(Review) The Best Man by Kristan Higgins

Title: The Best Man
Author: Kristan Higgins
Series: Blue Heron, #1
Published: February 26, 2013 (HQN)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Format: Digital ARC from publisher via Edelweiss

Summary: Faith Holland left her hometown after being jilted at the altar. Now a little older and wiser, she's ready to return to the Blue Heron Winery, her family's vineyard, to confront the ghosts of her past, and maybe enjoy a glass of red. After all, there's some great scenery there....

Like Levi Cooper, the local police chief-and best friend of her former fiancé. The only catch is she's having a hard time forgetting that he helped ruin her wedding all those years ago. If she can find a minute amidst all her family drama to stop and smell the rosé, she just might find a reason to stay at Blue Heron, and finish that walk...

There's a reason why Kristan Higgins is one of my favorite contemporary romance authors, folks. I loved The Best Man! We first meet Faith as she is sitting in a car and chugging Red Bull...while she uses binoculars to spy on a guy she is dating. But in her defense, she has probably the worst dating record in history, starting with the wedding we learn about in the prologue...which concludes with the groom announcing he is gay.

This book takes place mostly in the present day, but there are also a lot of flashbacks, which I enjoyed a lot. I really liked seeing the development of both the characters and the relationships. As the book goes along, we learn more about Faith and her history with Jeremy (the gay almost-husband) and his best friend Levi. Honestly, the friendship between Jeremy and Levi was one of the best things about this book. It was so refreshing! I absolutely love reading about close male friendships, especially when done well. Jeremy and Levi were an unlikely pair, but their friendship rang true.

And as long as we're on the subject: Levi. Oh, Levi. I have officially found a new book boyfriend. A man of few words, Levi was an Army veteran, police chief, great friend, and big brother doing his best to help his little sister through her first year of college. Be still, my heart.

I also liked Faith. I was a little worried I wouldn't in the beginning, but I really should not have bothered. She was fun and kind-hearted and snarky when necessary. She also had epilepsy, which I thought was interesting. It was definitely a unique aspect of the story. I adored the interactions between Faith and Levi. Their scenes together ranged from so-hilarious-my-roommate-was-giving-me-strange-looks to heartwrenching to sweet to sudden hotflash-inducing.

In typical Higgins fashion, there was a pretty large cast of characters, and Faith had a big, crazy family. Her relationship with them was complicated, partially due to circumstances surrounding her mother's death when she was a child. I liked her family, though. There were some good scenes with them. I was also really intrigued by the possibility of romance between some of the side characters. I'm not discussing who, but I will keep my eye on her future releases for them!

All-in-all, The Best Man was a good one! I enjoyed the characters, the friendships, and the romance. The New England town with a background of winery vines and grapes was a thoroughly charming setting, and I am very happy to see that this is the first in a series to take place in Blue Heron. Maybe I can move there after a few years in Lucky Harbor...?

That’s how it went, right? Love came when you weren’t looking except in the case of the millions who’d found mates on Match.com, but, hey. It sounded good.

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One does not meet one’s gay ex-fiancé without looking fantastic.

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Yes, Levi Cooper was a sparkly unicorn of wonder.

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(Review) The Ugly Duchess by Eloisa James

Title: The Ugly Duchess
Author: Eloisa James
Series: Fairy Tales #4
Published: August 28, 2012 (Avon)
Rating: Stay Up 'til 2 AM
Format: Digital ARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss

Summary: Theodora Saxby is the last woman anyone expects the gorgeous James Ryburn, heir to the Duchy of Ashbrook, to marry. But after a romantic proposal before the prince himself, even practical Theo finds herself convinced of her soon-to-be duke's passion. Still, the tabloids give the marriage six months.

Theo would have given it a lifetime…until she discovers that James desired not her heart, and certainly not her countenance, but her dowry. Society was shocked by their wedding; it's scandalized by their separation. Now James faces the battle of his lifetime, convincing Theo that he loved the duckling who blossomed into the swan.

As The Ugly Duchess was Eloisa James, I had fairly high expectations when I picked it up. But when I actually read it? Two words: Blown. Away. It was not at all what I expected! Seriously. It was going along in a great-but-expected way and then all the sudden, BAM. But it's a good bam. A very, very good bam. Just letting you know that the blurb is, well...pretty much not at all the story. But the story is better than that, and I for one loved being surprised with the twist and subsequent story, so I am going to let you enjoy it firsthand as well.

Back at the beginning, though, the book opened with Theo and James, only 17 and 19, and they actually had a friendship. A real friendship! And neither of them was ~secretly in love~ with the other. Which I love, by the way, but it was nice to not have that aspect for a change. They made me smile; I loved seeing how they interacted. I also really appreciated how their voices were different when they were younger compared to further on in the book.

One reason I love Eloisa James is that she does not idealize marriage. Marriage is work; it is not simply a solution to tie up everything into a pretty, tied-up-with-a-bow Happily Ever After. A ring does not magically solve all problems. But it can work! It can be a beautiful thing as long as the parties are committed to it. I absolutely loved reading James and Theo's journey to a happy marriage and their HEA. It made me smile, laugh, cry, and swoon.

Overall, The Ugly Duchess was one of the best reads of the season, and it is definitely among my top favorite James books. It was an intriguing mix of friends-to-lovers and marriage of convenience. I had never read a book that balanced those elements in that way so well before. I absolutely loved it! James remains one of my favorite historical romance authors. I am SO excited for her next book (Rapunzel story! Cross-dressing hero! Yes, please!).

