Review: Return to Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs

Book: Return to Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs
Published: August 28, 2012 (Harlequin MIRA)
Format: Egalley from publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!)
Summary: Sonnet Romano's life is almost perfect. She has the ideal career, the ideal boyfriend, and has just been offered a prestigious fellowship. There's nothing more a woman wants - except maybe a baby sister? When Sonnet finds out her mother is unexpectedly expecting, and that the pregnancy is high-risk, she puts everything on hold - the job, the fellowship, the boyfriend - and heads home to Avalon. Once her mom is out of danger, Sonnet intends to pick up her life where she left off. But when her mother receives a devastating diagnosis, Sonnet must decide what really matters in life, even of that means staying in Avalon and taking a job that forces her to work alongside her biggest, and maybe her sweetest, mistake - award-winning filmmaker Zach Alger. So Sonnet embarks on a summer of laughter and tears, of old dreams and new possibilities, and of finding the home of her heart.

My Review: I went into Return to Willow Lake with a bit of hesitation. I had never read anything by Susan Wiggs before, and this book had a cover that made me think of those books that are cheesy in a way that is only acceptable if accompanied by lots of Christmas carols and mistletoe. I am very glad I gave Return to Willow Lake a chance, though, because it was so much better than I was expecting.

For starters, one thing I loved about this book was that the main two characters were not your typical leads. Sonnet was biracial - half African American, half Italian - and Zach was very pale with long, blond hair nearly as light as his skin. They had been very close friends throughout childhood and high school, and although they'd lived in separate cities for years, they were still share-the-big-news-first, visit-whenever-I'm-in-town friends. Until Sonnet's step-sister, Daisy's wedding at the beginning of the book. They had not seen each other for quite a while, and a romantic encounter caused Sonnet to freak and cut Zach out of her life for the next few months.

Then Sonnet received the news about her mother and moved home. As Zach was nearly a part of the family and her new job involved working with him (filming a reality show featuring Jezebel, a teenage hip-hop star), Sonnet and Zach's friendship began to recover. Except now there were feelings Sonnet did not know how to deal with.

One great thing about this book was how wonderfully the love story fit with the whole story. The romance moved at a great pace and never felt secondary, but it also did not overshadow Sonnet's relationship with her mother, which, as that was Sonnet's reason for turning away some amazing opportunities and moving back home, was rather important. I loved watching them interact. Nina was very wise and kind, and it broke my heart to watch her go through her struggles. Because Zach was so close to the family as well as working with Sonnet, the three plots - the family life, the job, the romance - all coalesced into one beautiful story.

There was some drama, which obviously had to happen. However, nothing was blown out of proportion or stretched to melodramatic lengths just to draw the book out longer, which would have been very easy to do with some of the conflict. I very much appreciate Wiggs and her ability to write a sweet, touching story without making me overdose on cheese. I will definitely be looking up more of her books, and I recommend this one, which is officially out today!

I’m in the middle of Central Park and I’m tempted to burst into song about what a Great Day this is. I’m about to become a one-woman flash mob. His kisses tasted of champagne and chocolate cake and memories so old she couldn’t tell if they were memories or dreams. She’d always been good at school. Good at work. Good at being a trophy daughter. Sometimes, though, she wasn’t sure she was good at life. If she’d become the person she’d dreamed of being at fifteen, she would be a prima ballerina with six kids and a horse farm.

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Review: Something About You by Julie James

Book: Something About You by Julie James
Published: March 2, 2010 (Berkley Sensation)
Format: Physical copy from library
Summary: Of all the hotel rooms rented by all the adulterous politicians in Chicago, female Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron Lynde had to choose the one next to 1308, where some hot-and-heavy lovemaking ends with a death. And of all the FBI agents in Illinois, it had to be Special Agent Jack Pallas who gets assigned to this high-profile homicide. The same Jack Pallas who still blames Cameron for a botched crackdown three years ago—and for nearly ruining his career. Work with Cameron Lynde? Are they kidding? Maybe, Jack thinks, this is some kind of welcome-back prank after his stint away from Chicago. But it's no joke; the pair is going to have to put their rocky past behind them and focus on the case at hand. That is, if they can cut back on the razor-sharp jibes—and smother the flame of their sizzling-hot sexual tension.

My Review: Julie James really is a never fail author for me. Her contemporaries are among the best, and Something About You was no exception. I actually read Something About You after I read A Lot Like Love, which was the reverse of how they were intended to be read. But there were some comments in A Lot Like Love that made it absolutely mandatory that I read Something because it sounded simply splendid. And it was.

From the first time they appeared on the pages together, Jack and Cameron had chemistry that simply leaped off the pages. There was definitely animosity between them, due to an incident that has occurred years earlier. But the intense dislike clearly also masked immense attraction on both parts. The dialogue between the two was snappy and sharp, but eventually good-natured and amusing as Jack and Cameron began to develop feelings and grow to trust each other.

The book was a fantastic romance with a good dose of mystery and suspense. And glowering. Special Agent Jack McGlowerFace Phallus Pallas was immensely swoon-worthy with his affinity for reading and all his protective, Alpha male ways. I respected Cameron, who was a strong female lead. As much as I loved them separately, they were particularly awesome when together. Thankfully, this was a romance, so I got my fill of that! Something About You was a terrifically satisfying romance. You won't want to put this one down. At least, I know I didn't!

Thank God she wasn’t still hanging out in her underpants. The temperature in the room rose so fast the glass on the television fogged. Nice to see his exceptionally fine-tuned special agent powers of observation were intact. Jack Pallas was one of those men that made other men wish they weren’t standing on a doorstep wearing red-checkered oven mitts.

