November 11, 2013 by Caroline Barker

The Debt & The Doormat by Laura Barnard

The Debt & the Doormat FUN, FUNNY, FUNNIER AND………….FREE, FREE, FREE!!!!

If you are looking for an amusing adult chick-lit with plenty of comedy, romance and a little drama then look no further than this incredible story by Laura Barnard, ‘The Debt and the Doormat’. This FREE fun chick-lit has the British humour like that of Helen Fielding’s ‘Bridget Jones’ and Miranda Hart’s tv sitcom, self-titled ‘Miranda’. The comedy is silly, dry, sarcastic and some great slapstick clumsiness. The humour is strong throughout but brilliantly written around the main plot of a hopeful romance that brings its own drama to the fore. Tuck in girls – grab a glass of wine and/or a box of chocs for this delight of a story!

After living alone for a year after a break-up with her boyfriend life is about to change for Poppy. She discovers that her sociable, party-animal best friend, Jazz, is in debt and whilst having a few drinks together, they get absolutely sloshed, share a few antics and agree to swap lives for a while! Poppy is to move into Jazz’s house, shared with three roomates and live a party-style life, making friends and overcoming her life of possible reclusiveness since her relationship to Stuart ended. Meanwhile, Jazz is to remain at Poppy’s flat, keeping a low profile and saving some cash to pay off her debt!

This is a fantastic beginning for a story. The reader initially follows the main plot, is curious how the change in lifestyles will affect both women and is kept smiling from the sheer craziness of these two gals and their idea. There is something here for every woman as we connect to these characters, some of us are Poppy’s while others are more like Jazz. These two characters are so easy to relate to – we either know somebody like them or we are them!

Once Poppy settles in her new home the reader meets the housemates, Izzy, Ryan and Grace. Izzy doesn’t seem too different to Jazz. She is quite open, sociable and bubbly, if not a little too energetic and heavily into her exercise regime! Grace is the perfect model-type with great looks and a super body. However, Grace’s attitude lets her down as she can also be perceived as a super bitch (not a word I like to use, however the best word to describe Grace’s character)! And last but not least there is………

……… Ryan – oh yes, Ryan! Initially perceived as a slightly scruffy layabout he does have an air of gorgeousness about him and although he appears somewhat moody and grumpy he does go out of his way a fair bit to cover for Poppy’s awkwardness and mistakes. Poppy and Ryan appear to be the complete opposites to each other, with Ryan’s sophistication and coolness at times making Poppy feel like a fool. But, there are some slight sparks amid all the craziness and this gives the reader hope that these two will be together. One minute your heart is beating so fast with intensity as they grow a little closer and the next your heart hits the floor every time a new problem gets in the way! Laura Barnard doesn’t make this an easy straight forward read as there are many ups and downs that these two strong characters have, making it impossible for the reader to guess the outcome.

As well as the main plot there are other sub plots taking place with Poppy having troubles at work with the creepy bosses son, a colleague having trouble with her husband’s affair, her mother adding pressure to Poppy’s personal life and preparing for her brother’s wedding. Even more trouble comes Poppy’s way when her ex, Stuart, re-enters her life. There truly isn’t a quiet moment with The Debt and the Doormat and I loved every little bit of it. Every now and then throughout reading a book I like to check how far I have read and I was very pleased to see that I was only half way through the book as I didn’t want it to end.

The Debt and the Doormat is proper girly fun. Funnier than Bridget Jones, The Debt and the Doormat is possibly the funniest book I have ever read. It does have its more serious moments, especially in the latter half of the book when the characters Poppy and Ryan seem to be developing some feelings for each other, which really helps balance the story out. It is certainly well worth a read. I personally would love to read the story again and would like to hear more from Poppy and Ryan. We have been informed that a sequel is due in March/April 2014 which is brilliant news!

At the time of posting this book (in Kindle edition) is FREE at Amazon UK, Amazon US and (in many formats) at Smashwords! Don’t miss out!!!

The Debt and the Doormat was received gratefully from Laura Barnard for the purpose of an honest and fair review.

Laura would love you to check out her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/laurabarnardbooks and while you’re visiting please give her a ‘like’!

Laura also has her own website at www.laurabarnardbooks.co.uk and is available on Twitter: @BarnardLaura

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

October 5, 2013 by Caroline Barker

Patriotic Duty (When Riley Met Cara, Book 1) by C.J. Pinard

Patriotic Duty (When Riley Met Cara, Book 1) has everything that I love in this contemporary romance by C.J. Pinard (Enchanted Immortals series). This short novel is fun, cheeky, sexy and saucy but not without the drama of a beautiful romance. If you’re looking for a hot, cute soldier who’s looking for more than somewhere to spend the night, then Riley is your man and Patriotic Duty is your kind of book!

