the first book of the last "trilogy" in the Lucky Harbor series. But really. Truly. I love the atmosphere of the town. I love Lucille. I want to stay at the B&B and visit the Love Shack and maybe even get pulled over by Sawyer (because yum!).

In all seriousness, though, Shalvis has captured my heart again. I am completely head over heels for this new group of guy friends: Sam, Tanner, and Cole. They have years of co-worker/friendship/blood brothers bonding behind them, and if I'm a sucker for any dynamic, it's that one. I love a good male friendship. I was already excited for Sam's story because he was the sexy, taciturn runner we got to see just enough to be teased in the previous set of Lucky Harbor books, but I was just as fascinated by Cole and Tanner as I was by Sam. I found myself wanting to know more about each of them individually, and I can't wait for their stories.

But back to the love story that I did get this time around, because it was a doozy. I laughed (because hello, this is a Jill Shalvis book, and if I don't laugh at least a dozen times when reading a Jill Shalvis book, call an ambulance) and sighed and swooned. I was captivated from the first page. I picked it up during Bout of Books, not sure if I was going to go for it or one of my other books on my goal list. But as soon as I started page one, I was a goner.

See, Sam wasn't the only one with secrets; in fact, that was not his department as much as it was Becca's. In fact, he wasn't nearly as silent as he gave the impression of being. He cared deeply for those within his circle. He was very sweet and sincere in his actions, even when not in words. Yeah, he was gruff sometimes, but it worked for him. I could absolutely see why Becca fell head over heels.

As for Becca, my heart hurt for her immediately, because you just knew she had something in her past that was haunting her. But she was a fighter. She went after what she wanted (including Sam, telling him straight-up what she wanted from him on a number of occasions, from wanting to sleep with him to wanting to date him, and can I just revel for a second in how refreshing that is?). She was scrappy and fun and totally obsessed with ranch popcorn and knew how to laugh at herself. Basically, I would totally be friends with her if I could somehow finagle my way into this fictional universe.

I was completely captivated by this story. It dealt with family problems and friendship, with fears and expectations, all against the charming and fun backdrop of the Pacific and Lucky Harbor. It had a good story and great characters, and not only the leads. I want to know more about Cole and Tanner. I want to know more about Olivia, Becca's neighbor. Thankfully, it seems I will be getting my wish in the next couple books! And while I'm not excited about getting closer to the end, I think these stories will be worth it.

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Blog Tour: Wild Iris Ridge by RaeAnne Thayne (Review)

Welcome to my stop on the Wild Iris Ridge blog tour! Be sure to check out the Tour Page at CBB Book Promotions for all the other stops.

Title: Wild Iris Ridge
Author: RaeAnne Thayne
Series: Hope's Crossing, #7
Published: June 24, 2014 (Harlqeuin HQN)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Format: Egalley provided by publisher as part of the book tour.

Summary: Lucy Drake and Brendan Caine have only one thing in common, and it's likely to tear them apart. Because it was Brendan's late wife, Jessie—and Lucy's best friend—who'd brought them together in the first place. And since Jesse's passing, Brendan's been distracted by his two little ones…and the memory of an explosive kiss with Lucy years before his marriage. Still, he'll steer clear of her. She's always been trouble with a capital T.

Lucy couldn't wait to shed her small-town roots for the big city. But now that she's back in Hope's Crossing to take care of the Queen Anne home her late aunt has left her, she figures seeing Brendan Caine again is no big deal. After all, she'd managed to resist the handsome fire chief once before, but clearly the embers of their attraction are still smoldering…

Even though I'd never read any of the Hope's Crossing books, I jumped at the chance to read this one. Why, you ask? Because of the story. I mentioned in a recent Lit Ladies video just how much I adore the storyline where a widower and his love interest are only connected by his late wife. It all started years ago with Sarah's Child, so I guess I'll blame Linda Howard. But I love stories that rip my heart out of my chest before providing the HEA, and this is obviously a storyline that can do that. However, interestingly enough, Wild Iris Ridge didn't capitalize on that too much. It had been two years since Jessie, Brendan's late wife, had passed, and though grief was obviously a factor, it was handled tastefully, and the book wasn't an angst-fest (like, say, Within Reach *clutches heart*), which I know a lot of readers will appreciate.

Having never read anything by RaeAnne Thayne before, I was definitely pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Wild Iris Ridge. I finished it in less than 24 hours. I would have finished it in one sitting, but I had to do the whole sleeping thing in order to do the whole work thing the next day. But I finished it at the next possible opportunity. The story unfolded at a leisurely pace, - though the I-love-you-HEA was a little rushed - but I couldn't put it down!

The hero, Brendan, was a fire chief with two small children, and the heroine, Lucy, was a marketing director who had just been fired from her job (basically as a scapegoat, since the fiasco wasn't her fault). She had temporarily returned to the mansion in Hope's Crossing she had inherited from her great aunt to turn it into a B&B, which had been a dream of her great aunt as well as Jessie, who had been her cousin and best friend. As she lived less than a block away from Brendan, they interacted frequently for a variety of reasons, and there was obvious chemistry between them from the start.

I liked both Brendan and Lucy! They were very different but compatible, once they got past their original dynamic where each thought the other didn't like them, leaving them in a perpetually awkward state. Also, Brendan's kids were absolutely adorable, and he had a large, messy, wonderful family as well. Clearly, you could open up a copy of Wild Iris Ridge alongside a list of my weaknesses and check them off one after the other.