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Review: Within Reach by Sarah Mayberry

Book: Within Reach by Sarah Mayberry
Published: August 7, 2012 (Harlequin)
Format: Egalley from publisher via NetGalley (Thanks!)
Summary: Being a single dad was never on Michael Young's agenda. Yet with the sudden loss of his wife, that's exactly the role he has. On his best days, he thinks he can handle it. On his worst… Luckily, family friend Angie Bartlett has his back, easily stepping in to help out. Lately, though, something has changed. Michael is noticing exactly how gorgeous Angie is, and how single she is. She's constantly in his thoughts and he feels an attraction he never expected. Does he dare disrupt the very good thing they have going? If they have a fling that goes nowhere, he stands to lose everything—including her. But if they make it work, he stands to gain everything.

My Review: Within Reach is one of my favorite books that I've read recently. I absolutely loved pretty much every single thing about it. I recently reviewed another Mayberry book (Her Best Worst Mistake), and I mentioned how I associate Mayberry with amazing friends-to-lovers stories. This book? Exemplified that perfectly, even though there was a whole other level to it.

Angie was the long-time best friend of Billie. Michael was Billie's husband. Angie and Michael were friends, but Billie was the connecting link. They never would have even contemplated each other as anything other than wife's-best-friend and best-friend's-husband. Then Billie died unexpectedly. And everything changed. After Billie's death, the book jumped ahead 10 months. Even after this time period, Michael was still deeply immersed in his half-life of mourning, and his children were suffering from it, as was he. After arriving back from a short trip to New York with fresh perspective, Angie saw how much he was struggling. She told Michael some hard things he needed to hear, and she began helping him out more than she had before. Then circumstances changed again, and Angie began spending significantly more time with both Michael and the two children.

The dynamic between Angie and Michael shifted slowly and never felt unnatural, although they both fought the attraction. The romance was slow-building, intense, beautiful, and breath-taking. Literally. The first time they kissed, I'm pretty sure I didn't breathe for about 30 seconds. Mayberry has this way of writing scenes - particularly kissing/love scenes - that just punch you right in the gut. In a good way. If that makes any sense at all. Obviously, this book was not light on the angst. I didn't cry as much as I anticipated, though, even though it was a very emotional at times.

Perhaps the thing I loved most about this book was how real I felt the relationship was. I habitually read romance. If I'm being honest, probably 98% of the books I read at least have a strong romantic element in them, even if it's not the main plot. I read about fictional relationships on a daily basis. I do occasionally get the feeling that the couple would never actually make it if the book was reality, but it's very rare. However, it's also rare that I get the overwhelming sense that the couple would absolutely make it in the real world. I got that feeling in this book. Michael and Angie had a lot of issues to work out before they could ever really be together - okay, really only one issue, but it was a doozie - but once it was resolved, I was absolutely 100% convinced of their love for each other, their compatibility, and their ability to come together couple and as a family.

Once I picked up Within Reach, I did not want to set it back down again. Ever. It was an emotional - and, let's face it, hormonal, because yowza did this book have some sexual tension going on - roller coaster, but I loved every single second. (Except the part where they watched Bridesmaids with an almost-3-year-old boy. Maybe it's just me, but I found that inappropriate and pointless. Of course, I didn't like that movie at all, so.) But aside from that moment, there was really nothing I disliked about this book. The writing was solid, the children believably portrayed, the relationship believable and moving. If you love a wonderful romance and don't have an aversion to having your heart wrenched a time or two, this is the book for you. Look out for that gorgeous cover (seriously, haters to the left, it's so pretty! And not a mullet in sight!) when it hits the stores August 7.

Books had been her closest friends when she was growing up, a secret portal through which she escaped to magical worlds and far-off places. It wasn’t much, as far as strategies went. In fact it felt a little as thought she was heading off to fight a dragon with a toothpick as her weapon. He felt as though the sun was shining on his face for the first time in days, simply because she was standing in front [of] him, because he could smell her perfume and hear her voice and breathe the same air as her.

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Review: Her Best Worst Mistake by Sarah Mayberry

Title: Her Best Worst Mistake
Author: Sarah Mayberry
Published: May 3, 2012 (self-published)
Format: Ebook, purchased
Summary: For six years Violet Sutcliffe has known that Martin St Clair is the wrong man for her best friend. He's stuffy, old before his time, conservative. He drives Violet nuts - and the feeling is entirely mutual. Then, out of nowhere, her friend walks out just weeks before her wedding to Martin, flying to Australia on a mission of self-discovery. Back in London, Violet finds herself feeling sorry for suddenly-single Martin. At least, she tells herself it's pity she feels. Then he comes calling one dark, stormy night and they discover that beneath their mutual dislike there lies a fiery sexual chemistry. It's crazy and all-consuming - and utterly wrong. Because not only are they chalk and cheese, oil and water, but Martin once belonged to her best friend. A friend Violet is terrified of losing. What future can there be for a relationship with so many strikes against it?

My Review: I adore Sarah Mayberry. She is the only category romance author on my auto-read list, and I bought this one the minute I saw it mentioned over at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books. Little did I know, that behind that beautiful cover was one of Mayberry's best books yet! I read it, and I came this close to re-reading the day after I finished. I just didn't want to tear myself out of that world. I wound up not re-reading, but the desire didn't go away, and I wrote it off as a need to read a Mayberry book. This hypothesis was disproved by the fact that I just read her upcoming release, Within Reach a couple days ago. Although it was fantastic (watch for a review in the first week of August!), it did not reduce my craving to reread Her Best Worst Mistake. So, I'll be doing that soon. But onto more specifics.