Random funny sidenote: Verveine was mentioned at one point in the book, and I was momentarily nonplussed. I forgot it was an actual plant and had real uses besides repelling vampires. :D

She did like it, almost all of it, particularly the part where he kissed her so urgently that they were both moaning, because that made her feel like a bit of paper about to go up in flames.

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Second Chance Saturday (01): Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey

The goal of this feature is to give a second chance to a book/author/series I have written off for some reason.
(If you'd like more information on how this feature works, check out this introduction post.)

This Month's Featured Book: Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey
This Book Was a Second Chance Because... I had picked it up from the library numerous times, both before and after I discovered how amazing Shannon Stacey was. I finally cracked it open one day while waiting on a friend so I could start the next episode of Doctor Who, and I was hooked!
Verdict: Worth the second chance! Although I did not like it as much in the other two in the trilogy, it was a very enjoyable story. Any time the Kowalski clan is there, I'm in!
Other Books Mentioned: Born in Ice by Nora Roberts
Purchase: Amazon || Barnes & Noble || The Book Depository

Psst! The ebook is FREE right now! Get it while it's hot! { Kindle || Nook }

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Friday Five: Historical Romance Edition (#01)

I read a lot of books. Shocking, really! Unfortunately, though, I am fairly consistently behind in reviewing. And taking a few months off last year did not help. Basically, there are books I would love to review, but I don't really have enough to say about them for a full-out, detailed review (most likely because I read them too long ago). But they still deserve to mentioned! Rather than trying to force stiff, fluff-filled reviews, after some contemplation, I came up with this feature. One Friday a month, I will be posting these mini-review batches, each featuring books from a specific genre. This will help me catch up on reviews, but it also won't clog up everyone's reader with short, separate posts. Now, without further ado, behold the first Friday Five, featuring the Historical Romance genre.

Book: A Week to be Wicked by Tessa Dare
Series: Spindle Cove, #2
Published: March 27, 2012 (Avon)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Thoughts: This was the very first book I ever pre-ordered, because I was SUPER excited about if after the build-up between the couple in the first book. It did not disappoint! I do like road trip books set in modern day, but they have nothing on the carriage/hackney/mail coach road trips in historicals. I just love them so much, and this was no exception. Plus, the two leads were still superbly fabulous; the snappy banter and fierce attraction made for a great dynamic. Dare really just takes witty to a whole new level. Colin's comments and inner dialog were hilarious, and I really liked Min. Overall, a fantastic addition to one of my favorite historical series!
Favorite Quote: "Oh no. Oh God. I couldn't possibly be so stupid." - "Don't limit yourself. You can be anything you wish."

Book: Dukes to the Left of Me, Princes to the Right by Kieran Kramer
Series: Impossible Bachelors, #2
Published: November 30, 2010 (St. Martin's Paperbacks)
Rating: Lunch Break Read
Thoughts: I will give this book points for originality; it had one of the most original and hilarious h/hr meetings ever. The heroine belonged to a group of friends happy to be spinsters, and they were all great. The spy plot was there, but it thankfully did not take up too much of the story. The book also had great vocabulary, which always makes me happy! I learned the words sinecure, rout, and nonce. Unfortunately, the story dragged quite a bit toward the beginning and end, and there was some over-the-top drama I didn't really appreciate.
Favorite Quote: She had an obsession with his mouth now. And his hands. By God, and everything else about him, too.

Book: The Capture of the Earl of Gelncrae by Stephanie Laurens
Series: The Cynster Sisters Trilogy, #3
Published: January 31, 2012 (Avon)
Rating: Lunch Break Read
Thoughts: This book was not exactly what I expected from the summary, but I wound up mostly enjoying it nonetheless. I had two main issues with this book: the necklace Angelica had that apparently could tell you your ~hero~ when you wore it, and the fact that it was so long I got seriously bored. There were many unnecessary scenes of her family reacting/plotting about her kidnapping, but I am sure that someone who followed Laurens' books would love them. If they were, for instance, the Bridgertons, I would have loved to see the family all interacting together. But I digress. Enough with the negativity. There were quite a few things I liked about the book, too. Namely, the whole basic plot: Angelica is kidnapped by a man she thinks is her hero, but is really the guy who orchestrated the kidnapping of her sisters. Oh, and he's supposed to be dead. He also happens to be swoontacular, so romance commences. (I seriously love historical romance for plots like these.) I also like that Angelica was confident in the fact that he wanted her. Admittedly, it stemmed from the ridiculous necklace, but it added a nice dynamic to their relationship I enjoyed.
Favorite Quote: Never tell any male that he’s sweet.  It’s an invitation to be anything but.

Book: Waking Up with the Duke by Lorraine Heath
Series: London's Greatest Lovers, #3
Published: June 28, 2011 (Avon)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Thoughts: This is one of the most original plots I have ever heard of, and I was completely intrigued by the thought when I discovered it. I've never read anything like it, before or since. It was a recipe for a deliciously angsty romance, which is one of my favorite things ever. The book overall was not as good or as angst-filled as I had anticipated, but it was incredibly addicting. I believed Ransom (Yes, that's his name. Not one of the high points of the story.) and his motives for agreeing with his friend's proposal. Their relationship development was slow and beautiful. Although there was a pointless side story and some little details that bothered me, I enjoyed the main one. My emotions were quite engaged throughout the entire book, and it made me cry more than once.
Favorite Quote: As far as bloody awful things go, it’s one of the best I’ve experienced.