Single mum and recent divorcee, Cara Reid spends most of her weekends with her best friend, Miranda, having fun going to clubs, living it up and meeting hot guys. She is young and not in the least thinking to settling down any time soon, especially after her experience with her ex. However, one night after hooking up with Riley her summer is planned. He is to be in California for the summer before he is due back in Colorado, and so they spend summer together.

Cara naturally opens up to him and accepts his ways far more than she would anyone else. She is falling for him, even though she doesn’t want to admit it. Of course, it is just a summer fling. Or at least that is what she keeps informing Miranda when she stops partying for a while to be with Riley. However, as the summer comes to a close, Riley is given orders to do a tour of nine months in Afghanistan. As they agree to keep in touch, Cara is left feeling a little lost. Still not wanting to admit to her true feelings and yet not wanting to return to her life of partying with Miranda, Cara is left with a decision to make. Will she wait for her cute, hot soldier or does she move on with her life?

During the summer that they are together, Cara and Riley spend day trips together, go to a concert, visit bars, have some hot, fantastic sex, and Riley even gets to meet Cara’s son on some occasions. This shows how well their relationship is going, as usually Cara keeps this side of her life away from her son. Riley is very sweet, although the strong, silent type in some instances. Cara seems to be his world and the reader feels his sincerity to her. It is only his quieter side at times that makes Cara and the reader wonder what he is really thinking. But all will be revealed as the story moves on.

Patriotic Duty is a nice, light romance that becomes a little more serious and dramatic as the novel enters its second half, especially with Riley on tour in Afghanistan and Cara having little contact with him. What is going through Cara’s mind? Can she focus on getting her party life back with Miranda?

When Riley Met Cara has the potential to bceome much more complex and darker as the series moves on. However, for the first book of the series it does have a simple straight forward plot, which I loved after reading some heavy psychological horrors recently!! There were parts early on that made me laugh out loud as the interaction between Cara and Miranda was fun. They certainly knew how to have a laugh and cheer each other up.

I found Miranda to be a great supportive friend for Cara. Miranda, also a single mum, had been left by her ex to bring up their child and therefore, was in the same boat as Cara. Both characters are realistic and so long as the babysitters are available, of course young women would want to go out at weekends and have some fun. They also spend time together with their kids and meet up for lunch during their working week, and so have a tight bond, like sisters.

Although, Miranda’s attitude towards Cara does slightly change as she realises that Cara is becoming quite serious with Riley. She is perhaps worried for Cara that Riley will treat her bad in the end, and she may be a little jealous of the time that Riley spends with Cara when she could be with her. This is what makes Patriotic Duty realistic and easy to connect with. The characters have real feelings and thoughts that the majority of us have, and these lead to similar situations that we have either been in or those that we know have been in.

Brilliantly written by C.J. Pinard, Patriotic Duty is very fluid and there is not a moment that you lose grips with the story. I read this book in one day and so it is a very quick read. Due to the hot love scenes this book is recommended for those above the age of 18 yrs.

If you are a fan of C.J. Pinard’s urban fantasy/paranormal series, Enchanted Immortals, you will see a whole different side of her work in Patriotic Duty. C.J. has shown just how versatile her writing can be, and I for one absolutely love it. I am looking forward to reading the second book in the When Riley Met Cara series.

A Reader’s Review Blog received a copy of Patriotic Duty from the author in return for fair and honest review.

You can find Patriotic Duty (When Riley Met Cara, Book 1) by C.J. Pinard on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Smashwords.

If you would like to contact C.J. Pinard you can reach her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CJPinardAuthor or you can e-mail her at cjpinardauthor@gmail.com.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

September 25, 2013 by Tina Williams

My Brother, My Rival – All out of love (book 1) and My Brother, My Rival – How can I not love you? (Book 2, by Eve Rabi

Torn Between Two Brothers!

Warning – contains sex scenes, violence, racial themes and coarse language.

My Brother, My Rival, comprising two books, is a modern day love story with larger than life, no holds barred characters and plot lines, told in the author Eve Rabi’s indomitable style. Both the reader and the characters are put through their paces in an emotional boot camp, examining the tensions between romantic love and familial love when two brothers fall for the same woman. It is yet another addictive read!