There were so many things to love about Her Best Worst Mistake! The first and foremost reason I couldn't put the book down was the amazing combination of sexual tension and chemistry. I don't even know how to explain it! It was like the combination was a force in itself that bound me to my Nook. The scene where it all culminated and came to a head (the "dark, stormy night" mentioned in the synopsis)? I still think about that scene on a regular basis. And I read this book in May. And unlike many books, the tension didn't peter out after the first time; it kept going strong.

Mayberry is an expert at crafting relationships. I generally associate her with friends-to-lovers, because those are usually my favorites of hers. But Mistake was completely on the other side of the spectrum. Martin and Violet were opposites in so many ways, and they loathed the sight of each other at the beginning of the story. Their relationship and real feelings developed in a completely roundabout way, but they were so authentic. I didn't doubt for a second that they would make it as a couple. They were already accustomed to disagreeing and knew how to deal with it. Through the course of the book, they learned that many of the "reasons" for their previous opinions were not at all accurate, and they had to accept that. Which they did. And they grew individually and together as a result of it.

There were some things that were less than flawless, of course. I felt like there was too much commiserating and fretting and waiting around once it was actually time to make their relationship known. I know that it was obviously a big deal, but it took up quite a lot of time and got repetitive after a while. I would've preferred it if those 20 (or however many) pages would've been used for a little more time in the beginning, so we could see them interacting more when Elizabeth was actually around.

Her Best Worst Mistake is technically a companion to Mayberry's previous Harlequin release, Hot Island Nights. They take place over approximately the same timeline, though, and do not need to be read in order. I've yet to read the first one (although I plan to soon), and Mistake did not suffer at all. If you're looking for a contemporary romance with mind-blowingly good sexual tension, less-than-perfect characters who are willing to grow and learn, and wonderful love story, Her Best Worst Mistake would be a great one to put on your list.

One last note to all my Australian readers. Is "gets on my wick" a common phrase over there? It seems to be the equivalent of "gets on my nerves", but I'd never seen it before, and I thought it was interesting.

It wasn’t as thought he’d done anything to provoke her. Except breathe, of course. This is a conversation that requires alcohol and saturated animal fats, preferably in the form of ice cream. He felt as though the room had just tilted, as though up had become down, black become white. And then his mouth was on hers and there was nothing else in the whole wide world except for the warmth and the pressure and the rasp of his tongue and the taste of him and the press of his body against hers and the need surging through her blood like a runaway freight train.

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Review: Forever and a Day by Jill Shalvis

Title: Forever and a Day (Lucky Harbor, #6)
Author: Jill Shalvis
Published: July 31, 2012 (Grand Central)
Format: Temporary egalley provided by Netgalley, physical finished copy provided by Grand Central Publishing. (Thanks!)
Summary: Grace never thought she’d be starting her life over from scratch. Losing everything has landed her in Lucky Harbor, working as a dog walker for overwhelmed ER doctor Josh Scott. But the day his nanny fails to show up, Grace goes from caring for Josh’s loveable mutt to caring for his rambunctious kids. Soon Grace is playing house with the sexy single dad… With so many people depending on him, Josh has no time for anything outside of his clinic and family–until Grace arrives in town. Now this brainy blonde is turning his life inside out and giving a whole new meaning to the phrase “good bedside manner.” Josh and Grace don’t know if what they have can last. But in a town like Lucky Harbor, a lifetime of love starts with just one day…

My Review: My feelings for Forever and a Day could probably be conveyed in a 200-character long capslock keymash. But as that would be of no help to anyone else, I'll attempt to be coherent in my love for this book. Okay, mainly Josh. But this book as a whole was great. It started off with Josh contacting Grace - by accident - to come be a dog-walker for his son's new dog. Grace, being strapped for cash as she was, agreed, even though she had little-to-no experience with dogs. The result was hilarious, and the book only got better from there.

I had such a wonderful time watching the relationship between Josh and Grace build. They had smoldering chemistry from page one - in fact, it started in small increments in the previous books - and it only grew steadily more intense until it finally exploded. Their romance was as heart-meltingly beautiful as it was hot, and their interactions felt very real to me. They could be serious, but they had some of the most entertaining exchanges ever. Exhibit A)

This stopped her cold. “You have more spiders?” “No,” he said without missing a beat. “No spiders.” “You said spiders,” she said. “And I saw a big one in the side yard, in the sprinkler well.” “That spider went south for the winter.” “It’s summer.” “He wanted to be the first to get out of town.”

What made this book even better, though, was that it was not just about Grace's relationship with Josh. It was about Grace and her own journey to happiness, developing her ability to make her own choices. It was about Josh and his struggle to balance work, family, and the wishes of his dead father. It was about Josh's son, Toby, and Josh's - and Grace's - relationship with the young boy. It was about Anna, Josh's younger, wheelchair-confined sister, her interactions with the two older adults, and her journey to finally coming to terms with what her life could be with her disability.

Now, I will devote a paragraph to Josh, because a review of this book would not be complete without it. Because seriously. I'm quite convinced that Shalvis just jumped into my head, pulled out every single thing that's a turn-on for me, and created Josh. Responsible. Single father. Fantastic, near eidetic memory. He was also just a little bit tortured, but with a great sense of humor and a huge heart to make up for it. Add in a whole heap of the sexy!pants factor, and my heart was going pitter-patter. Plus, he was a total nerd at heart, and just a little awkward with women - at least internally. He truly had a little bit of something for everyone, but he never seemed incomplete or scattered as a character. Probably my favorite hero in the entire Lucky Harbor series, which is saying something.