Book: Beguiling the Beauty by Sherry Thomas
Series: Fitzhugh Trilogy, #1
Published: May 1st 2012, (Berkley Sensation)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Thoughts: I had an odd sort of relationship with this book. Objectively, I enjoyed everything about it. But for some reason, I spent most of the story feeling rather detached from the characters. I don't know if it was me or the way it was written, but that feeling was disconcerting. At the same time, though, I did not want to put it down at all. The actions that set the plot into motion were rather overdramatic and ridiculous, but the plot itself was fantastic and original. I enjoyed the uniqueness of it, especially how the hero fell in love with the heroine without ever seeing her face. I also read this book after the second in the series, so it was interesting to see the Book 2 couple before their "romance" took place.
Favorite Quote: When she laughed, nothing was impossible.  He could climb Mount Everest, cross the Sahara, and raise the lost realm of Atlantis all in a day.

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(Review) The Other Side of Us by Sarah Mayberry

Title: The Other Side of Us
Author: Sarah Mayberry
Published: January 2, 2013 (Harlequin)
Rating: Lunch Break Read
Format: Digital copy from publisher via NetGalley

Summary: The best thing between Oliver Barrett and Mackenzie Williams is a fence. Ever since Oliver's new-neighbor gestures were met with unfriendly responses, he's decided to keep his distance. After all, he's in this seaside town to get his life on track again. That doesn't include working hard to get on Mackenzie's good side—no matter how intriguing she may be. His intentions are put to the test, however, when his dog becomes infatuated with hers. The two crafty canines do their best to break down the barriers between the properties. And where the dogs go…, well, the humans must follow! It doesn't take long for a powerful attraction to build between Oliver and Mackenzie. They soon discover that the worst of first impressions can lead to the best possible outcomes….

The Other Side of Us by Sarah Mayberry is a beautiful romance between two people who should by all accounts have broken due to different circumstances. But they weren't. That was one of the things that made this story so enjoyable. I loved Mackenzie and her tenacity, and I loved Oliver and his brilliant sense of humor. I didn't even mind the dogs too much; Strudel might be the cutest name for a dog ever.

Another aspect of this book that was nice was that both Mackenzie and Oliver were 39 when the story started, which is older than the norm in contemporary romance. It is by no means ancient or anything, obviously, but it made for a nice change of pace from the late-twenties-early-thirties heroes and heroines in stories I tend to read.

I liked the relationship between Mackenzie and Oliver; it developed quickly from the initial dislike, and sweetness and sexiness abounded in equal measure. It was almost simplistic in a way, but it just worked with them.

(Minor spoilers in this paragraph.) Pretty much my only real problem with this book was that Oliver was in the middle of a divorce when they met. Divorce is a sticky issue for me, because I feel like the divorce needs to be finalized before I can support any romantic shenanigans that may happen the story. Unfortunately, this was obviously not the case in this book, so I just tried not to think about it. I know it's a picky thing, but it still bothered me.

Besides the aforementioned issue and a kind of slow beginning, though, I really enjoyed The Other Side of Us. It was all kinds of adorable and fun and sexy and swoony. (Did I mentioned Oliver is a musician...?) It balanced all those wonderful factors with real issues, and the result was pretty great. Sarah Mayberry remains one of my favorite contemporary authors.

Next time I will make sure to bring along a laugh track so you know when I’ve been funny.

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Sometimes, the voice in his head was way too much of a smart-ass.

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But she’d worked hard for this body. She’d fought alongside the doctors to keep it alive. She’d struggled against pain and expectation to become strong again. She’d survived and thrived in this body, and she refused to be ashamed of it.

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(Review) Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey

Psst! Click on the banner to go to the Fortnight of Festivities giveaway!

Title: Holiday Sparks
Author: Shannon Stacey
Published: December 6, 2010 (Carina Press)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Format: Digital eBook, purchased

Summary: House-sitting for her parents seemed like a good idea, until the microwave blew up and the lights went out. Now Chloe Burke thinks upgrading the electrical system of her childhood home while they are away would make the perfect Christmas gift. Fortunately, there's an electrician in town who can get the job done by the holidays.

Scott Quinn has wanted to get his hands on the Burkes' wiring for almost as long as he's wanted to get his hands on their daughter. Chloe didn't notice Scott back in high school, but she's noticing him now, and soon they're indulging in a little festive fun: no strings, no expectations. But Chloe and Scott discover they enjoy each other's company just as much out of bed. Could their holiday fling turn out to be the real thing?

This is my fourth Shannon Stacey, and I have yet to be disappointed by her. This was a totally cute Christmas novella! I love that her novellas I've read are a little longer than most others. She writes them well, making it feel like a complete story rather than a snippet of a whole.

In this particular story, we have Chloe, a web designer, and Scott, an electrician, formerly that gawky guy with glasses from Chloe's high school who has always wanted her. Their one interaction from high school we actually learn about was so incredibly sweet, although simple. All grown up, their chemistry was fantastic! It almost had me wishing for electrical problems so I could call up my local electrician and cross my fingers that he looked like Scott.