My one real issue with this book stemmed from a tiny source, but it's a huge pet peeve of mine: a puppy. I'm not a dog person by any stretch of the imagination, but I've been around them enough to know that puppies are not magical, sparkling little balls of sunshine that miraculously cure all evils with which they come into contact. But that's what happened in this book. The energetic boy with no attention span settled down, the introverted bookworm became more outgoing, and the rebellious teenager suddenly became totally friendly and helpful with only a mild dose of sarcasm. I mean, seriously? No. Just no.

Beyond this, though, I didn't have any serious issues. I liked how the Career vs. Small Town dilemma was handled. I loved the family atmosphere and the characters. Plus, the hero had a brother who was totally geeky cute and pushed all my nerd girl buttons. I will definitely be on the lookout for his book! And in the meantime, I will probably investigate some of the earlier books in the series. If my feelings for this book are any indication, they will probably be a hit!

First:This was, without question, the craziest thing she had ever done.

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Favorite:An object in constant motion eventually had to run out of steam. She didn’t know if that was an actual physics principle, but it definitely applied to five-year-old boys.

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Teaser:Don’t make the mistake of thinking because a place is small, nothing of significance happens there. The smallest moments in a person’s life can be life-changing.

*All quotes from a review copy and may differ from the published version.

USA TODAY bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne loves words. This led her to a fifteen-year career in journalism as a newspaper reporter and editor. But through it all, she dreamed of writing the kind of stories she loved best, romance, and has since published more than 40 titles. RaeAnne finds inspiration in the rugged northern Utah mountains, where she lives with her hero of a husband and their children. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website, RaeAnneThayne.com.

Don't run away just yet, because now it's time for the giveaway! TWO WINNERS GET: 1 book from the Hope's Crossing series, 1 beaded HOPE bracelet, 1 Iris necklace (US/CA)

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(Blog Tour) Suddenly Last Summer by Sarah Morgan: Interview, Review, and Giveaway!

Title: Suddenly Last Summer
Author: Sarah Morgan
Series: O'Neil Brothers, #2
Published: June 24, 2014 (Harlequin)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Format: Digital review copy provided as part of the blog tour. (Thanks!)

Summary: USA TODAY bestselling author Sarah Morgan introduces another irresistible O'Neil brother who's more tempting than dessert and twice as sinful!

Fiery French chef Élise Philippe is having a seriously bad day. Not only have the grand opening plans for her beloved café fallen apart, but Sean O'Neil is back in town and looking more delectable than ever. Memories of the electrifying night they shared last summer leave Élise very tempted, but she knows all too well that eventually Sean will be leaving…again.

Being back in Vermont—even temporarily—is surgeon Sean O'Neil's worst nightmare. Returning home to the Snow Crystal Resort means confronting the guilt he feels about rejecting his family's lifestyle years ago. But discovering that Élise is still in Vermont and still sets his blood racing is a very welcome distraction! Remembering last summer and how good they were together is going to make walking away more difficult than he could imagine….

I was so, so excited to take part in this tour! My introduction to Sarah Morgan was when I read the first book in this trilogy, Sleigh Bells in the Snow, in December, and I couldn't sing its praises highly enough. Obviously I was ecstatic to return to Snow Crystal and read Sean and Élise's story.

Sean and Élise had one previous smoking night together after which they'd never really interacted, and that was fine with them. It was refreshing to see both parties with a modern attitude about sex and what it entailed, and that it had actually worked for them. Had being the keyword there. But then circumstances changed. Sean came back for an extended period of time, and that just blew the plan out of the water. As two complete commitment-phobes, Sean and Élise weren't prepared for a full-out relationship, and for their own reasons, neither wanted one. Watching them fumbling their way into love and a relationship and all those wonderful things was by turns amusing and touching.

Now, I know I talk chemistry a lot, because that happens when you focus on romance novels and YA books with a strong romantic element. But you guys, Sean and Élise brought it to a whole new level! (And spoiler alert: There was outdoors!sex involved at some point. You're welcome.) They also delivered some hilariously awesome banter. Observe:

“You said you wanted a man to perform heroics. I was planning on finding something heroic to do on the walk.” He let go of her arm and adjusted his pace to match hers. “You might want to stick around. You’re about to see a tough, macho man of the forest in action.”

“Does a tough, macho man of the forest always choose to dress in a suit?”

“A bear tore my loincloth when we were wrestling.”

I also really liked both Sean and Élise individually. They were both damaged, ambitious, successful, and a host of other things. They were complicated. They were real. Sean had problems with his family. Élise had problems from her past. But I empathized with both of them even when I was frustrated (with Sean especially), and I could always understand their motivation.

I can't review an O'Neil book without mentioning the O'Neil-and-friends clan, because that's still one of my favorite elements about these books (as you will see in the interview below). The close-knit community feel continued in Suddenly Last Summer, and I loved every scene where the family interacted.

While it didn't quite top Sleigh Bells in the Snow as my thus-far favorite of the trilogy, Suddenly Last Summer definitely held its own! It was a beautiful story set against a breathtaking backdrop of Vermont in the summer, and I enjoyed every moment of it. Now, if only I could build a time machine and get my hands on Tyler and Brenna's story, I'd be a completely happy camper.

Now, it's time to learn more about the fabulous Sarah and this awesome book she's written! She has graciously stopped by for an interview.

USA TODAY bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes hot, happy contemporary romance and her trademark humour and sensuality have gained her fans across the globe. She has been nominated three years in succession for the prestigious RITA© Award from the Romance Writers of America and has won the award twice, in 2012 and 2013. RT Book Reviews has called her 'a magician with words' and she has made numerous appearances in their 'Top Pick' slot. Sarah lives near London, and when she isn't reading or writing she loves being outdoors, preferably on vacation so she can forget the house needs tidying. She loves chatting with readers by email and on Facebook and Twitter. More information can be found on her website.