In My Brother My Rival, Bridie, a young woman meets the man of her dreams, a charming and handsome man called Scott, who serves in the military. Cupid seems to be smiling as Bridie and Scott go on a date and are equally smitten. However, afterwards, to Bridie’s disappointment, he does not call. Our heroine then catches the eye of a cheeky bad boy, Cody, a love’em and leave’em type, who frequents the bar where she works. Cody won’t take no for an answer and Bridie agrees to date him, resolving to guard her heart. However, it’s not long before both fall for each other. Imagine Bridie’s (not to mention everyone else’s) surprise when on her first visit to Cody’s parents, it transpires that Cody’s brother is none other than Scott, the man she met at the bar. Scott had big plans to marry Bridie and did not return her call as he had been sent abroad on a mission and could not get a signal on his cell phone.

The tale that transpires is a fast paced, roller coaster ride containing humour, heartbreak, fun times, sad times, jealousy, deception, misunderstandings and violence, but also a heavy dose of romance and passion, before the tale resolves itself. The story is told in a plot which will have you laughing one minute and crying the next. How will this complex love triangle resolve itself? Who will Bridie choose? Will it be the right choice? How will the brothers and their family react as Bridie has come between the brothers? Will the war in Iraq affect her relationships with the brothers? I had no idea where the plot was going next or how it would conclude as it had so many twists and turns. I will not reveal any more as further revelations will spoil the plot. Suffice to say that as usual this is no tame boy meets girl romance. Eve’s larger than life characters deal with big issues, many of them topical in today’s society.

The three central characters, Bridie, Cody and Scott are fantastically well drawn. Bridie is hard working and devoted to her family, who are from the Hood, in contrast with Scott and Cody, who have middle class origins. This dichotomy makes for some hilarious scenes when the two families meet throughout the novel. Bridie is shocked when she realises that Cody and Scott are brothers and I really felt for her as she tries to do her best in an increasingly impossible and complex situation. Bridie likes to be in control, but she is anything but as the plot unfolds.

The brothers are so different to each other. Cody is the archetypal loveable bad boy who up until now likes to play the field and have a good time. He is attracted to Bridie big time, as she is like no girl he has ever met before, and has a lot of growing up to do in the course of the novel which spans five years plus. Scott is a much more responsible individual and is equally attracted to Bridie. He is very protective of her and wants to do right by her. Both brothers want Bridie for themselves, which provides the main tension in the plot.

There is a great supporting cast, the main ones being Scott and Cody’s parents, in particular their socialite mother, Stephanie and their sister Jenna and Bridie’s family, a collection of loveable and kooky individuals, who, as Bridie was, were all adopted. These characters all add depth to the plot and help drive it forward. The fact that the tale is told in chapters which alternate between Bridie and Cody’s POV also adds a lot more intensity to the novel. There are many love making scenes, some humorous, some passionate and sexy and others poignant.

I recommend My Brother My Rival to adult readers who like to read intense, sexy and entertaining contemporary romance/chick lit novels which examine the full range of human emotions.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

A copy of this book was given to me by the author for a fair and honest review.

http://everabi.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/eve.rabi

Book 1 of My Brother, My Rival is currently avaiable at a special price on Amazon, 77p in the UK and $1.20 in the US.

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Eve Rabi’s book You Will Pay for Leaving Me is currently available FREE on Amazon.

Amazon UK

Amazon US

July 23, 2013 by Tina Williams

Obsessed with Me – When She Rejected Him He Set Out To Destroy Her, Books #1 and #2, by Eve Rabi

Passionate and Heartrending Love Story Adult Content

This tale has so many twists and turns that it kept me on the edge of my seat, with my heart in my throat and my head in my hands at what the heroine was going through! It is yet another stellar work by author Eve Rabi which plays with your emotions and comments on social issues and power within relationships. The tale is set in 1993, in Cape Town, in a South Africa a year before Nelson Mandela became President, and apartheid officially ended, a time ripe for change, when racism and corruption such as we see in the tale was rife. The tale contains violence, strong language, racial slurs, sex scenes and sexual violence.

Obsessed with Me is a tale about Tanin, a young Indian woman living in South Africa and Tarago Jackobus, a wealthy, white Africaan. It tells of what happens after Tanin turns Tarago down, after he invites her to share a drink with him. No one, but no one refuses Tarago! Thus begins a very unorthodox seduction, which introduces a series of harrowing events, where Tanin loses her job, has no prospect of employment and her family is threatened with losing their home. She even finds herself in jail. There is however no knight in shining armour to save her, her boyfriend having deserted her. Instead to keep a roof over her family, pay her mum’s medical bills and support them financially, she is compelled to make a deal with the very Devil himself, Tarago.