I always love the setting of Christmas in a small New England town. The two just go hand-in-hand so perfectly. In Holiday Sparks were scenes involving snow balls, snowmobiling, and overlooking the picturesque town. And, of course, the town gossip - what small town would be complete without it?

Stacey seems to love the just-a-fling-oh-wait-I-want-more storyline, but she excels at it. The stories never seem repetitive, because each has its own unique characters and facets that make the story special. This was the case in Holiday Sparks. While the basic plot was nothing new, I liked all the different touches. The "electrician" aspect allowed the whole being alone all day, every day thing, which does make a rather convenient romance novel setting. I'm surprised it's not more popular! But I digress. Holiday Sparks was a totally adorable Christmas read, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Hugging that man’s ass was what jeans had been created for.

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Scott belonged here, in a place where everybody not only knew your name, but knew what you did in the second grade to get you called into the principal’s office.

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(Review) Under the Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis

Psst! Click on the banner to go to the Fortnight of Festivities giveaway!

Title: Under the Mistletoe
Author: Jill Shalvis
Series: Lucky Harbor #6.5
Published: December 4, 2012 (Forever Yours)
Rating: Lunch Break Read
Format: Ebook, purchased

Summary: Mia Hutchinson, Tara and Ford's daughter from The Sweetest Thing, has asked her college boyfriend, Nick, to travel to Lucky Harbor for her aunt Maddie's Christmas Eve wedding.

Despondent when Nick refuses her invitation, Mia returns home alone and faces her high school sweetheart Carlos Rodriguez for the first time since refusing his marriage proposal. Only to find that he is happily dating someone else. With love and holiday spirit everywhere, Mia wonders who will kiss her this Christmas under the mistletoe.

I went into this book with totally skewed expectations because the blurb from Goodreads, at least the way I read it, implied a Mia/Carlos romance. Or maybe I just skimmed it, because let's just be honest, it was an auto-buy for me as it involved the words "Jill Shalvis" and "Lucky Harbor," and I was totally excited to read Mia's story. I enjoyed reading about her in The Sweetest Thing, and I couldn't wait to see how her life went after the book left off. Regardless, this book is not about Mia and Carlos (which became clear very quickly, so I'm not spoiling anything here); it is about Mia and Nick.

Mia was 17 at the end of The Sweetest Thing, but at the start of Under the Mistletoe, she was 22. I always love reading about characters in this age group. (And since it was in the New York Times today and all, I should probably stop desperately hoping someone will come up with a label other than "New Adult," and suck it up and start using it.) Because she had graduated college only months before, I could relate a lot to where Mia was in her life, because I am very close to that point myself. It added a nice element to the experience.

Since Mia was going home for Chloe and Sawyer's wedding, the whole original Lucky Harbor crew was there in all their splendid, hilarious, heartwarming glory. There was even a cameo by Lucille, because what would a Lucky Harbor book be without Lucille? I also like that Carlos was included, and her romance with him was not thrown away as irrelevant or "puppy love."

One warning, though. This story puts the la in novella. There's a reason it says "A Lucky Harbor Short Story" on the cover, rather than novella. The blasted page count declares the book is 85 pages long...and then you're reading along and OHHAIJUSTKIDDING, it ends on page 55. What follows is a teaser for the next Lucky Harbor book.

However, for all its miniature length, Under the Mistletoe is far from just a quick bit of holiday fluff. It was this on one level, of course, but there was a lot of depth, too. I love that the romance did not center around a developing romance, because there simply was not time for that. It involved commitment and Mia and Nick both coming to terms with what they wanted out of life before embarking on their HEA. And the way this came about? Oh, be still, my heart. So many feelings!

I was not a huge fan of one of the elements of the end because it felt a little like a cop-out to me, but I won't go into what it was so as to not spoil it. Overall, although I obviously wished for this story to be a little longer, the content was great. Shalvis wrote another winning addition to the Lucky Harbor series, and if you're looking for a quick yuletide read with more depth and heart than you might expect, I would suggest downloading Under the Mistletoe.

"'Let me in.' 'Come to the door.' You always demand like that? No wonder she isn't listening? Try asking sometime. Not all women will stand for that 50 Shades crap, you know."

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She wasn’t going to cry again. Hell no. She’d save it for really important events, like watching The Notebook after a round of brutal finals.

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He kissed her as if he could breathe the truth into her lungs.

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"Don’t cry. I’m sorry." He wasn’t exactly sure what he was sorry for, but he’d be sorry for breathing if that was the problem.

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(Review) Ask Her at Christmas by Christi Barth

Psst! Click on the banner to go to the Fortnight of Festivities giveaway!

Title: Ask Her at Christmas
Author: Christi Barth
Anthology: Romancing the Holiday
Published: December 3, 2012 (Carina Press)
Rating: Lunch Break Read
Format: Digital ARC from author

Summary: Caitlin McIntyre’s heart stops when her best friend drops to one knee and proposes. Kyle Lockhart never once hinted over the years that he has any idea she’s in love with him. Not wanting to jeopardize their friendship, she’s never let it slip. Good thing, too, since it turns out he’s only practicing—he’s about to propose to someone else.

A business merger might not be the most romantic reason to propose to a woman he barely knows, but Kyle’s determined to win the respect of his dying father who’s never seen him as quite good enough. Kyle’s always depended on Caitlin’s friendship, while trying to ignore the physical response she arouses. So he turns to her when it comes time to craft his proposal, not realizing his decision will affect their relationship, forever.