Sharon: First of all, Snow Crystal has quickly jumped up onto my List of Top Fictional Places. Do you have a real-place inspiration, or is this magical mecca of snow and nature a creature of your imagination?

Sarah Morgan: It’s a mixture of real and fictional. I’ve always loved mountains, snow, lakes and forest and I took certain aspects of places I’ve travelled to, combined them and created Snow Crystal. One of the many benefits of being an author is that you are in charge of the setting. Although Snow Crystal itself isn’t real, certain elements are real. I like to think this place exists somewhere. If anyone finds it, please email me!

Sharon: I think my favorite thing about the O'Neil books is just that: The O'Neils. I love how much importance you place on family - and that family does not only mean those related to you by blood. Is this a dynamic you intended to explore with these books?

Sarah: I wanted to write about a close-knit family and the rest of it just happened. I’ve always been fascinated by how family impacts on a person, how it can produce both conflict and support. The dynamics within the close-knit O’Neil family certainly influences the choices of all three O’Neil Brothers. You know that the women they fall in love with will have a lifetime of big, noisy, possibly exasperating family gatherings ahead!

One of the great things about writing longer novels is having the opportunity to explore not just the close up relationship of the hero and heroine, but the interaction with other family members and friends. It’s about showing how they fit into the wider community. For me, that makes the story more real and part of the focus of each of these stories is showing the family welcoming new members.

Sharon: Élise, our heroine, is a French chef who can whip up anything from a madeline to an eight course dinner without batting an eye. Did you do any research on cooking or recipes for this book? If so, did you discover any new favorites?

Sarah:Writing this book made me so HUNGRY. Truly. Although Élise is French, I wanted her cooking to reflect the local area and the produce she’d be likely to favor, so I did plenty of research. As a result of that I now have at least four brand new cookery books from Vermont on my bookshelves. That is one area of research where my family was keen to take part!

Sharon: I must say that it was a delight watching two such startlingly resolute commitment-phobes as Sean and Élise fall for each other despite their best efforts. Their chemistry was smokin'! How did you write such an interesting dynamic?

Sarah:I loved the idea that Sean and Élise had spent one steamy night together but never taken it further. Both of them think they have their feelings under control but of course that belief has never been challenged because Sean’s work is in Boston and he has his own reasons for spending as little time as possible in Snow Crystal. The fun came in throwing them together so they no longer had distance as a protective barrier. I loved seeing their relationship develop and watching two very independent people gradually relinquishing some of that control.

Sharon: Thank you so much for stopping by today and answering my questions. It was a pleasure having you! (And may I say...I am so excited for Tyler and Brenna's book! October cannot come quickly enough, and not only because I'm already sick of weather over 85 degrees. ;) )

Sarah: Thank you for having me! I’m excited to see Tyler and Brenna’s story, Maybe This Christmas, on the shelves too. This story has the same snowy, wintery feel as the first book, Sleigh Bells in the Snow, and an ending I’ve been dying to write ever since I started this series.

Now, don't go away quite yet! Last but definitely not least, we have a giveaway!

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(Review) Waiting on You by Kristan Higgins

Title: Waiting on You
Author: Kristan Higgins
Series: Blue Heron, #3
Published: March 2014 (Harlequin HQN)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Format: Paperback borrowed from the library

Summary: Colleen O'Rourke is in love with love... just not when it comes to herself. Most nights, she can be found behind the bar at the Manningsport, New York, tavern she owns with her twin brother, doling out romantic advice to the lovelorn, mixing martinis and staying more or less happily single. See, ten years ago, Lucas Campbell, her first love, broke her heart... an experience Colleen doesn't want to have again, thanks. Since then, she's been happy with a fling here and there, some elite-level flirting and playing matchmaker to her friends.

But a family emergency has brought Lucas back to town, handsome as ever and still the only man who's ever been able to crack her defenses. Seems like maybe they've got some unfinished business waiting for them—but to find out, Colleen has to let her guard down, or risk losing a second chance with the only man she's ever loved.

There is just something about a Kristan Higgins book. Her writing impacts me in a way that few other authors manage. It's something about her sense of humor and way of conveying emotions. I always laugh like a hyena multiple times and bawl like there's no tomorrow at the end - and sometimes at sporadic times throughout.

There's something else you should know about me: I don't do ex stories. Especially if the h/hr were high school sweethearts. There are very few faster ways to turn me away from a book before I've even started reading it. I don't know why; that particular plot device simply doesn't interest me.

So I had a little pang of disappointment when I saw this was going to be a story about exes. But it was Kristan Higgins. I knew if anyone could do it, she could.

I wasn't wrong.

She pulled it off with aplomb! The chemistry between Colleen and Lucas was mind-boggling. I'm all about the slow burn, but even I was practically shouting, "JUST KISS ALREADY!" Yet it wasn't all about the chemistry. It also wasn't entirely focused on their previous relationship (something that often bugs me about the few ex books I have read). Those were both definitely factors, but Colleen and Lucas also had a relationship in the present that could not be denied. They were a compatible and compelling couple; they won me over quickly.

I really liked both Colleen and Lucas as individual characters. Lucas was a "Southie" who was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago (try not to start singing "Bad Bad Leroy Brown" when you read that, I dare you) until he went to go live with his wealthy uncle's family as a teen. Colleen was born and raised in Manningsport? where she co-owned a bar with her brother and also worked part time at the nursing home where her grandfather lived. Colleen knew everyone. Lucas felt like he never belonged, in the town or with his family.