Tanin finds herself living at Tarango’s mansion, where day after day Tarago and his inner circle of hangers on, women and men, subject her to racist taunts and Tarago uses her body to satisfy his lusts. Tarago is a real brute and a hateful figure, but such is the skill of the author that somehow, part way through the tale, the real Tarago is forced to reveal himself, faced with Tanin’s strong spirit, resilience and inner strength. I actually found myself beginning to empathize with him and like him. Not only that but he appears to genuinely care for Tanin, who begins to reciprocate his feelings. There are some truly romantic, very sexy and humorous scenes between the couple. Has beauty charmed the beast for real? It all seems too good to be true, especially when there are some amongst Tarago’s inner circle who are dead set against their union and will go to any lengths to destroy it. Will Tanin and Tarago’s love prevail or will it be destroyed by the whims of others?

I enjoyed the character of Tanin. She is immediately likeable young woman when we first meet her, studying hard for her future and working part time to support her family, paying for her mother’s medical bills and her siblings’ education. Due to the situation Tarago puts her in and the shocking events which follow, Tanin has to seriously toughen up and I shed more than a few tears over what she had to go through as the tale progresses and what she suffers is not all at Tarago’s hands. If any heroine deserves a HEA it is Tanin.

Tarago started off as an out and out read b******, with no redeeming features. A giant of a man, he is not only a womaniser and a drunk but arrogant, racist and as sexist as they come. However, as the story progresses and I learned of his background and need for real affection I began to empathize with him. His brash exterior masks his true self, which is more sympathetic than is at first evident. Indeed, he too becomes very much a victim of events as the tale unfolds.

The cast of supporting characters is varied and they all have their role to play. They include Tanin’s boyfriend Ashwin and her best friend Rheema, who play pivotal roles. Tanin’s mother is a tour de force when Tanin needs her. Tanin even finds support amongst some of Tarago’s hangers on, who at first reviled her for her colour and/or being a rival for Tarago’s affections. However, there are certain characters – I will not reveal their names, who have only their own interests at heart. As usual the author does not shy away from including controversial issues in her storytelling and we are compelled to examine our own feelings towards them and the complex characters she creates.

Obsessed With Me is another must read for Eve Rabi fans and those who like to be entertained by a wild and totally thought provoking romance, told in her trademark indomitable style.

A copy of this book was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Eve Rabi’s website http://everabi.wordpress.com/

Eve Rabi Facebook https://www.facebook.com/eve.rabi

Obsessed With Me Amazon UK

Obsessed With Me Amazon US

May 17, 2013 by Tina Williams

You Will Pay – She Left Her Abusive Husband, He Took Revenge, by Eve Rabi

A Dark and Intense Journey

This is not one of those tales where the hero seeks revenge on the heroine, falls in love with her and seeks redemption. Instead, the plot, which is a cracking good read, has elements of a thriller, although it does contain some sweet romance. The main focus of the novel is how a sociopathic man seeks revenge on his wife who leaves him after he subjects her to emotional and physical abuse.

In You Will Pay, Arena, a young South African woman, is married to Tom, a rich Australian. Tom likes to control every aspect of her life and Tom’s needs and desires come first. Arena is vulnerable, her confidence has been eroded, and she is far from her family, with a young baby to cope with and no means to support herself. When this abuse turns more physical and Tom actually hits her, she resolves to leave him. However she is shocked to find out that she is again pregnant and for a time is compelled to remain with him.

Once Arena’s baby girl is born the abuse intensifies and Arena carefully plots to safely escape Tom’s clutches and file for divorce, on grounds of abuse. The plan works and despite Tom’s chilling words that he will hurt her in such a way that she will never recover and she will suffer every day, she finds a modest apartment of her own and gets her life back. She makes friends, socialises and even finds a new man. Tom appears to have backed off and is cooperative over the split. Yet it all appears too easy…….

One day Arena finds herself in a nightmare situation and is again rendered powerless and vulnerable. She is sure that Tom is behind it, yet she has no proof. She suffers greatly for something she suspects that he is responsible for and must remain strong if she is to get her revenge and outwit a man who has all the cards stacked in his favour.