Like the first "trilogy" of the series, these three books also grew increasingly better with each installment. Forever and a Day was definitely my favorite of this second set of Lucky Harbor books. I would, without any reservations, recommend it if you have previously enjoyed the Lucky Harbor novels. I was going to end this review with a lament over the end of the Lucky Harbor, but today I received some fantastic news! According to Jill's post on her blog, there are three new Lucky Harbor novels in the works! Therefore, a lament is no longer in order. However, in the mean time until the next book comes out, Forever and a Day will be here to keep you company on July 31, and I would highly recommend going out and getting a copy.

Bonus! Included in Forever and a Day is the recipe for the Chocoholics' Cupcakes-Worth-the-Fat-Grams. I, of course, baking and chocolate enthusiast that I am, made these immediately after finishing the book. Whether it was because it was an egalley, or simply the digital formatting, I don't know, but some of the ingredient amounts did not display correctly, so I had to guess for some of it. The mixture wound up too runny, then I added way too much flour in my attempt to make it normal cupcake-batter-y. And I baked them a few minutes too long. Thus, the cupcakes wound up quite dry. But the taste was fantastic, and I can't wait to make more of these and improve them to perfection...by actually following the recipe.

P.S. Stop by for my interview with Jill Shalvis tomorrow, part of the Summer with Jill Shalvis Blog Tour!

He turned to say something and caught her staring. She quickly pretended to be watching her own feet. Look at that, her heels were looking a little worn. “Pretty hardwood floors,” she said. “You weren’t looking at the floor. You were looking at my ass.” Giving up, she sighed. “Okay, yes,” she said as primly as she could. “But it’s impolite of you to point it out.” Okay, so maybe chocolate doesn’t make the world go around, but it sure makes the trip worthwhile. There was just something about her that made him feel like a kid on Christmas morning. Like he couldn’t wait to see beyond the packaging, couldn’t wait to touch. And not just physically, which was what really disconcerted him. He wanted to touch her from the inside out, which made no fucking sense at all. So wake up and smell the damn cupcakes. “It’s because love is one of those really bossy bitches,” Amy said. “There’s no telling it what to do.” And on the Eighth day, God created chocolate.

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Review: Born in Fire by Nora Roberts

Title: Born in Fire (Born In #1)
Author: Nora Roberts
Published: October 1994 (Jove)
Format: Audiobook (narrated by Fiacre Douglas)
Summary: Gifted, reclusive, stubborn, free-spirited...Maggie Concannon is a glassmaker whose exquisite works are more than mere objects of beauty, but reflections of her own true nature. One man saw the soul in her art, and vowed to help this complex woman build a lucrative career. When gallery owner Rogan Sweeney came to Maggie's isolated studio, her heart was enflamed by their fierce attraction - and her dark past was slowly healed by a gentle and forgiving love...

My Review: Born in Fire is the first in the Born In trilogy by Nora Roberts, but I read Born in Ice first. There were two factors in Born in Ice that made me want to read Born in Fire. The first was the appearance of Maggie and Rogan. While their summary didn't sound all that interesting at the time, the characters themselves were intriguing, and I wanted to know more than the hints about their story that were conveyed in Ice. The second factor, though, was definitely the main one. And that would be the narrator.

The narrator of Born in Fire was Fiacre Douglas, who narrates all three books in the trilogy. For the first fifteen seconds of Ice, I was livid. How dare my romance book have a MALE narrator? That's what I got for downloading in a hurry and not checking the voice for once. I even had an actual rant about it, my empty car getting an earful as I drove down the road. But once I accepted it, I actually heard said male voice, instead of just the fact that it was not, in fact, a woman narrating my book. And I heard that he had an Irish accent. As a self-proclaimed accent enthusiast with a particular propensity for Irish accents, I found this rather swoon-worthy. I have also made a concentrated effort to refrain from seeing a photograph of said narrator, for fear he is a 55 year old man with beady eyes and a beer gut. In my head, he matches his voice. Which is, to say, quite attractive.

Aside from being aesthetically pleasing in the auditory department, Born in Fire had several more things going for it. Maggie Concannon was a great character! With artistic characters, it is extremely easy to make them too flighty, too eccentric, too irresponsible. However, Roberts managed a great balance with Maggie. She had flaws, but she had many redeeming qualities to balance them out. I truly felt the things she felt, and I understood how and why she needed to get them out in her art. The art itself - both the making and the appearance - was presented splendidly in the writing. I know next to nothing about glassblowing, but I never felt overwhelmed with details. At the same time, though, I could see immense beauty any time it was mentioned.

I also really liked Logan. It was very enjoyable to watch (or listen to, as the case may be) the two of them fight their feelings about each other, then finally give into the inevitable. They both had legitimate reasons why a relationship would be difficult, but they learned to move past them. There was also a splendid little side romance that was a joy to watch unfold. All in all, Born in Fire was definitely a winner! I would particularly recommend it if you are a fan of art, glassblowing in particular.

❝Sex and power generally depend on the woman.❞

❝When you love with all you are, it isn’t just unhappiness you risk. It’s heaven, too.❞

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Review: At Last by Jill Shalvis

Title: At Last (Lucky Harbor, #5)
Author: Jill Shalvis
Published: June 2012 (Forever)
Disclosure: Received for review from Netgalley. (Thanks!)
Summary: Amy Michaels loves her new life in Lucky Harbor. A waitress in the local diner, she's looking forward to her first weekend hike through the mountains. But when a wrong turn takes her off the trail, she finds herself up close and personal with forest ranger Matt Bowers. And even though she's tempted to kiss that sexy smile right off his face, she won't make the mistake of getting involved with the town heartthrob. A former cop whose life went south, Matt doesn't let anyone get too close. But something about the feisty beauty caught his eye the moment he first saw her in the diner. After a hot night under a starry sky, Matt can't deny their attraction-or the fact that for the first time in a long time, he feels the stirrings of something more. Now it's up to Matt to help Amy see that, no matter what is in their past, together they can build a future in Lucky Harbor.