As usual, Higgins provided a wide and entertaining cast of secondary characters. I kept track of them easily, though that may be due to the fact that I knew some of them from previous Blue Heron books. Fun fact: Colleen was also a matchmaker of the first degree. Her current project involved Paulie and Bryce (Lucas's cousin), a pairing that seemed at the onset to be as strange as it was impossible. But fear not, Colleen to the rescue! There was also a subplot with Colleen's brother and his mystery girlfriend that intrigued me. I really hope he gets a book in the future!

At over 450 pages, Waiting on You could have easily dragged, but it never did. It moved at a steady pace (with a few flashbacks that told the story of Lucas and Colleen's previous relationship). Every page was entertaining, compelling, heartrending, or any combination of the three. In short, Waiting on You was another winner by Higgins. Now excuse me while I run off to Goodreads to stalk the release date of the next one.

First:“Drinks are on the house!”

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Favorite:“Bryce doesn’t need more complications in his life right now.”
“And by complications, you mean what, exactly?”
“The Chicken King’s virgin daughter.”
“Oh, cool! That sounds like a Harlequin romance. I would definitely read that.”

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Teaser:“As of right now, you’re my boyfriend, Jack, and I will castrate you if you deny it.”
“And we wonder why you can’t find a man.”

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(Review) We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Title: We Were Liars
Author: E. Lockhart
Published: May 13, 2014 (Delacorte Press)
Rating: Stay Up 'til 2 AM
Format: Digital galley provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!

Summary: A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

Read it.
And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.

In a nutshell, We Were Liars is a fantastic book to read and discuss but a terrible book to review. Basically, I can't say much of anything without spoiling it, but I don't want to spoil it for you! I'm one of the few people who figured out the ~big twist~ ahead of time because it's similar to a movie I love and had watched only a few days before reading this book. So yeah, you might guess it, and yes, the book is probably better if you don't.

But! Don't think that ruins the experience. Despite the marketing, there is much more to We Were Liars than the ending. Don't just read it because you want something that's going to shock your pants off (though that very well may happen - hopefully only figuratively speaking, especially if you're in public). Here are some other reasons to read it:

For the characters: The characters are real and flawed and interesting and all so unique from one another. With the exception of one, they're the rich and privileged kids you frequently see villainized but never explained, and I love seeing the other side.

Because it's different. Trust me, there are not a lot of stories like this.

For the writing. Apparently, sort of like Tahereh Mafi and a few others I could name, E. Lockhart's writing style is a love-it-or-hate-it kind of thing. And I fall solidly and quite happily in the LOVE IT camp. It is honestly a large portion of why I loved the book.

For the emotions. This book turned me into an emotional wreck. Of course, messed up in the head kind of gal that I am, this made me love it more. So if you're on the crazy emotional bandwagon with me, this one's for you!

For the discussions. I definitely recommend reading this along with a friend so you can discuss it afterward! Much like Dangerous Girls, I think half the experience is in the post-reading discussions. And if you don't have any friends up for a readalong, get some new ones, come find me on Twitter, and I'll be happy to discuss it with you!

All in all, We Were Liars is shocking, unique, and thought-provoking. If you are looking for your next book club selection, I would definitely recommend this one!

First:Welcome to the Beautiful Sinclair family.

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(Review) Three Weeks with Lady X by Eloisa James

Title: Three Weeks with Lady X
Author: Eloisa James
Series: Desperate Duchesses, #7
Published: March 25, 2014 (Avon)
Rating: Stay Up 'til 2 AM
Format: Digital review copy received from publisher in exchange for an honest review (Thank you!)

Summary: Having made a fortune, Thorn Dautry, the powerful bastard son of a duke, decides that he needs a wife. But to marry a lady, Thorn must acquire a gleaming, civilized dwelling, the specialty of Lady Xenobia India St. Clair.

Exquisite, head-strong, and independent, India vows to make Thorn marriageable in just three weeks. But neither Thorn nor India anticipate the forbidden passion that explodes between them. Thorn will stop at nothing to make India his. Failure is not an option. But there is only one thing that will make India his—the one thing Thorn can't afford to lose: His fierce and lawless heart.

When I first read that Eloisa James was going to write another Desperate Duchesses book, there may have been a happy dance. Of the super spazzy variety. While I do adore her fairy tale books, there is just something about her Desperate Duchesses series that is simply magical without any fairy dust needed.

I'll be honest: I went into this one knowing absolutely nothing about it. I do that sometimes with authors I trust, just for the fun of it. I like to be surprised by what they have in store. (Although now that I think about it, I just realized that the last time I was SUPER burned by a misleading totally-didn't-match-the-book blurb, it was an Eloisa James book. It happened with the most recent one, and it also happened with Thorn's father's book. Huh. Maybe my subconscious is onto something.) But I digress. Blurb or no, I enjoyed every moment between the covers of this book.

Lady Xenobia (better known by her middle name, India) was a fantastic heroine. She was colorful, unique, bold, yet traditional in many ways and demanding of respect. I enjoyed every moment with her. She was a career woman of sorts, in high demand by the members of the ton as, basically, an overhauler of households. India redesigned rooms, decorated, eliminated incompetent staff, and hired new servants when needed. She had made quite the reputation for herself, but India also wanted to marry. She decided to take one more job before retiring: the household of Tobias "Thorn" Dautry.