This tale contains violence, domestic and child abuse and I found it to be an intense read, with some really dark moments. However, there are scenes of hope, such as when Arena flees Tom and gets her life back together. There are also some moments of happiness and humour, from her relationship with the new man in her life, Bear, and from her new friend Soong. I liked the way Arena carefully plots and executes her escape, showing that she is a strong woman, despite Tom’s efforts to subjugate her. I was with her all the way through the dark times in the book and was satisfied with the outcome which is told in Eve Rabi’s unique and indomitable style!

Tom is a truly evil man and to elaborate any further on his deeds would ruin the story for those of you who want to read it. With the character of Tom, the author gets into the psyche of many abusers. Tom clearly relishes the control he wields over Arena and enjoys her pain, physical and emotional, a mark of a true sociopath. Bear, Arena’s new man, is an adorable character, who clearly loves her and shows it in some tender and romantic scenes. He has secrets of his own and it is those secrets that come into their own as the plot unravels. Soong, the young mother and Arena’s neighbour, also proves to be a loyal friend. Both Bear and Soong inject some humour and lightness into the plot.

Overall You Will Pay is an engrossing read, which I stayed up until the early hours to finish, holding my breath at the awesome ending. This read was a lot darker than Burn’s World and even Gringa, the other books I have read by the author. It contains what I am beginning to recognise as Eve Rabi’s trademarks: strong heroines who find the resources to cope with what life throws at them; characters and plots which stray into activities that are not always within the law and dark themes and (sometimes) humour. I recommend it to readers who enjoy an intense and unique emotional ride that will stay with you a long time after you have read it.

This book is currently free on Smashwords (click on the link) as it hasn’t been professionally edited as yet. Once it’s edited, the price will be $2.99.

Eve Rabi’s website

May 9, 2013 by Tina Williams

Burn’s World, by Eve Rabi

Crazy and Compelling Love Story!

Burn’s World (books 1-4) describes a compulsive and addictive love triangle. Once again Eve Rabi has created a unique plot full of humour, mayhem and emotional highs and lows. The tale is also peppered with hilarious observations of the human condition. This is the second book that I have read by the author, the first being Gringa – In the Clutches of a Ruthless Drug Lord (click for review). Once again I could not stop reading until I had finished it as I was so enthralled. Although more light hearted than Gringa, it does contain profanities, racial slurs, drug taking and some violence and is therefore suited to those aged 18 and over.

In Burn’s World, we witness the trials and tribulations of Burn, an American of mixed race, from her teenage to her adult years. Her main source of both joy and heartbreak is the love she develops for two men who are polar opposites, thus creating the classic love triangle. She also has to grapple with a ‘special gift’ she has inherited, giving the story a paranormal twist.

When the tale begins, Burn and her little sister Angel are living with their aunt Carlene and her two daughters Daisy and Lanie, where they have lived since the death of her parents. Carlene is a tramp and her daughters are lazy and selfish and all three are happy to let Burn keep house and hold down a part-time job on top of her school work. Burn does all this so that Angel, the sister she adores, does not go without.

At school Burn is the butt of many a racist remark, especially from a group of white boys led by Bud McGraw. She meets Brody McGraw, the school heartthrob and all American boy and they fall in love. Brody is Burn’s first boyfriend and she is ecstatic. However, their love is doomed as Brody’s parents do not approve of a girl of mixed race. Heartbroken, Burn walks away, realising that she will never be good enough for Brody’s family. Brody and Burn however, still have strong feelings for each other, which manfest in some memorable scenes throughout the tale. At this point badass Trojan moves in on Burn, wanting what the ‘white boy’ has. His gang has had a run in with Brody and his cousins and Burn fears that Brody is Trojan’s next target. In return for leaving Brody untouched, Burn allows Trojan to ‘date’ her. Trojan does so and tones down his bad boy image and he supports her through some rough times. They form a strong attachment and become a couple.

However, how will Burn react when Brody once again walks into her life? Is her future with Brody or Trojan, who has given up so much for her? The road to love is a rocky one for Burn as she leaves her teenage years and enters adulthood and there are many unexpected plot twists, where Burn is forced to examine her feelings for Trojan and Brody. The tale is both tragic and heart warming. Where will it all end? Will Burn’s ‘special gift’ endanger her as it exposes her to those who have secrets to keep? There is resolution to the love triangle but it is a tale that had me hooked from start to finish and made me laugh, cry and feel every emotion in between.