My Review: Oh, Lucky Harbor. I truly think I could regularly read books from this series/in this setting for the next twenty years and never, ever get tired of it. Shalvis has created such a beautiful, enchanting place that I never want to leave! The fifth in the Lucky Harbor series was, of course, no exception. After getting to know Amy a little bit in Lucky in Love, I really wanted to know her story. I wanted to know her better as a character, and I especially wanted to see how her story with Matt (otherwise known, much to my snort-inducing laughter, around Lucky Harbor as "Ranger Hot Buns" - thanks, Lucille!) played out! There was a bit of hinting about them in Lucky in Love, and I, of course, was hooked on them merely from this. There was a mystery surrounding them that I could not wait to solve.

The chemistry in At Last was absolutely incredible! I was ready for the screen of my Nook to start melting, or something equally melodramatic. Holy cow! I loved the progression of Amy and Matt's whole relationship. The whole "don't-WANT-to-want-you (but totally do anyway)" device is absolutely one of my favorites. They definitely had that going on at first, but deeper things came into play in the conflict that kept them from their HEA for a wile.

Amy was a fascinating character. She had a particularly rough past, and it was an issue that had to be faced over the course of At Last. It was a factor in the possibility of things developing seriously with Matt, and it also came into play in her interactions with Riley, a teenage runaway who appeared in Lucky Harbor in the book. And really, it was necessary for Amy herself to come to terms with some things.

One thing I really enjoyed about At Last was the continuity with the rest of the series. Shalvis did a great job with this. At Last could be read as a standalone, and nothing would seem amiss. But there were plenty of little references and offhand comments here and there for fans of Lucky Harbor to pick up. And maybe I'm only speaking for myself here, but I love spotting something that's an obscure (or even not-so-obscure) reference to something that happened in a previous book. It makes me want to take off my glasses and spiffily polish them on my shirt before replacing them in a haughty fashion. That is, if I wore glasses. In reality, I just make this open-mouthed, crinkled-nose grin that I've never actually seen myself make, but I imagine it looks something like an imitation of a crazed pig. You can see why I'd prefer the glasses scenario.

Oh, and I have a question. It's not specific to At Last because it comes up ALL the time, but I just final made a note about it. HOW, exactly, does every secondary character in romances have the I Can Totally Tell You Had Sex Superpower? I mean, really. I know some people are perceptive, but sheesh. But anyway. All things - even totally unrealistic superpowers - considered, At Last was absolutely a solid addition to the Lucky Harbor world! I recommend it to new and old Shalvis readers.
*If some of these seem familiar, that's because I failed in my quote organization and accidentally included a couple of them in my review of Lucky in Love. The review has been corrected now (with even more Lucky in Love quotes replacing the accidental At Last ones!), but I thought I would clear that up just in case there was any confusion.

❝Life’s short. Dessert first.❞

❝When in doubt, eat chocolate. When stressed, eat chocolate. When in doubt and stressed, eat chocolate. Especially when that doubt and stress were related to a man and her feelings for said man.❞

❝And good Lord, the way he looks at you is contributing to global warming.❞

❝The calories in chocolate don’t count because chocolate comes from the cocoa bean, and everyone knows that beans are good for you.❞

❝I have panty x-ray vision. God-given talent.❞

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Review: Lucky in Love by Jill Shalvis

Title: Lucky in Love (Lucky Harbor #4)
Author: Jill Shalvis
Published: May 2012 (Grand Central Publishing)
Disclosure: Received for review from Netgalley.
Summary: Mallory Quinn has had enough of playing it safe. As a nurse and devoted daughter, she takes care of everyone but herself. And as the local good girl, she's expected to date Mr. Right. But for once, she'd like to take a risk on Mr. Wrong. And who could be more wrong than Ty Garrison? The mysterious new guy in town has made it clear that he's only passing through, which suits Mallory just fine. Besides, his lean, hard body and sexy smile will give her plenty to remember once he's gone... For the first time in his life, Ty can't bear to leave. Helping this sexy seductress-in-training walk on the wild side is making him desire things he shouldn't -- including leaving the military for good. As their just-for-fun fling becomes something more, Mallory and Ty wonder if they could really be this lucky in love. After all...anything can happen in a town called Lucky Harbor.

My Review: If you are a regular around this blog at all, you know that Jill Shalvis is a favorite of mine. I discovered the Lucky Harbor series (that I thought was just a trilogy, but lo and behold, THERE ARE MORE!) this past January on a whim, and I am SO GLAD I did! It is, without a doubt, one of the best contemporary series I've read. Lucky Harbor is a fantastic place; I'd love to visit, or even live there. If, you know, it weren't just a figment of a brilliant author's imagination.

I was somewhat afraid that after Head Over Heels, my favorite of the series so far and the last of the three sisters, the next installments might not quite measure up. Oh, how wrong I was! I adored the three new ladies to whom we were introduced - collectively known as the Chocoholics (obviously, I can relate). This meant that the quotes starting each chapter were all about chocolate, and what a fantastic opportunity this provided for Shalvis. Some of them made me laugh out loud! This one was probably my favorite; it's just perfect:

❝It’s not that chocolate is a substitute for love. Love is a substitute for chocolate. Chocolate is far more reliable than a man.❞

The Chocoholics meetings were hilarious, and I loved watching the friendship between these wonderful women bloom. Mallory Quinn, the quintessential Town Good Girl, was the first of the Chocoholics to have her story told. And boy, what a story! Ty Garrison - formerly known to us Lucky Harbor fans as Mysterious Cute Guy - played opposite her lead, and the story of the Good Girl and Not-Quite-So-Bad Boy never felt so good. They had a uniquely perfect Meet Cute, and lots of things ensued that were not exactly as expected. They set the pages aflame several times, and their story overall was just wonderful. They were so great for each other, and the end left me with a giant smile on my face.

