Review: Seduction of a Highland Lass by Maya Banks

Book: Seduction of a Highland Lass by Maya Banks
Published: September 27, 2011 (Ballantine Books)
Format: Physical copy from library
Summary: Fiercely loyal to his elder brother, Alaric McCabe leads his clan in the fight for their birthright and must wed for duty. But on his way to claim the hand of Rionna McDonald, he is ambushed and left for dead. Miraculously, his life is saved by the soft touch of a Highland angel. An outcast from her own clan, Keeley McDonald was betrayed by those she loved and trusted. When the wounded warrior falls from his horse, she is drawn to his strong, lean body. The wicked glint in his green eyes ignites a passion that will follow them back to Alaric's keep, where their forbidden love draws them deeper into the pleasures of the flesh. But as conspiracy and danger circle closer, Alaric must make an impossible choice: Will he betray his blood ties for the woman he loves?

My Review: Thanks to Outlander, I found myself craving another romance set in Scotland. I had seen a lot of Maya Banks but had never read anything by her. I stumbled across this one at the library and decided to give it a try. I had mixed feelings about Seduction of a Highland Lass: there were things I really enjoyed, as well as things I didn't. Overall, it was a good, but not great book.

I would normally wax eloquent here about the hero of the novel, but not this time. The hero was definitely the element that weakened Highland Lass the most, for me. While he had his moments, Alaric was a one-dimensional, cookie-cutter super Alpha who was really quite boring. At no point did I feel especially attached to him, or the idea of him and Keeley. In fact, a (disconcertingly large) portion of me almost wanted Keeley to end up with his brother. Yes, his BROTHER. As opposed to Alaric, Caelen was a multi-faceted, extremely intriguing, and thoroughly swoon-worthy figure. While I didn't really want Keeley to wind up with Caelen (because I liked her, and she loved Alaric, although who knows why), I still found myself jumping to attention any time his name was mentioned or he appeared on the scene. Caelen was what made this book not only worth finishing, but made reading until the end a mandatory thing.

One more negative: If I saw the phrase "'tis the truth" or "'twas the truth" one more time, I was going to RIP OUT MY OWN HAIR. Seriously. At one point, it occurred three times in half a page. I don't read a lot of Scottish romances, and if the dialogue is typically that repetitive, there's no way I could bring myself to read very many of them, no matter how much I enjoy the setting. Which I really, really do. In fact, that was one of the things I did like about this book. The clans, the loyalty, the land. I have discovered that I really enjoy reading books set against a historical Scotland background. I find it fascinating.

Another potential draw of this book would be the steam factor. If you're looking for a book with some scenes to make you blush, this would be a great choice for you. 'Tis the truth (HA). But really, the memory of one particular scene is still enough to make me fan myself. And I'm sitting outside in the breeze. And I read this book over two months ago.

I would recommend reading In Bed with a Highlander, the first in the series, first, because books number 2 and 3 refer a lot to events that happened in it. All in all, Seduction of a Highland Lass had its ups as well as downs. The romance was fairly mediocre, but I really liked Keeley. Honestly, it would be worth reading for Caelen alone.

The tales she spun in her head would make a bard look boring.

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Review: Leaving Paradise & Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles

Title: Leaving Paradise / Return to Paradise
Author: Simone Elkeles
Published: April 2007 / September 2010 (Flux)
Summary: Nothing has been the same since Caleb Becker left a party drunk, got behind the wheel, and hit Maggie Armstrong. Even after months of painful physical therapy, Maggie walks with a limp. Her social life is nil and a scholarship to study abroad—her chance to escape everyone and their pitying stares — has been canceled. After a year in juvenile jail, Caleb’s free . . . if freedom means endless nagging from a transition coach and the prying eyes of the entire town. Coming home should feel good, but his family and ex-girlfriend seem like strangers. Caleb and Maggie are outsiders, pigeon-holed as "criminal" and "freak." Then the truth emerges about what really happened the night of the accident and, once again, everything changes. It’s a bleak and tortuous journey for Caleb and Maggie, yet they end up finding comfort and strength from a surprising source: each other.