Burn is a great heroine, sassy and strong, with an inner goodness that shines through. I really felt for her when she was faced with the open hostility of Brody’s racist parents and I empathised with how she could love two men. Although I thought that Brody stayed under the influence of his parents for too long, I was pleased with how his character turned out and that when Burn faced some difficult situations he did step in to help. Unlike Brody, Trojan has had to fight to survive. He has a heart of gold and is very protective of her and those she cares for. Yes he is violent on occasion, but he does change for Burn and this was endearing. I really felt the love that the two guys had for Burn and the love making scenes between Burn and Brody and Burn and Trojan ranged from sweet to downright hot and I loved them!

There is a great cast of supporting characters, from Burn’s skanky aunt, to her cousins, friends and co-workers. Of special mention are Hawk and Erro, who are connected with Burn’s special gift. I love Eve Rabi’s characters, as they embrace all types of human strengths and frailties and the plot highlights these traits in the extreme, making for an entertaining and insightful read. Her characters are not perfect, they do not always make the right decisions or act within the law, but they are all the more believable and lovable because of it.

I recommend this series to those who like an emotional and sometimes hilarious read, full of romance, mayhem and vibrant characters.

A copy of the Burn’s World series was given to me by the author for the purpose of providing an honest and fair review.

Eve Rabi’s website

Burn’s World on Goodreads, Amazon UK, Amazon US and Smashwords , where there is also a great video promo of the series.

March 6, 2013 by Tina Williams

Luscious and Lethal (The Gilded River Chronicles), by Mary Raimes Curtis

Luscious and Lethal is the first in a The Gilded River Chronicles by Mary Raimes Curtis. It is a great book to curl up with and contains a lively romance between two complex individuals, set against the ever present threat of sinister events on the shores of the Atlantic. This novel is the second I have read by the author, the first being Tamed by the Hawk, a historical novel, which I also enjoyed.

In Luscious and Lethal plus size supermodel Dani Renaldo has taken refuge in her rural property at Jancy’s Cove, after the fallout from her bitter and public divorce from her abusive and cheating ex husband and the loss of her unborn baby. She hopes to regain her emotional strength and also develop a new business venture with her friend Jay, which she hopes will help compensate for her financial losses after her divorce and give her a new focus.

It is not long before Dani meets Simon Morse, in an angry and emotionally charged confrontation, in which they trade insults. Not only is Simon, her neighbour, somewhat reclusive, but he is also the business partner of a local woman, Laura, who Dani wants to do business with. Despite their bad start, they strike up a friendship and Dani tentatively opens up to him about her abusive marriage and her past. There is strong mutual attraction and they embark on a sexual relationship. Whilst Dani is sensitive and finds it hard to trust, Simon fights his own demons due to events in his own past and finds it hard to commit. There is great banter between the two of them as they navigate their way through a physical and emotional entanglement that neither expected nor know what to do with!

Dani ploughs ahead with her new business venture. However, her peace and tranquillity are periodically shattered by phone calls from her greedy and sadistic ex husband, who demands yet more money and will sink to even greater depths to secure it. There is also someone prowling around her property and a mysterious boat comes in and out of the cove at night. Events become more and more sinister as the plot unravels.

This novel has an engaging romance at is heart and the author’s characterisations of the main couple, Dani and Simon are excellent. Both the hero and heroine have their own issues to come to terms with and I liked how they helped each other to do this. It was sometimes a rocky road for them and sparks flew on more than one occasion. Neither of them is perfect, Dani appears to blow hot and cold and Simon is sometimes a little thoughtless in what he says. But perfect characters would make for a very boring read! It is their road to redemption and future happiness we are interested in and it was heart warming to see how their relationship solidified throughout the novel. There were also plenty of intimate moments shared between the main couple, which I like to see in my romances! A secondary romance featuring Laura and Jay, who are interesting characters in themselves is also featured. The local community contains a wealth of colourful supporting characters, which I hope to see later on in this series.

The suspense element was ever present and well paced. Due to Dani’s ex husband, the prowler and the goings on at night in the cove with the boat, as a reader I was never sure where the next threat would come from. Danger was always lurking in the background before coming to the fore. I would have liked to see a little more emphasis on the role of Dani’s ex husband in the plot, but saying this there was plenty to engage the reader without this element being strengthened further. I was also pleased that the suspense did not overshadow the romance.

I liked the author’s descriptions of the natural environment, encompassing the sea, the shoreline and the tranquillity of the green interior. The author also refers, through the characters, to the healing powers of nature and small town communities. I was awed by the descriptions of the yummy dishes consumed by the characters and wish that I had a man in my life who could cook as well as Jay or Simon! Knitting and cats, as well as a very special dog also make appearances in the tale.

I recommend this book to lovers of romantic suspense, contemporary romance and chick lit.