When reading a Shalvis book, you can be pretty much guaranteed a laugh or two or twenty. Lucky in Love definitely did not disappoint on this front! Even when I was reading while working out on the elliptical at the gym, I just kept cracking up. There were so many fun characters and one-liners. Lucky Harbor was still magnificent, and although none of the former leads were heavily featured, there were still several mentions and cameos. Lucille, the Facebook-addicted town gossip, was as hilarious as always. Along with the humor, the book still had plenty of substance and lots of heart. Lucky in Love could easily be read as a standalone, but Lucky Harbor fans absolutely will not be disappointed.

❝But her secret inner bad girl was screaming oh please, can’t we have him? Just once?❞

❝Some secrets are toxic if you try to keep them inside. You know that, right? Some secrets are meant to be told, before they eat you up.❞

❝He knew he had no right to touch her, crave her like air, but he did both. And when he put his mouth on hers, he recognized the taste of her, like she'd been made just for him.❞

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Review: Slow Heat by Jill Shalvis

Title: Slow Heat
Author: Jill Shalvis
Published: February 2010 (Berkley)
Format: Physical Book
Summary: After a woman claims she's pregnant with Wade O'Riley's love child, Major League Baseball's most celebrated catcher and ladies' man is slapped on the wrist by management and ordered to improve his image. His enforcer is the team's publicist, the tough and sexy Samantha McNead. When Wade needs a date for a celebrity wedding, Sam steps up to the plate as his "girlfriend". But given her secret crush on him and that one awkward night a year ago in a stalled elevator with too much Scotch, the whole thing is an exercise in sexual tension. Wade is thrilled when the pretense turns into an unexpected night of hot passion. But the next day Sam is back to her cool self. As a catcher, Wade's used to giving the signals, not struggling to read them. Now, to win the love of his "pretend" girlfriend, he needs a home run--even if it involves stealing a few bases...

My Review: I am and always will be a football girl at heart. I find watching baseball games on television boring, but I do love the fun and atmosphere of actually attending a game. In Slow Heat, Shalvis was able to capture that magic and hold it through the entire book. I was enthralled by the world of professional baseball, the team, and everything that happened behind the scenes. Everything that's never really shown in real life to those of us not involved in it.

I loved this book! The chemistry between Wade and Sam was absolutely SPECTACULAR. It was practically tangible. Yet, there was so much more than just chemistry there. There was a romance that was beautiful enough to melt your heart. Wade and Sam had one night of steamy, slightly drunken history, and that was it. When it came to interaction, they were still anything but close.

❝But it was lust. Nothing more. Because Wade didn’t do more. And she didn’t do less.❞

This quote just took my breath away. It was, essentially, the reason they couldn't be together, in Sam's mind, for the majority of the book. He was a playboy, and she wanted commitment. Therefore, she didn't even see the point in trying. The way it was stated, so stark and straightforward, almost made me cry. A brilliantly composed quote, truly. Watching the two of them interact and get to know each other for real, even through false pretenses, was so touching. I was rooting for them the entire time, and when the eventual HEA came about, I heaved a sigh of deep, contented bliss.

Oh, and Shalvis began each of the chapters with quotes again. I love how she does that! I don't even want to know how much time goes into that process. I know how difficult it can be to select the perfect quote for things. I used to use quotes for the titles of the entries in my old personal blog, and I was pretty picky about it a lot of the time. You can tell that she carefully selects them. The quotes have to be relevant to the main topic - baseball, in this case - and they have to somehow allude to the events in the upcoming chapter. BUT they can't be SO spoilery as to give anything away. Finding the quote with that perfect balance for each chapter has got to take a killer amount of work, but as a quote enthusiast, I appreciate it so much. I think it adds a lot to the book.

One negative: There were quite a few comma splices in the book, apparently. I don't remember this, so it didn't make a particularly lasting impression. But it was in my notes, so I figured I would at least mention it.

I also have in my notes that this book has a great example of the fact that realism in love scenes doesn't need to be a mood killer. In fact, this really applies to all Shalvis books. I've read articles where people harp on romance novels for romanticizing sex by not being realistic about it (STDs, condoms, whatnot). While I have read books where this is the case (mostly historicals and less recent contemporaries), this does not apply to Shalvis one bit. She's always upfront about these things, like many contemporary authors, and she manages to not tear you out of the book!world with the awkwardness. It's a delicate balance, I think, and Shalvis accomplishes the balance of realism and romanticism wonderfully.

One interesting fact about Slow Heat was that it was one of those rare books where I had a clear visual in my head for both main characters. Not even just one, but both! Specifically, Wade (Wilson Bethel) from Hart of Dixie and Sam (Poppy Montgomery) from Without a Trace (which I haven't seen in years). Random, I know, but there you have it.



Overall, Slow Heat was a delightful read! If you love sports romances, I would absolutely recommend it to you. If you don't know if you like sports romances, I would recommend it to you, too! I could totally see handing this book to someone to show them the awesomeness that is good sports romance.