I was excited to read this ARC because it sounded perfect for a sweet Christmas read. What better setting than the holidays for a friends-to-lovers romance? I enjoyed reading about Caitlin and Kyle. They had been friends since they were children, but Caitlin had wanted more for years. Kyle had been more oblivious about his feelings - as men in these stories are wont to be - but had always fought attraction to Caitlin. Not wanting to ruin their friendship, neither Kyle or Caitlin had said anything to the other.

Because I am the kind of person who can never get too much build-up, my usual complaint about novellas is that there is not enough time for the relationship to develop. However, this story was actually a perfect fit for the length of a novella. To make it longer would be pointlessly dragging things out for no reason. Caitlin and Kyle had been best friends for years, and that was clear as soon as the story started. Their relationship developed at a good pace, and I liked the way it unfolded.

Unfortunately, there was not much characterization beyond the surface. But I liked Caitlin and her perpetual happiness, and there was Kyle, a total nerd who also happened to have movie star looks. Who doesn't love that? Monica, Kyle's would-be fiancée was an obviously boring and horrid woman despite her Marilyn Monroe appearance. She was clearly not going to present any threat to the couple.

This was a nice little Christmas romance. Nothing too serious or dark happened, and there was not much standing in the way of the HEA. It made me giggle several times and had quite a few good lines. If you're looking for a quick, cute friends-to-lovers romance in a Christmas setting - or a variety of potential ways to propose if you live in the Chicago area - Ask Her at Christmas is a good choice.

Yeah, he wasn’t any good with words. Now, if he could craft an equation that transformed her beauty into the simplicity of numbers, then he’d be eloquent. Except she wouldn’t understand it. And he’d win the prize for biggest nerd ever.

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Believing in love, valuing it, doesn’t make me naïve.

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Nice guys, to be sure, but as geeky as a pocket protector stuffed into a tuxedo on prom night.

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(Review) Kissing Under the Mistletoe by Marina Adair

Psst! Click on the banner to go to the Fortnight of Festivities giveaway!

Title: Kissing Under the Mistletoe
Author: Marina Adair
Published: October 16, 2012 (Montlake Romance)
Rating: Lunch Break Read
Format: Ebook, purchased from Amazon

Summary: Regan Martin stopped believing in Christmas miracles six years ago when she lost her house, her job, and her impeccable reputation in the wine industry after she fell in love with a man she had no idea was married. Then Regan gets a chance for a fresh start. With her dream job, dream home, and her daughter enrolled in a wonderful new school, she starts wondering if holiday wishes really come true.

But she soon tumbles back down to earth when she learns that her new boss is none other than Gabe DeLuca, the scorned wife’s brother. Gabe wants nothing more than home-wrecking Regan Martin out of his life, his sister’s world, and his family’s business. Mostly, he wants the lush beauty out of his head. Yet his attempts to run her out of town have him thinking twice, especially when he sees that Regan may hold the key to tracking down his sister’s stolen start-up capital. Even worse for Gabe, Regan might just be his Christmas wish and hold the key to his heart.

April from Good Books & Good Wine mentioned this book on Twitter a week or so ago, and once I read the blurb on Goodreads, I knew I absolutely had to read it. SO MUCH potential for I-want/love-you-even-though-I-really-REALLY-don't-want-to awesomeness, which is basically my favorite trope ever. Add in Christmas, and this book was practically tailor-made for me.

There were quite a few things I enjoyed about this book. For one, I totally fell for Holly, Regan's daughter. She was so adorable with her kitty fascination and her obsessive manners. I really loved the whole dynamic between Regan and Holly. Regan was doing her best to give Holly the best life possible, and their interactions were full of the cutest love possible. The way Gabe fit into this relationship was simply perfect. There are few things more swoon-worthy than a man who is good with kids, and I could not blame Regan at all for her swooning moments after watching Gabe interact with Holly.

The whole cast of secondary characters was diverse and entertaining. There were many of them, from the Mrs. Clauses (a group of older women including Gabe's grandmother) to Regan's new friends in Napa Valley to a reindeer town mascot named Randolph (no, not Rudolph - Randolph). Some of the characters were significantly less awesome, and there was one character in particular who most certainly got coal in her stocking come December 25th. But what's a good romance without a little villainous interference, eh?

Unfortunately, given all that, there were still some aspects that fell short for me. The first scene of the book was a little jarring. I enjoy absurd opening scenes, but this one was both absurd and awkward, and I just didn't quite understand what was happening and why. It also took a while for me to warm up to Gabe. Although I understood his current behavior for the most part, his previous behavior was a little much for me to forgive until he finally started to realize the wrongness of his actions and feel some contrition.

Although it did not quite live up to its potential, Kissing Under the Mistletoe was quite the enjoyable read. I liked the Napa Valley setting; I have not read many romances involving the wine industry. There was great chemistry between Gabe and Regan. Watching Gabe fall in love with Regan and Holly made for many smile-and-sigh moments. All this combined with the heavy Christmas influence makes Kissing Under the Mistletoe a great December read, and I definitely suggest reading it while curled up on the couch with a throw blanket and a mug of egg nog/wassail/your holiday beverage of choice.

Because men did not – repeat, did not – fit into her five-year plan. There was Holly, her career, and creating a home. Period. None of those included the penis-carrying members of society.

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A wise man would answer yes. Last he’d heard, though, the roles of all three wise men were already cast. And he wasn’t one of them.