My Review: I was very intrigued by the premise of this duo; there was so much you could do with this unique storyline. I started Leaving Paradise with some pretty high expectations. After all, I had been impressed by Elkeles before (particularly with Perfect Chemistry. SO MUCH LOVE.). My sister raved about these books. They both had a 4+ Goodreads rating. Everything pointed toward them being pretty darn great. I did enjoy them, but unfortunately, they both fell short of my expectations.

Like I said, I was super interested in the premise of these. I'd never seen a book address this subject before. I couldn't wait to see how the dynamic would be handled. It would definitely be a difficult subject to tackle, and I think Elkeles did well with it. It may have been that I wasn't in the mood for it that day, but the books were a little too much of a downer for me. It wasn't your typical teenage angst with the additional problems of the whole he-went-to-prison-for-hitting-her-with-a-car thing, because believe me, I enjoy a good angst-fest; it was that everything sucked for these two. There was barely a shred of light or optimism to be found. This can be a fantastic mechanism for writing, if used well (see: Forbidden, When He Was Wicked, several hundred fanfics I've read, and more), but in these, it just felt depressing. The books were too underwhelming; they didn't grab me quite enough to have the desired effect. I didn't like how the first one ended, although I understood why it ended the way it did. I was also extremely appreciative of the fact that I had the second readily available, as opposed to having to wait 3 years for it to come out. I read both of these books in one day, which is partially why I'm reviewing them together. Because, in my mind, they were just one longer book.

One thing that I definitely loved was the wonderful build-up to Caleb and Maggie's relationship. Build-up is, quite typically, a huge factor in how much I enjoy a relationship in a book, television series, or anything else. Just because, quite honestly, the majority of the time, it's just nowhere near as good once the relationship actually happens. They get boring, or the characters start acting like a cookie-cutter couple, and lose their individuality. It happens. Anyway. Behold tangent #783; stay tuned for more in the future.

Another thing I appreciated in these books was the realistic approach to things. Elkeles is extremely talented in giving all her books a definite sense of authenticity. The Paradise duo was no exception. These circumstances could have happened in real life, and nothing was glossed over. Elkeles did a great job with this. Overall, although they did not meet my expectations by any means, the Paradise books were still worth the read. I liked watching how Maggie and Caleb grew up as individuals and together as a couple.

❝I can’t believe I’m seventeen and thinking about the good old days.❞

❝Thinking too hard and too long is dangerous for anyone with demons they’re trying to fight off.❞

❝According to Vanessa, my limp and scars don’t matter. I’m a cool chick. I just have to start believing it.❞

Purchase Leaving Paradise at: Amazon || Barnes & Noble || The Book Depository

Purchase Return to Paradise at: Amazon || Barnes & Noble || The Book Depository

Review: Scandalous by Karen Robards

Title: Scandalous
Author: Karen Robards
Published: January 2003 (Pocket)
Summary: When Lady Gabriella Banning receives word that her half-brother, the Earl of Wickham, has died on his tea plantation in Ceylon, she faces the reality that she and her younger sisters, Claire and Elizabeth, are suddenly penniless. The family's riches will pass to the next male heir -- a distant cousin -- and the Banning sisters are doomed unless Gabby thinks fast. Which she does. Pretending that Marcus is still alive, Gabby arranges Claire's London season. She'll keep up the pretense just long enough for Claire to marry a fabulously wealthy nobleman. But when a handsome gentleman arrives at the door and claims to be Marcus, Gabby's plan backfires -- and soon London society is abuzz over the scandalous pair of "siblings" who appear to be falling in love....

My Review: I ran across Scandalous at our university used book sale a few months ago, read the summary, and was thoroughly intrigued. After all, you get the "pose as my girlfriend/boyfriend/fiancée" storyline all the time, but how often do the love interests pose as SIBLINGS? To my recollection, I've never read another book where that happened. But if you have a good one where they did, pretty please leave a comment, because I would love to read it. Anyway, suffice to say, I absolutely had to pick it up.