❝Unfortunately for her more womanly parts, all she’d tackled lately was the job.❞

❝Wade smiled. It was his professional smile, the one that could melt a woman’s panties at fifty paces and make men wish that they had half his athletic prowess, and it was a charmer. She knew its potency, braced herself for it, and still felt her panties melt.❞

❝I need a steak. Or a plate of burgers. Hell, I don’t care what it is as long as it’s red meat and no longer mooing. ❞

❝French fries and sunsets were God’s gift, he decided.❞

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Review: Somebody to Love by Kristan Higgins

Title: Somebody to Love
Author: Kristan Higgins
Published: (Today!) April 2012 (HQN Books)
Disclosure: Received for review.
Summary: After her father loses the family fortune in an insider-trading scheme, single mom Parker Welles is faced with some hard decisions. First order of business: go to Gideon's Cove, Maine, to sell the only thing she now owns—a decrepit house in need of some serious flipping. When her father's wingman, James Cahill, asks to go with her, she's not thrilled -- …even if he is fairly gorgeous and knows his way around a toolbox. Having to fend for herself financially for the first time in her life, Parker signs on as a florist's assistant and starts to find out who she really is. Maybe James isn't the glib lawyer she always thought he was. And maybe the house isn't the only thing that needs a little TLC….

My Review: Somebody to Love is absolutely charming. No surprise there! As one of my favorite contemporary romance authors, I always have high expectations when I pick up a book by Kristan Higgins. I was so excited when I saw she had a new book coming out! As my first ARC, the excitement I felt about this book was multiplied even further. It was worth every single little bit of excitement and anticipation. I read the majority of it down on the dock of our lake and outside lounging underneath my favorite tree on campus, both of which were perfect settings. I really feel like this is a book that is best read outside, although it would obviously be good anywhere you read it.

There are so many things to love about this book. Parker is a children's author who dislikes everything about her hit series, The Holy Rollers (with whom she sometimes has hilarious internal conversations). She is a mother to an adorable little boy, Nicky (who is super well written, by the way, a feat not a lot of authors can accomplish). She also happens to be crazy rich, due to her family legacy, her father, and his not-entirely-legal activities. James Cahill is her father's lawyer and, as such, holds Parker's disdain, shown in her nickname for him, "Thing One." James has had feelings for Parker since they first met, but at the surface, they appear to have a relationship of mutual dislike. This leads to a deliciously charged dynamic with plenty of barbs, banter, covert (and not so covert) insults, and all sorts of fun stuff. However, when circumstances change, Parker's world - along with the relationship between Parker and James - is turned upside down. I don't always do the riches-to-rags stories, but Higgins pulled it off with aplomb. Parker is spoiled in some ways, yes, but she's not a stereotypical, super spoiled little rich girl, and because of this, she is easier to identify with.

One thing I enjoyed about this book was the gradual reveal of James and Parker's history. There is more to them than originally meets the eye. The history is revealed intermittently throughout the story, shared at a perfect rate. My curiosity was equally satisfied and intrigued. It never overwhelmed the story, but it never felt irrelevant. It added a complexity to the characters and the relationship they would not have had otherwise.

I love that this book is set in Gideon's Cove, one of the most charming locations I have come across in fiction. I would so love to move there. We also get to interact with some characters from other Higgins books, which I absolutely adored. If you've read other Higgins books written in the area, it adds a special element. If you haven't, not to worry! You will be in no way lost. Although I'd definitely recommend you read them simply because they're super awesome. But I digress. The supporting characters are all quirky and a blast to read about. There are plenty of them, but not so many as to become overwhelming.

❝Aside from staring at a blank computer screen and possibly watching a Gerard Butler movie or three, she had no plans.❞

❝She tended to attract emotionally unavailable men, anyway. Married men, engaged men, sociopaths, that sort of thing. Better not to date at all. The fact that she’d spent a lot of time watching gritty TNT dramas and eating Ben & Jerry’s should not be construed as jealousy. It was more like a filling of the gap.❞

❝James pushed her against the wall and kissed her again, and it was so welcome, so wonderful, being kissed like that, as if the building could burn down around them and it would be more important to keep kissing, hard and hot and fierce.❞

❝The memory of what had followed would live on the trophy shelf of James’s mind till the day he died.❞

What did I think about this book? I think Higgins said it perfectly herself:

❝Parker felt a bit as if she’d swallowed the sun, so warm and bright his chirpy little voice this book made her feel.❞

All in all, Somebody to Love has interesting characters, a romance to melt your heart (and also possibly leave a few scorch marks here and there), and a charming setting. It all comes together to form the perfect summer read.


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Review: About That Night by Julie James

Title: About That Night
Author: Julie James
Published: April 2012 (Berkley Sensation)
Summary: Though Rylann Pierce tried to fight the sparks she felt for billionaire heir Kyle Rhodes the night they met, their sizzling chemistry was undeniable. But after being stood up on their first date, Rylann never expected to see him again. So when she finds herself face to face with Kyle in a courthouse nine years later, she’s stunned. More troubling to the beautiful Assistant U.S. Attorney is that she’s still wildly attracted to him. Just released from prison, Kyle Rhodes isn’t thrilled to be the star witness in a high-profile criminal case — but when Rylann comes knocking at his door, he finds she may be the one lawyer he can’t say no to. Still as gorgeous and sharp-tongued as ever, she lays down the law: she doesn’t mix business with pleasure. But Kyle won’t give up on something he wants — and what he wants is the one woman he’s never forgotten...