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She had never really been into arms before, but there was something about his that made her want to wrap them around her and beg him to never let go.

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(Review) An Affair Before Christmas by Eloisa James

Title: An Affair Before Christmas
Author: Eloisa James
Series: Desperate Duchesses #2
Published: November 13, 2007 (Avon)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Format: Audiobook & ebook, both from library

Summary: One spectacular Christmas, Lady Perdita Selby, known to her friends and family as Poppy, met the man she thought she would love forever. The devilishly attractive Duke of Fletcher was the perfect match for the innocent, breathtakingly beautiful young Englishwoman, and theirs was the most romantic wedding she had ever seen. Four years later, Poppy and the duke have become the toast of the ton... but behind closed doors the spark of their love affair has burned out.

Unwilling to lose the woman he still lusts after, the duke is determined to win back his beguiling bride's delectable affections...and surpass the heady days of first love with a truly sinful seduction.

In all honesty, I picked up this book purely because I knew the Christmas feature was coming up, and I needed to read more Christmas books for it. I was not particularly drawn in by the summary, but I love Eloisa James, so I went ahead and started it. Little did I know what awaited me!

I love reviewing audiobooks. Since I listen to them while doing something (usually driving) during which I can't write, I leave voice messages for myself with my long, rambly, often incoherent thoughts of flailage or anger. Listening to those before I write my review is freaking hilarious. One day I'll transcribe myself or upload it (except not because then you would probably be frightened away by the crazy).

Let me tell you, this book? Caused me to leave some insane comments. At one point, I swear, I was talking like Lorelai Gilmore on speed. I loved so much about this story! Probably my favorite thing is how it flips so many historical romance norms. For instance, the book starts with the couple in love. How often does that happen? However, they were both young and rash, and you know that they really should not have gotten married at that point in their lives. Obviously, the marriage does not work the way either party planned, and the real story starts 4 years after the wedding.

The problem lies in the fact that while 4 years have passed, neither Poppy or Fletch have really developed. They are both still young, and they are stuck trying to fill these roles they do not really know how to fill. They are both still a little immature, and Poppy, especially, is very naïve. Thus, they are unhappy and resentful. Perhaps this does not make for the most likable characters for the first half or more of the book, but I like it because it is real. I could really see that happening for a couple of the time period, and I wanted desperately to know how they were going to solve it.

During the story, I loved watching each of the characters grow individually before they were truly able to address their relationship. Poppy especially had a lot of self-discovery to achieve and a backbone to grow. This book read almost like a new adult novel, but a historical one, and I really liked that about it.

One other thing I loved about the book was how the main story and the side stories intertwined. It reminded me how much I absolutely adore Elijah and Jemma (especially Elijah ♥), as well as how I need to give the book about Villiers another try. I actually got extremely invested in all three(ish) side plots, and I thought James achieved a really great balance between the main and side stories. They were there enough to be intriguing, but mostly, they were not there enough to take away from the main story.

Overall, An Affair Before Christmas is a great read. If you are looking for a realistic, beautiful romance with side characters who are sure to make you want to read the rest of the books in the series, I would absolutely recommend it.

It’s not manly to be so perfect in every way.

---

There was no point in letting one’s husband think he was interesting; it would only end in disaster.

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|Adult Review| All He Ever Needed by Shannon Stacey

Title: All He Ever Needed
Author: Shannon Stacey
Series: Kowalski #4
Published September 10th 2012 by Carina Press
Rating: C+ or 3 and half hearts
Goodreads Summary:

He won’t stay put for a woman, and she won’t chase after any man…

Mitch Kowalski lives out of a suitcase—and he likes it that way. Traveling for work has the added bonus of scaring off women who would otherwise try to tie him down. But when he’s called home to help with the family lodge, he’s intrigued by the new girl in town and her insistence that she doesn’t need a man. If there’s one thing Mitch can’t resist, it’s a challenge.

After a nomadic childhood, Paige Sullivan is finally putting down roots. Determined to stand on her own two feet, she lives by the motto “Men are a luxury, not a necessity.” But when Mr. Tall, Dark and Hot pulls up a stool in her diner and offers her six weeks of naughty fun with a built-in expiration date, she’s tempted to indulge.

They’re the perfect match for a no-strings fling. Until they realize their sexy affair has become anything but casual…

70,000 words

Shannon Stacey's books are just a doze of cute, fun and enjoyable contemporary reads. The fourth book in the Kowalski series does not fail to deliver a comforting, rainy day entertaining book! Set in a small town where everybody knows everybody bizzness and won't forget anything you ever did, Shannon Stacey made this a (somewhat) charmed setting. Small towns are annoying. No body needs to know EVERYTHING you did, said and everything in between but Shannon Stacey managed to keep the small town factor annoyance level to a minimum but there were still times when I wanted to  just move Mitch and Paige to a city with a population of more than 1 million people:

"It's just that once they pin a label on you here, you wear the label forever. When you walk into a place here, they see a beautiful women who's made a success out of her business. When I walk into a place, they don't see a grown man who's made a success out of his business. They see every story they've ever heard about me doing something wrong, even though I've changed."

LET HIS PAST GO!