Author’s website www.maryraimescurtis.com

Publisher’s website www.museituppublishing.com

Cover art by kind permission of Marion Sipe www.marionsipe.blogspot.com

February 17, 2013 by Caroline Barker

Hot to Trot by Lou Wakefield

‘Hot to Trot’ by Lou Wakefield is my belated Valentine’s Day tie-in review. I chose to read this as it is a romantic comedy. I have to say that the opening of the story captures the reader’s imagination and pulls you in with wit being the main essence between the main character, Kate Thornton, and an elderly woman, Minnie McAlpine.

Kate Thornton is a thirty-something British actress who has had some bad luck with her career of late. She has used up her spare time playing Backgammon on the Internet and in doing so, she has built up a relationship with one of the regular players, ‘Andy the Cowboy’. Whilst ‘Andy’ is kind with his gameplay and sympathetic to her career situation, Kate learns that he has had a fall and broken his arm, thus making it difficult for him to make ends meet on his ranch, Blue Yonder, in Canada. Without giving him the heads-up, Kate decides to fly out to Canada to hopefully be of some assistance to ‘Andy’.

It is on this flight that Kate is seated next to Minnie McAlpine. Minnie hears of the situation that Kate has put herself in and although Minnie is very friendly and likeable, she also has a quirky side to her. Minnie is full of ironic and sarcastic remarks which couldn’t help but put a smile on my face.

The synopsis for this novel is very interesting. It is the idea of dropping everything you know to go and help out a person that you thought you knew, with the added possibility of some romance. However, when Kate reaches Blue Yonder she finds out that Andy doesn’t have a broken arm and isn’t aware of her at all. The real Andy, for me, was not a typical hero. He was quite rude, set in his ways and limited to his lifestyle. He didn’t welcome new ideas and was very miserable. His behaviour towards Kate was mostly ignorant and a little hostile in places. Kate isn’t sure whether to stay or go and therefore, on a romance level for me there was nothing. I didn’t feel much in the way of a connection towards the characters.

Kate is obviously a friendly woman who likes to assist wherever she can. As the novel moves on Kate’s character becomes more irritating. Although she wants to help Andy she stretches herself by going through his office drawers, asking locals on his situation, etc. I didn’t like these situations and, as a reader, made me feel uncomfortable. Kate’s character begins really nice but she becomes interfering and nosey.

I found the middle of the story quite lengthy and long-winded and as the story moves on it loses the sense of humour we began with. Kate has the mystery to solve of who it was that she was playing on the Internet with, calling themselves ‘Andy the Cowboy’. This takes up a great deal of the novel but it moves forward quite slowly, with Kate acting as a local gossip with neighbours of Andy’s, who she doesn’t even know herself. This was a little cringeworthy. However, throughout the novel there are little twists to keep the reader guessing on who the culprit is behind ‘Andy the Cowboy’.

The ending of ‘Hot to Trot’ did disappoint me. After having such a lengthy middle to the story the end seems like only a few pages. Throughout the novel the romance was missing and I was hoping that it would more than make up for this at the end. But I’m afraid I didn’t feel it. This seems such a shame as the book began on a high note and was quite enjoyable. Minnie McAlpine is my favourite character and, even though she has a role throughout the book, it would have been nice to have mentioned her more. If there were more intense and intimate moments with Kate and Andy, with the humour lasting throughout, then this novel would be much more notable.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

February 14, 2013 by Caroline Barker

Valentine’s Day Tie-In Review

As a Valentine’s Day tie-in we have a review from Wendy Morris, a reader of our blog and a close friend, who has kindly done a guest post for us on Sophie Kinsella’s ‘The Undomestic Goddess’. This review complements the review of Louise Wise’s The Fall of the Misanthrope which can be found at https://areadersreviewblog.wordpress.com/2013/02/14/book-review-of-the-fall-of-the-misanthrope-i-bitch-therefore-i-am-by-louise-wise/ and Louise Wise’s own post on her writing experience which can be found at https://areadersreviewblog.wordpress.com/2013/02/14/introducing-author-louise-wise/. We would like to thank Louise and Wendy for their time and effort. HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

THE UNDOMESTIC GODDESS by SOPHIE KINSELLA

I’m a big fan of Sophie Kinsella books but this one for some reason was a bit harder to get to grips with than some of the others I’ve read of hers. It’s a bit of a slow starter in that the build up to the disaster which leads our heroine in the book (Samantha) to leave her old life to start afresh seems a bit too dragged out and I’ll admit that at one point I wondered whether to bother finishing reading the book at all as the storyline started to get boring. It wasn’t until midway through the book that you could feel any kind of attachment with the lead character but once I did BOOM. The book had me hooked and I didn’t want to put it down.