Thorn was quite the hero. He was as untraditional as could be, a richer-than-Croesus illegitimate son of a duke (the Duke of Villiers, nonetheless!) who had spent the first 12 years of his life as an orphan and a mudlark. Those years had shaped him in many ways, even though he was living as a gentleman now. He needed more than simply his money to appease the mother of the woman he wanted to marry; he needed a respectful residence. So he bought one, albeit one with a rather debauched former owner who displayed erotic art in the front hall. Enter India, hired by Thorn's stepmother to overhaul his new abode. Thus, despite their initial dislike, India and Thorn were forced to work together

Because of this set-up, much of the beginning stage of their acquaintance/friendship was formed through letters. I always, always love when novels have epistolary portions. There's just something about reading the written, personal communication between two people that is so fun and intimate and telling. It is a marvelous way to get to know the characters; I love it when the personalities shine through the writing. I am always amazed at what can be conveyed through simple word choice and placement. While there were only a few missives in Lady X, every bit was splendid. I laughed aloud more than once. It also served as a delightful way to deepen Thorn and India's friendship while they were apart.

Throw in a few "friendly" kisses, an adorable little girl, some witty banter, and a mildly pornographic statue or two, and you will understand why I fell so thoroughly under the spell of Three Weeks with Lady X. I couldn't put it down! It was entertaining, charming, and completely addicting. Color my expectations met: James has written another winner!

First:“Lady Xenobia, I adore you!”

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Favorite:“I would suggest that you place yourself in the hands of Monsieur Devoulier.”
“Why that tailor in particular?” Thorn drawled, thinking with some satisfaction of the various coats Devoulier had made for him over the years. He might not choose to dress like a peacock on a daily basis, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t the clothing to do so.
“He excels in making shortfalls less obvious,” she said coolly. And damned if she didn’t glance at his crotch.

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Teaser:Her eyes glittered. “Are you attempting to intimidate me?”
“Absolutely not. I’m merely attempting to clarify your thoughts on the subject. Because since I haven’t managed to sack you – not that I ever officially hired you – I might as well know my new employee’s opinion of me.” [...]
“First, Eleanor hired me, no you. And second, you are the bastard son of a duke.”
“Do you realize that you are the first lady who has ever said the word ‘bastard’ aloud to me?”
She looked him straight in the eye. “The word has more than one meaning”

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(Review) Satisfaction by Sarah Mayberry

Title: Satisfaction
Author: Sarah Mayberry
Published: February 28, 2014 (Small Cow Productions)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Format: Digital copy received from author in exchange for an honest review.

Summary: Maggie Hendricks loves her life. She’s got a great job, amazing friends. Everything is perfect - except for one smallish problem. Maggie can’t quite get there, sexually speaking. It’s just never happened for her. And while she tells herself she’s fine with that, she can’t help feeling as though she’s missing out.

When her friend shares the intimate details of an encounter with an extremely talented lover, Maggie makes a desperate pact with herself. She will seduce this man - or allow him to seduce her - and if he can’t get her there...well, then she’ll hand herself over to medical science. A simple enough plan. What could possible go wrong?

Within minutes of meeting Rafel Oliveira, Maggie knows the answer to that one: plenty. But Rafel turns out to be far more than simply talented in the bedroom. As he takes her on a journey toward the ultimate pleasure, Maggie finds herself craving a lot more than his beautiful body. The question is, is Rafel’s heart available for the taking?

I've been reading Sarah Mayberry since I first became a fledgling romance convert years back, and she hasn't let me down yet. Obviously when the opportunity came, I jumped at the chance to review Satisfaction, her newest self-published novel (especially since her last self-pub was so freaking incredible. Seriously, if you like hate-to-love stories, check outHer Best Worst Mistake. You won't regret it.)

Satisfaction is such an original story! I've never read anything like it. This is the story of Maggie, a bookstore owner in Australia who has a frustrating problem: She cannot achieve orgasm. She's in her mid twenties and has never been able to, by herself or with the help of talented (or not-so-talented) partners.

So when her friend describes a one-off hands-down-best-sex-of-her-life encounter with a Brazilian tattoo artist in his parlor but has no intention of pursuing things, Maggie gets a crazy idea. She should go pretend like she's going to get a tattoo and seduce the guy. Obviously someone so legendarily talented couldn't let her down.

Only there's a slight problem.

She gets the wrong guy.

See, it turns out Mr. Potential Orgasm has a twin brother, Rafel, and Maggie propositions him instead. She flees in embarrassment when he rejects her, but a comment that she makes intrigues him. After some pondering, he tracks her down a bit later and offers to help her with her problem. She agrees.

Thus begins their sexy game.

But it becomes more than a game pretty quickly. What could have so very easily been a Magical Sex = Love plot did not fall into that trap. Between their sessions of Pursuit of the Little Death, Maggie and Rafel have real interactions. They talk about their emotions, their dreams. They joke, they laugh. He reads a book purely based on her recommendation. They spend a day together at the beach with his brother and Blue, a close friend of the brothers. And wait for it because this is the cherry on top: They actually communicate and are honest with each other! Something which is delightful to read even when it's painful, which is sometimes the case here.

I have read quite a few books lately where the heroines either work at or own a book store, and it always makes me happy! This one is especially awesome, as Maggie talks about a lot of romance authors like Meredith Duran, Nalini Singh, and Georgette Heyer (Maggie's favorite author, something which prompted me to finally pick up my first Heyer, which I'm currently reading!).

I've never read a story quite like Satisfaction, and I appreciate Mayberry's frank treatment of Maggie's orgasmically-challenged affliction. I'm not going to spoil whether or not she ever, ahem, reaches satisfaction, but I'll tell you that Rafel and Maggie's interactions are certain to have you reaching for a glass of cold water regardless. Plus, they are just so sweet! This is definitely a winner, and I would recommend it for anyone who likes her romances real, hot, and satisfying.

First:“Beautifully written. Very lyrical. And so many triple-score words I had to read with a dictionary by the bedside just to make sense of it.”