Mitch is not looking for a serious relationship because his work keeps him from staying in one place for too long while Paige's motto in life is "Men are a luxury not a necessity." Cue Mitch bringing out the big guns so he could woo Paige and become a "luxury" in her life during his stay at the lodge but their little fun relationship turns into something more- companionship. Sometimes, commitment-phoebes heroes and heroines DRIVE ME INSANE but Mitch didn't exactly have commitment-phobia. He's priority was just work which made me hop from city to city.

"I have to travel a lot. And not just a few days or weekend here and there. I'm talking about weeks at a time."

"You'll make it work for the right women." 

Same for Paige, her priority was her diner. Shannon Stacey handled their relationship very well. We see them flirting at first, deciding to give into their attraction and have fun then the mental struggle of coming to care for someone special and having to readjust your life for them. It was a lovely, funny, and sexy ride!

Shannon Stacey also set up Mitch's brothers stories in this book, Ryan (All He Ever Desired - book 5 - January 13th) and Josh (All He Ever Dreamed - book 6 - November 19th) and honestly, if those two books were out already, I would have bought them and read them by now!* Ryan is a divorced man helping Mitch and Josh repair their lodge and apparently he has had a thing for now-divorced Lauren for years and oh, this Lauren has teenage son. I love books where the hero or heroine have kids!!!** As for Josh, love for him might come in a form of someone he knew, all. his. life.***

Rating: C+ Not my favorite of the series, a good book but not a great one but I still enjoyed reading it.

First:

Mitch Kowalski was doing sixty when he blew past the Welcome to Whitford, Maine sign, and he would have grinned if grinning on a Harley at dusk in a shorty helmet wasn't an invitation to eat his weight in bugs.

Favorite:

"But you want a man, right?"

She pretended to think about it fir a few seconds. "Not especially."

"Who opens jars for you?"

"I hvae a little gadget that does that."

"But..." He grinned. "What about sex?"

"I have a little gadget that does that, too."

Teaser:

"I told you I smelled banana bread and you said it was an air freshener," Mitch said, trying not to sound too pouty.

Other reviews:
Mandi @Smexy Books: B+
Brie @Romance Around The Corner: 4 stars
Jac @For Love & Books: 4 stars
Brianna @The Book Vixen: 4 stars
Amanda @Raunch Dilettante: 4 stars
Ann @Under The Covers: 3.75 stars
  
*I wrote this review after I finished reading All He Ever Needed a few weeks back and by now I've already read All He Ever Desired and like I predicted, it IS better than All He Ever Needed! I'll post my review sometime in November.
**Shannon Stacey has posted the first chapter of All He Ever Desired, if you're interested!
***Shannon Stacey posted a fun tidbit from book 6, All He Ever Dreamed.
**** I'm done.

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|Review| Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols

Title: Such a Rush
Author: Jennifer Echols
Published July 10th 2012 by MTV Books
Genre: YA realistic contemporary, romance
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Goodread's summary:

A sexy and poignant romantic tale of a young daredevil pilot caught between two brothers.

High school senior Leah Jones loves nothing more than flying. While she’s in the air, it’s easy to forget life with her absentee mother at the low-rent end of a South Carolina beach town. When her flight instructor, Mr. Hall, hires her to fly for his banner advertising business, she sees it as her ticket out of the trailer park. And when he dies suddenly, she’s afraid her flying career is gone forever.    

But Mr. Hall’s teenage sons, golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson, are determined to keep the banner planes flying. Though Leah has crushed on Grayson for years, she’s leery of getting involved in what now seems like a doomed business — until Grayson betrays her by digging up her most damning secret. Holding it over her head, he forces her to fly for secret reasons of his own, reasons involving Alec. Now Leah finds herself drawn into a battle between brothers — and the consequences could be deadly.

Racquel's thoughts:
On the back of the Such a Rush paper ARC, it says Jennifer Echols is a rising star. I disagree. Jennifer Echols is not a rising star, she's been a star forever now. She's actually the freaking sun, that's how important she is! Such a Rush delivers awesome business just like all of Jennifer's other books and that's why Jenifer is not a rising star. She was a star with the release of Going too Far but today, July 10th, the official release of Such a Rush, Jennifer Echols is queen of contemporary! Jeez, how could they downgrade her like that?

How did I notice the rising star comment? Well, I devour JE's books. From cover to cover. I read everything. Even that page with publishers info. Dedication. Acknowledgment. The actual story. Back cover. Everything!! I love JE THAT much. Her books are my drug. She writes exactly the type of books that I crave. It's like they were written specifically for me because that's how I much I love them. They're perfect.

Jennifer Echols writes mature stories. I've seen it in Going too Far, in Love Story and now in Such a Rush. What do I mean by mature? Well the characters are going through serious stuff, family problems, death and money issues. There is no pitiful drama mama and I love that. Young YA is really not my thing so I appreciated the mature voice of the story no matter how the characters can act sometimes. Leah has been neglected basically her entire life. She never got to enjoy her childhood like a kid should or have fun as she grew up. Leah is a great character. A true human being. She's the type who has her middle finger in the air and has one friend only since every one else thinks she's trash. But she doesn't care. She just wants to fly. We truly don't have enough Leah's in YA. I have no problem with our regular smart cookie perfect-put-doesn't-know-it main character, I just believe YA needs more variety and Jennifer Echols succeeds in bringing something somewhat rare to the bookstores.