It goes a bit down the Cinderella line with Samantha practically turning into a skivvy working for a well off but kind couple who confuse her for a domestic help but of course she then meets her Prince Charming in the end. The ending I’ll admit after all the build up to it was a bit feeble and I kind of expected better but all in all it was ok. So for this book I would give it 3 out of 5 and anyone who decides to read it just keep with it.

Reviewed by Wendy Morris

February 14, 2013 by Tina Williams

Book Review of The Fall of the Misanthrope. I bitch, therefore I am, by Louise Wise

Romancing the Dark Side of Chick-Lit

I read Louise Wise’s sci-fi romance Eden, last year and really liked her voice. I was intrigued by the title of her more recent publication, The Fall of the Misanthrope. I bitch, therefore I am, especially with its billing as a ‘dark chick-lit!’ Misanthrope is a deeply romantic and insightful tale, which deals with difficult issues and the healing power of love. It is also very humorous and made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion!

In the novel,Valerie Anthrope (Miss Anthrope – I loved the pun) is a young woman who runs a financial brokerage. Valerie is not only serious minded and hard working but, she can also be a bit of a bitch. She lives alone and keeps herself to herself, concluding that it is best not to care for anyone. There nevertheless resides within her a deep sadness and vulnerability.

In steps Ellen Semple, a missionary worker returned from abroad, who, in true ‘fairy godmother’ form resolves to make Valerie her next ‘project. Ellen senses something is not quite right with Valerie and does her best to bring light into her darkness. She secures part-time employment in Valerie’s small office. Then, believing that Valerie’s outlook is due to financial difficulties, she persuades her nephew Lex Kendal, a successful businessman, to put a large contract her way. When she sees that Lex is intrigued by Valerie, she warns him off her, believing that Valerie is too fragile to handle Lex’s ‘love’em and leave ‘em philosophy.’ Yet Lex does not take no for an answer, and Valerie falls for him. When she discovers that he is Ellen’s nephew, a fact that they deliberately hid from her, she feels deceived, let down and deeply wounded. To protect herself from future hurt she dumps Lex, almost as soon as their affair has begun.

Yet it is too late, Valerie’s armour has begun to crack and she starts to unravel and descend into depression, the dark dreams she has been having since childhood intensifying. It is from this moment that the novel, much of which has been light hearted, becomes darker, yet humour still abounds. I am glad to say that the tale did reach a satisfying conclusion. The prologue and the epilogue also contain an unexpected twist and make the reader question both fate and free will.

Valerie is complex, early childhood events having shaped her into the woman she is. Indeed, she is ‘stuck’ in the past and needs to let go. The hard face she presents is very much a façade to protect herself from future hurt and loss. The circumstances surrounding Lex’s and Ellen’s deceit unlock her emotions, giving her a chance to face them and heal herself.

Lex, a divorced single parent is a loveable rogue. He is attracted to Valerie and decides to make her one of his many conquests. He has never really grown up. However, Lex becomes smitten with Valerie, who is so unlike his usual women and her prickly nature is a challenge he wants to win. At first he is not thinking long term, but he soon realises how vulnerable she is and wants to help. He finds that he is very much in love with her. I found their developing relationship believable and touching.

The character of Ellen is pivotal. It is Ellen who decides to turn Valerie’s life around. She starts by making small changes in the office, trying to draw Valerie out in conversations and encouraging her to socialise. Oh, and she also introduces her to Lex! The secondary characters of Tim and Paul, Valerie’s employees are also supportive of her. Tim in particular is also very protective, knowing of her history.

I feel that anyone who has experienced anxiety or depression due to past trauma, or is close to someone who has, will find that this book deals sensitively with the subject. It also illustrates the redeeming power of love. Despite the serious subject matter, Misanthrope is a very funny love story, the humour ranging from light to dark. The author’s descriptions of how Ellen bursts into Valerie’s ‘grey’ world and adds shades of colour to it are hilarious, as is the banter between Valerie and Lex and her reaction to his tried and tested seduction techniques.

Louise Wise is a British author and, like Eden, the novel has a British feel. I again found her voice fresh and original and I was immediately intrigued by the characters and quickly drawn into the plot – it would make an excellent screenplay with the right cast. I recommend this book to all romance lovers, not just those who enjoy contemporary romance or chick-lit.