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Favorite:“What’s so funny?” he asked, head tilted to one side, quizzical smile on his mouth.
“Such a guy meal,” she said. “The sandwich equivalent of banging your chest like Tarzan.”
“You don’t like meatball subs?”
“I love them.”
“But you’re still giving me grief?”
“Seems like it.”

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Teaser:She felt a little dizzy. The man was so hot he was practically a walking erogenous zone.

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(Review) Once in a Lifetime by Jill Shalvis

Title: Once in a Lifetime
Author: Jill Shalvis
Series: Lucky Harbor, #9
Published: February 18, 2013 (Grand Central Publishing)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Format: Digital galley received from publisher in exchange for an honest review. (Thank you!)

Summary: After a wrenching loss, Ben McDaniels tried to escape his grief by working in dangerous, war-torn places like Africa and the Middle East. Now he’s back in his hometown and face-to-face with Aubrey Wellington, the hot-as-hell woman who is trouble with a capital T. Family and friends insist she’s not the one to ease his pain, but Aubrey sparks an intense desire that gives Ben hope for the future.

Determined to right the wrongs of her past, Aubrey is working hard to make amends. But by far, the toughest challenge to her plan is sexy, brooding Ben …even though he has absolutely no idea what she’s done…
Can this unlikely couple defy the odds and win over the little town of Lucky Harbor?

I'm always, always excited to return to Lucky Harbor, Washington. Whether it's a brand new book, a re-read, or I'm just thinking about how much I love the characters, it's just a happy place for me. Needless to say, I was pumped to read the newest one, Once in a Lifetime, especially because of the two characters it featured.

We had met both Ben and Aubrey in previous books. I've been desperate for Ben's book ever since he was first mentioned. He had all the earmarks of a hero I would love: a guy with a military background, amble brains and brawn, who might be a little bit emotionally broken and had spent the past few years doing awesome things with war-torn and post-disaster locations. As a bonus, he was beloved by the town, which is always a good sign. Then, as if that wasn't enough, we saw in Once in a Lifetime that even if he was a little awkward around them, Ben had a heart for kids and was good with them. Excuse me while I reach for the smelling salts. I was also very intrigued by Aubrey! The main reason being that we weren't supposed to like Aubrey back when she was first introduced as a character. But then once you got a little peek beyond her façade, you saw that she wasn't as terrible as she appeared. She was a complicated character, and I appreciated that Shalvis gave her her own book. I really wanted to get to know her after seeing a little of her before, and I definitely got to in Once in a Lifetime.

Aubrey was not always a nice person. In fact, she spent a lot the story making amends for past hurts she had caused, an idea that occurred to her when she accidentally attended an AA meeting ('cause, you know, it happens). I particularly enjoyed the storyline with Aubrey and her sister, Carla. When their parents divorced while the girls were still pretty young, Carla - The Brains - and Aubrey - The Beauty - were split up, too: Carla lived with their father who was a successful doctor, and Aubrey went with their mother, a beauty-obsessed woman who pushed Aubrey into beauty pageants and wanted her to go into modeling. Forced into these roles by their parents, the sisters did not interact much, and they were both secretly jealous of each other. Aubrey's attempts to make amends with Carla brought the two sisters a little closer together and gave me hope that they would have a much stronger relationship in the future. I'm also crossing my fingers that Carla gets a book later on, because I really liked her!

Now, onto the romance. Aubrey and Ben's interactions began when Aubrey accidentally tossed her drink all over Ben at the bar (um...whoops?). I felt the tingles immediately as he looked her, all strong and silent. While Aubrey had had a crush on Ben since high school, he was a pretty intimidating presence, and there was always a sort of unexplained animosity between them. When Ben was hired by Aubrey's uncle to make the renovations she needed for the grand opening of her bookstore (!), though, the tension and sparring turned to sparks of chemistry they could no longer deny. There was a bit of a hindrance to their romance, though: Aubrey had a Big Secret in the fact that Ben was on her list of people to whom she needed to apologize. And he didn't even know it.

Unfortunately, there were a couple things that made me go a little frowny-face. For instance, at one point, Ben stole the something-or-other-part from Aubrey's car so it wouldn't work so she would let him drive her around. Just so he could know what she was up to. Yes, he was nosy and curious and maybe even protective, and it was played out in a humorous way. But that crossed the line for me into things that are less romantic and more stalkerish. Thankfully, this type of behavior did not continue, and Ben owned up to it later.

All in all, Once in a Lifetime was definitely another winner of a Lucky Harbor book! The town continued to charm, and I wanted to visit Aubrey's bookstore! It sounded so lovely. Plus, since she was unofficially open before her Grand Opening, we got to see some interactions between Aubrey and her customers which were both hilarious and fairly apt (such as the people who ask for historical fiction but actually mean historical romance). We also got a preview of the next Lucky Harbor book, It's in His Kiss, featuring Ben's running partner and friend who was mysterious, enigmatic, and silent enough to make Ben look like a regular Chatty Cathy. I definitely can't wait to see what's going on there!

Until next time, Lucky Harbor. Until next time.

First:There was one universal truth in Lucky Harbor, Washington – you could hide a pot of gold in broad daylight and no one would steal it, but you couldn't hide a secret.

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Teaser:“I mean it, Ben,” she said. “This is my business.”
“Whatever you say, Sunshine.” He pulled out his phone, presumably accessing whatever shoot ‘em up, kill ‘em game he was playing with Jack.
It was as close to a promise as she was going to get, and she knew it. She blew out a breath and then caught sight of his screen. Not a shoot ‘em up, kill ‘em game at all. “Words with Friends?” she asked. “That's the killer game you play?”
“It can be killer,” he said lightly, his manhood apparently not threatened in the slightest. “Hey, do you know a seven-letter word that’s got the letter X in it? I've got a triple-word opportunity here.”
“Extinct,” she said,” which is what I’m going to make you if you follow me.”