My Review: About That Night by Julie James was much awaited in these parts. She's kind of amazing! And I just read the first two in the series earlier this year. So the wait was just enough to seem tantalizing and unfair, but not so much that I lost any enthusiasm. If this book lived up to the others, I knew I would not be disappointed. Not to mention, I knew Kyle was the hero, and that was something I simply had to see. Because 1) I had loved him in the previous book, and 2) he is an ex-con - how often does that happen? Needless to say About That Night most definitely did not disappoint. I loved it! From the characters to the writing to the plot, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Rylann is a big planner. Nightly plans, monthly plans, six-year-plans. She's all about the plans. Then Kyle reenters the scene, something that is most definitely unplanned. It was such fun to watch Rylann cope with this and come to terms with the fact that she does want Kyle in her life. Not everything in life can - or should - be planned. I could really relate to Rylann, and her story was absolutely one I enjoyed reading.

❝Nope, no plans tonight. Until sunrise, she was officially winging it. Being spontaneous. Crazy, even. Assuming she didn’t have a panic attack in about two seconds at the thought.❞

Now let's talk about Kyle. I should have plenty to say, because about 75% of my notes were about him. And they all basically equated to "I HEART X ABOUT KYLE. AND Y. AND Z. OH, AND P, Q, R, & S, TOO." Okay, let's go for the shallow first: He looks like Sawyer from LOST. Be still, my heart. I watched the entirety of LOST for the first time just last year, so it's still fresh in my head. Kyle is a rare combination found in a hero: fiercely intelligent, sexy, and funny (Okay, maybe not rare, per se, but he pulls it off while still seeming like just a regular guy...who is also an ex-con). He loves his family. He has a thing for nick names, which is totally cute. Clearly another addition to the Fictional Boyfriend list.

The book starts off during Rylann and Kyle's first interaction, nine years before the book actually takes place. It drew me in right away, and I loved the integration of their little bit of history into the current story. Rylann and Kyle play off each other very well; the witty banter is delightful. You really can't help but smile any time they interact. I also love how James writes what she knows when it comes to the law/lawyers/legal processes. Those details really shine through and lend a sense of authenticity to the whole book.

About That Night was definitely a hit! I can't wait for more from James.

❝“I’ve got some kind of tropical drink with one of those little umbrellas in it, and I’m reading a book – one I don’t have to highlight or outline in the margins.”
“They makes those kinds of books?”
“If memory serves.”❞

❝There are some things a girl never forgets, Ry. And one of those is a kiss from the right guy.❞

❝Clearly, she and her subconscious needed to have a talk about that one.❞

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Review: Yours to Keep by Shannon Stacey

Title: Yours to Keep
Author: Shannon Stacey
Published: February 2012 (HQN) {Ebook originally published June 2011 by Carina Press}
Summary: Emma Shaw needs a husband, and fast! Not because she's interested in romance—after all, she's too busy with her landscaping company—but because Grandma Shaw is coming to town, and she will have nonstop questions about Emma's (stagnant) love life. Sean Kowalski no sooner leaves the army than he's recruited by Emma to be her fake fiance. Sean doesn't like the deception, but he can't help his attraction to the feisty brunette. A little pretend kissing won't hurt anyone—especially when there's no chance he'll fall for a woman with deep roots in a town he's not planning to call home. But when fake, innocent kisses lead to very real, explosive sparks, Emma and Sean discover that their big ruse might just lead to happily-ever-after…

My Review: Yours to Keep and I had quite the turbulent relationship. I first heard really good things about it last year, and I got the audiobook for my drive home for break. I made it through almost an hour before I admitted defeat and turned it off. I am picky about my narrators, so perhaps it was just me, but I couldn't stand the narrator of this book. At all. Nothing about the audiobook appealed to me. Thus, Yours to Keep was automatically blacklisted in my head. Then it popped back up again at DABWAHA in March, and I remembered how much I had loved the premise. I was also pretty sure I remembered that the content itself wasn't half bad. In fact, the meeting of the hero and heroine was downright hilarious. So, I put it on hold at my library, and I waited. I'm so glad I did!

I loved this book! Sure, the "pose as my girlfriend/fiancée/wife" trope is old, but it's a good one. And I haven't read many where the tables are turned, and it's actually the man playing the role. Stacey pulled it off brilliantly. I believed Emma's reasoning behind her bargain; nothing ever seemed contrived. Sean's hesitancy and inevitable caving were priceless.

We get to meet a lot of Sean's family in this book, and I loved them! It makes me want to read about the other Kowalskis, which I plan on doing soon. (There are more!) Overall, I simply enjoyed the feeling of the close-knit family on the sides of both Emma and Sean. I love the importance family held to them both. Not to mention, the characters themselves were pretty fantastic!

Emma. She truly loves her career of landscaping, and she is a dedicated business owner. I admired her for this. I loved reading her point of view; her inner commentary is hilarious. She is a quirky character I enjoyed getting to know.

Sean. Freshly back from the army, Sean is a down-to-earth guy with a wonderfully dry sense of humor and a huge heart. He also has an obsession with Sticky Notes, and as a fellow Sticky Note fanatic, I could relate. This definitely made me smile.

A few things I loved about their relationship:

• The Sarcasm. Exhibit A: ❝Oh, yes, Sean Kowalski.  Your amazing kisses have made all rational thought fly out of my besotted brain.  If only you could fill me with your magic penis, I know we’d fall madly in love and live happily ever after.❞ *gigglesnort* I just about fell off the couch after reading this line! Brilliant, I tell you.
• The Steam Factor. Talk about your chemistry. If you think fun, witty books cannot also have some serious sexual tension, think again. Yowza!
• The Sweetness. They just about melted my heart by the end.

This book was an absolute delight to read! It will be going on my wishlist for sure. I will leave you with some great quotes:

❝All’s fair in sex and Scrabble.❞

❝He could do this. He’d survived boot camp. He’d survived combat and the harsh weather of Afghanistan. He could survive broccoli. Probably.❞

❝…she was afraid someday soon he was going to touch her and she’d burst into spontaneous orgasm.❞

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