Grayson was another great character. A little too strong headed. An asshole at times. He is far away from perfect as a character can be. But thank god for that!! Grayson is MY kind of hero. Realistic. He got on my nerves at parts but he was a genuinely good person. Concerned for his brother and father's business and he wasn't going to let anyone get in the way of harming them, he would do anything for the one's he loved. So even IF he was manipulative and an asshole and fucked up at times, that made him better because Grayson is a complex person who's personality traits go beyond just perfect and swoony. He's multi-layered!

Now, could the romance be more perfect? It cannot. Grayson tries to get Leah to like Alec but the attraction between Grayson and Leah is unmistakable. Leah and Grayson bring out the worst and best in each other. They have a real connection that again goes beyond just cute and sweet. Also, kudos to JE for not shying away from sex. God bless her heart and soul. Some people might find Such a Rush a bit to steamy for YA but in my eyes it's still under-steamy and I don't mean about the graphic-ness of some scenes, but the overall topic of sex in the book. You come to my school for one hour and you will see. Sure not all teenagers are participating in sexual activities but that's the POINT. There are some books about those teenagers and then there is Such a Rush that shows you the teenagers who are. Again, variety!!

I can actually recommend Such a Rush. Well I DO recommend Such a Rush to every reader but I can actually go to my friends who are not active readers, hand them Such a Rush and I know they won't throw it at my face two weeks later. I also know that I will not be getting any "Racquel, what the fuck kind of book are you giving me to read? Is this boy supposed to her man? Some one needs to tell her his missing his balls and don't get me started on her anyways. Ugh." text messages. (oh yes, this real dialogue.) Again, VARIETY!

In addition, I'm a fan of airports and flying so of course I loved reading about Leah's love for airplanes and how important airplanes and flying were to the book plus Jennifer Echols knows her stuff! And in typical fashion, no matter how serious this book is, Jennifer Echols knows how to make me laugh out loud. I just love her snarky, clever humor.

So this is another extremely well written Jennifer Echols books that fails in no areas. Terrific writing that's become a Jennifer Echols signature? Check. Realistic well done characters? Double check. Heart pounding romance? thrice check. Fantastic plot? quadruple check. A must read? heck to yes!!

Rating: 5 hearts~ ANOTHER favorite read from Jennifer Echols.

First:

In each South Carolina town where I'd lived- and I'd lived in a lot of them- the trailer park was next to the airport.

Favorite:

"You mean you can fly a plane but you can't drive a car?"

Teaser:

"It looks like God barfed a rainbow."

Also, mega super awesome THANKS to Jen @Jenuine Cupcakes for letting me borrow her ARC, Jen you are a ROCK STAR (and oh heeeey, Jen and Jennifer! further proves you are a bombshell ;D)

In conclusion, READ SUCH A RUSH!! YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!

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|Adult Review| Ride with Me by Ruthie Knox

Title: Ride with Me
Author: Ruthie Knox
Published: February 13th 2012 by Loveswept
Genre: Adult contemporary romance, roadtrip
Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Goodreads summary:

When Lexie Marshall places an ad for a cycling companion, she hopes to find someone friendly and fun to cross the TransAmerica Trail with. Instead, she gets Tom Geiger—a lean, sexy loner whose bad attitude threatens to spoil the adventure she’s spent years planning.

Roped into the cycling equivalent of a blind date by his sister, Tom doesn’t want to ride with a chatty, go-by-the-map kind of woman, and he certainly doesn’t want to want her. Too bad the sight of Lexie with a bike between her thighs really turns his crank.

Even Tom’s stubborn determination to keep Lexie at a distance can’t stop a kiss from leading to endless nights of hotter-than-hot sex. But when the wild ride ends, where will they go next?

Racquel's thoughts:
I read the excerpt of Ruthie Knox's About Last Night and fell in love with it but sadly, it does not come out until June 11th so I checked out her other books and turns out I had Ride with Me added and I decided why not read it now as I wait for About Last Night.

What made me fall in love with About Last Night excerpt is how in 20 pages only, I laughed out loud at least 3 times and well, same thing goes for Ride with Me!

Lexie and Tom are so day and night, that makes their conversations hysterical since they're usually fighting and Tom, who's a complete 100% hermit crab loner, was so awkward around other people I couldn't help but laugh at his actions and thoughts. But I also enjoyed seeing how Lexie brought him out of his shell and and made him interact with people again- and also hate humanity slightly less. Tom himself also helped Lexie become a little loose and learn how to have fun instead of being a by-the-book girl. That's what I loved about the romance and what made it so epic, Tom and Lexie brought out the worst yet best in each other and they're completely perfect for each other. Reading about them and their TransAm bike trail journey was tons and tons of fun.

The only reason I didn't give this book 5 hearts even though I loved it so much is because I felt it ended too abruptly. My kindle was showing I still had 15% left but turns out it was all acknowledgment and other book excerpts so when I flipped the page and it said "acknowledgment" I literally went WHAT THE HECK?! I couldn't believe the book ending because it was way, way too fast. An epilogue would have been so beyond satisfying! But besides that Ride with Me was fun, hot and really enjoyable. Ruthie Knox is on my author radar!!

Ride with Me Excerpt

About Last Night Excerpt

Rating: 4 hearts~ another great hit in the contemporary romance genre! Ruthie Knox didn't let me down.

First:

COMPANION WANTED.

 Favorite:

“Taryn, I’m thirty-five, single, tattooed, and antisocial. I’m the serial killer.” 

Teaser: 

"I told you, I used to be charming."

 

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