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(Review) Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase

Title: Lord of Scoundrels
Author: Loretta Chase
Series: Scoundrels, #3
Published: January 1995 (Avon)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Format: Physical copy, won from Harley Bear Book Blog

Summary: Sebastian Ballister, the notorious Marquess of Dain, is big, bad, and dangerous to know. No respectable woman would have anything to do with the "Bane and Blight of the Ballisters" — and he wants nothing to do with respectable women. He's determined to continue doing what he does best—sin and sin again — and all that's going swimmingly, thank you . . . until the day a shop door opens and she walks in.

Jessica Trent is a determined young woman, and she's going to drag her imbecile brother off the road to ruin, no matter what it takes. If saving him — and with him, her family and future — means taking on the devil himself, she won't back down. The trouble is, the devil in question is so shockingly irresistible, and the person who needs the most saving is herself!

When I first began thinking of books with Beauty and the Beast themes, Lord of Scoundrels immediately came to mind. One of the most famous in the historical romance world, it is a favorite of many. I originally read it back in 2009, scarcely a few months after I discovered and subsequently devoured the historical romance genre. In fact, it directly followed my binge-reading of the Bridgerton books by Julia Quinn, and that is not an easy act to follow by any means. But Lord of Scoundrels was hailed as magnificent, a classic, a must-read for any historical romance fan, and a book that had converted many a romance-doubter into a romance-lover. So I gave it a shot, and I fell in love.

Now, more than four years later, I needed this book in my life again quite desperately, and this event was the perfect time. I was, however, a little hesitant. Obviously when you first discover a genre, you tend to be less critical of it than after you've had some experience. It's all brand new and exciting, and those little nitpicky things that will bother you later on? You haven't noticed them yet. At least that's how it is for me. I have discovered that sometimes when I re-read a book that was an early favorite, I'll discover that the magic just isn't quite there anymore. And I was scared this would happen with Lord of Scoundrels. Less so than I am with some books, since this one comes so highly lauded. But still.

Shock of all shocks: I needn't have worried.

Loretta Chase still has one of the most charming writing styles I've ever seen. Jessica Trent remains one of my favorite heroines for how strong and awesome she is. I still feel for Dain so freaking much. And the infamous glove scene still gives me a swoon attack powerful enough to make me wish I owned an inhaler. And don't even mention the lamppost scene, lest I keel over in a dead faint.

There are so many things to love about this book. One of the best is the dialogue between Jessica and Dain. It's classic and hilarious and sharp and stunning. Example:

“Jessica, you are a pain in the arse, do you know that? If I were not so immensely fond of you, I should throw you out the window."

She wrapped her arms about his waist and laid her head against his chest. "Not merely 'fond,' but 'immensely fond.' Oh Dain, I do believe I shall swoon."

"Not now," he said crossly. "I haven't time to pick you up.”

What's not to love? Sarcasm is my language, and I snort with laughter every time I read this quote.

Really, though, Lord of Scoundrels has so much to recommend it. A strong heroine. Dual points of view so that you can understand what is going on inside Dain's head (because trust me, you need it). Jaw-dropping moments (or at least one in particular). One of the best grandmothers in the history of literature. Feels galore.

As for why I chose it for this feature? Perhaps the thing that makes this book most infamous: While the heroine is stunningly lovely, the hero is ugly. No, really. He wasn't handsome and then tragically scarred. He was described as unattractive as a child, and he never grew out of it. He's huge with a big nose and a frightening presence. But to Jessica? He's beautiful. Because everyone is beautiful to someone, no matter how the world tries to define you. And Dain breaks my heart into a million pieces because he is so insecure about his appearance, despite his intimidating presence and the devil-may-care attitude he displays. He is has a million walls up, and watching them fall before the (relatively) tiny but powerful Jessica just makes them all the more endearing.

While I don't quite think it is the perfect historical romance - it does have its flaws, though I can't really mention them without spoiling - Lord of Scoundrels remains one of my favorites. I am so glad I decided to conquer my fear and read it again. If you are looking for an excellent historical romance reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast, look no further, because Lord of Scoundrels probably does it better.

First:In the spring of 1792, Dominick Edward Guy de Ath Ballister, third Marquess of Dain, Earl of Blackmoor, Viscount Launcells, Baron Ballister and Launcells, lost his wife and four children to typhus.

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Favorite:In my dictionary, romance is not maudlin, treacly sentiment. It is a curry, spiced with excitement and humor and a healthy dollop of cynicism.

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Teaser:“I tell you Dain is a splendid catch. I advise you to set your hooks and reel him in.”

Jessica took a long swallow of her cognac. “This is not a trout, Genevieve. This is a great, hungry shark.”

“Then use a harpoon.”

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(Review) Making Faces by Amy Harmon

Title: Making Faces
Author: Amy Harmon
Published: October 12, 2013 (Self-published)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Format: Digital copy, purchased

Summary: Ambrose Young was beautiful. He was tall and muscular, with hair that touched his shoulders and eyes that burned right through you. The kind of beautiful that graced the covers of romance novels, and Fern Taylor would know. She'd been reading them since she was thirteen. But maybe because he was so beautiful he was never someone Fern thought she could have...until he wasn't beautiful anymore.

Making Faces is the story of a small town where five young men go off to war, and only one comes back. It is the story of loss. Collective loss, individual loss, loss of beauty, loss of life, loss of identity. It is the tale of one girl's love for a broken boy, and a wounded warrior's love for an unremarkable girl. This is a story of friendship that overcomes heartache, heroism that defies the common definitions, and a modern tale of Beauty and the Beast, where we discover that there is a little beauty and a little beast in all of us.

I was originally going to re-read and review a different book for my first review of this feature. At the last moment, I decided to do a quick scan of Goodreads and see if there were any promising Beauty and the Beast themed books I could get my hands on quickly enough. Lo and behold, my eyes fell on Making Faces. The cover screamed New Adult, which I've been burned by to the point where I have to force myself to read it. But I decided to investigate anyway. While the cover looked like a typical NA, the blurb seemed to suggest anything but. I'm a sucker for the scarred (either internally and externally; bonus points for both) hero. Plus military? AND it even mentioned Beauty and the Beast in the blurb, which was the reason I was seeking it out? Yes, please. So I clicked over to B&N and bought it before I could think twice. Not the approach I usually take when buying books, but in this case, I'm so glad I did!

The story started in high school where we met Fern and Ambrose for the first time. Ambrose was a wrestling star at the top of the heap, and Fern was a lowly ugly duckling in the view of the few students who actually noticed her. Still, Fern loved Ambrose and had since they were children, and as a romance lover and a writer at heart, she fell into the Cyrano-esque trap of writing love letters back and forth to Ambrose...except she was doing it for her friend Rita. When this was uncovered, Fern's hopes of capturing Ambrose's heart for herself were dashed.

Except after graduation, Ambrose went off to war and came back almost unrecognizably scarred. Fern had lost the braces and glasses and learned how to manage her hair. But she had kept her goodness, her faithfulness, and her unfailing love for Ambrose. Now maybe this might seem pathetic, but Fern never made it seem so weak. It was simply part of who she was. She wasn't ashamed of it, and she owned it, which was something I honestly wasn't sure she had the backbone to do. It made me love her more. In fact, I quite liked Fern as a character.

Fern had been reading romances since she was thirteen years old. She had fallen in love with Gilbert Blythe from Anne of Green Gables and was hungry to fall in love like that over and over again. And then she discovered Harlequin. Her mother would have croaked face first into her herbal mint tea if she’d known how many forbidden romances Fern consumed the summer before eighth grade, and Fern had had a million book boyfriends since then.

She was a pastor's daughter who devoured romance novels. So, really, how could I not like her? It was really fun that I could identify with that side of Fern, even though I was unlike her in many other ways. While there are quite a few bookish heroines, it was refreshing and awesome to read about about one who loved romance novels.

Then there was Ambrose. I'm not a wrestling fan, and I don't like my guys with long hair. Somehow, though, it worked for high school Ambrose. He was actually a pretty nice guy, and he was intrigued by Fern even though he never acknowledged it. One thing I wasn't expecting was that we actually got to see some of the interaction between Ambrose and his friends both before and during their time as soldiers, which helped me understand his pain even more. Once he came back, Ambrose was reclusive for many reasons. His looks were a big factor, but Amy Harmon refrained from beating the issue to death, which I appreciated.

BUT. Lest you think the (albeit incomprehensible) thought that a lovely romance is not enough to capture your attention, please read on. This book is not just a romance. No, really. While the love story was wonderful and my love for it is growing even stronger in hindsight, the star of this show was not one of the main two. It was a boy named Bailey.

Bailey positively captured my heart. He was Fern's best friend, and he had Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a disease which breaks down muscles and, eventually, weakens the body to the point where it is no longer able to function. Since this book took place over the course of a couple years with several flashbacks, we were able to see Bailey at several points in his disease. For the majority of the book, though, Bailey was wheelchair-bound, unable to lift his arms past his chest. But he had not lost his spirit. He was such an engaging personality, hilarious and inspiring and real. He had quotes like this that broke my heart:

It’s hard to come to terms with the fact that you aren't ever going to be loved the way you want to be loved.

But he had a million more that made me smile, made me think, made me laugh out loud. In short, this was half a romantic love story, half a Bailey story, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Making Faces played into the Beauty and the Beast theme in several ways. There was the obvious, of course, the fact that the beautiful Fern loved the no-longer-beautiful Ambrose. But there was a theme throughout of looking beyond appearances and seeing what was beneath. Inside, Bailey was the world's greatest wrestler and full of vitality. Inside, Fern had a heart that surpassed her beauty. Inside, Ambrose was capable of goodness and love at odds with his tragic appearance. This book showed many times over that the outside means nothing. Beautiful people can be ugly inside, vice versa, and any combination thereof. The outside is nothing but a cover, the side strangers see when they pass by on the street. The inside is what counts.

Not that you'd be expecting it, but Making Faces was not a light read. I spent a good portion of it crying for a variety of reasons. But I am still in love with it and still thinking about it several days later. I am so glad I gave this one a chance, and I definitely plan to check out more of Amy Harmon's books. Making Faces was a surprising, inspiring, and emotional read that satisfied my inner Fern-esque romance-loving heart and gave me something beyond my expectations.

First:“The Ancient Greeks believed that after death, all souls, whether good or bad, would descend to the Underworld, the kingdom of Hades, deep in the Earth, and dwell there for eternity,” Bailey read aloud, his eyes flying across the page.

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Favorite:She struggled with the words for two days. Everything from “Hi. Glad you’re back!’ to “I couldn’t care less if your face isn’t perfect, I still want to have your babies.” Neither seemed quite right.

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Teaser:You read smutty romance novels and quote scripture. I’m not quite sure I have you figured out.

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