Sadly, Scandalous did not quite live up to the expectations set forth by the awesome premise. I felt like there were way too many details, especially toward the beginning; they really bogged down the writing, not allowing the pace of the story to flow. It took a while for anything to actually happen to grab my interest, besides the little snippet at the very beginning. Once they actually met, though, I enjoyed the story more. The way the "posing as siblings" aspect came about was interesting, although it was not nearly as prominent as it was supposed to be. The vast majority of the book takes place inside the house due to medical circumstances.

There was an interesting sidestory that added a bit of mystery and suspense to the book, but it was kept down to a good size. It was enough to stay intriguing, but not enough that it felt unnecessary or started to overtake the main plot. It also added some good drama when things came to a head.

I did like Gabby a lot! She was totally willing to take Marcus down a peg or two when needed. Which he definitely did sometimes. They had good chemistry, and I loved reading about them! They had a super cute story, and the end left me smiling.

Overall, I did like this book, although I wanted to like it a lot more than I actually did.


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Review: Instant Attraction by Jill Shalvis

Title: Instant Attraction
Author: Jill Shalvis
Published: February 2009 (Kensington Publishing Corp.)
Rating: 3/5
Summary: Accountant Katie Kramer is a quintessential good girl—working hard, recycling diligently, all the while trying to ignore the feeling that she doesn't fit in anywhere. That's all she wants. Well, that—and amazing sex, and the kind of daredevil escapade she can look back on when she's crunching numbers in a dusty cubicle. Which explains why she just took a job in Wishful, California, working for Wilder Adventures and Expeditions. Waking up to find a magnificently built stranger towering over her bed—that part defies explanation...

After wandering the planet for months following a life-changing accident, Cameron Wilder has come back to the only home he knows. Under other circumstances, he might be thrilled to find a gorgeous woman sleeping in his cabin, but now, while he'll risk his body taking clients on adrenaline-drenched excursions, his heart is off limits. Still, Katie's killer smile triggers something deep in his gut...among other places. Showing her how exhilarating it can be to stop balancing her life as if it was a checkbook is the biggest rush he's ever felt—and an adventure Katie's wishing would never end. . .

My Review: This was my first Jill Shalvis. I had heard good things about this series from a fellow romance-loving friend of mine, and I was in the mood for a "small northern town" contemporary romance. Ergo, I thought of this series immediately. It was a good read. The very first scene had me laughing out loud! Cam and Katie had some great banter throughout the book. They also had some insane chemistry and really great almost-moments. And holy cow, can Shalvis write a sex scene! I felt the need for a cold shower a couple times.

I really loved Katie. She was feisty and witty without being obnoxious about it. She had a habit of talking to herself, which was endearing, and she had some real things to work on with herself. I enjoyed reading her journey. Cam was sexy and awesome, but he came with his share of issues that got old fast. The supporting characters were intriguing, and I really enjoyed the subplot. In fact, I was rooting for that couple just as much as I was rooting for Cam and Katie.

Now, for some quotes. Because Shalvis just writes some immensely quotable lines, I will say.

❝Like the newly brave woman she was, she threw the covers over her head and hoped he hadn't seen her.❞

❝You ever have a day that's just a complete waste of mascara?❞

❝"Do you exercise?"
"It's on my to-do list." At the bottom, but still...❞

❝On the one hand, it sounded like a great adventure. On the other, it sounded like an unusual obituary.❞

This was my first Jill Shalvis. It was an enjoyable read, but in my opinion, it does not showcase her best work. I have since read 3 more by Shalvis, and I'm in the middle of another. All of these have been substantially better than Instant Attraction, and she is quickly becoming one of my favorite contemporary romance authors. This is funny because it is exactly what happened with Julia Quinn. I had heard great things about her, so I picked up The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever. I was less than impressed. But then I gave her another shot, and I discovered her brilliance. I think it's good that I am reminded of that now and again. An author might just be okay or good in one book, but their next book might be utterly stupendous. I think I am going to challenge myself to read at least one more book this year by an author of whom I did not have the best first impression.

Review: Specials by Scott Westerfeld

Title: Specials (Uglies, #3)
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Published: May 2006 (Simon Pulse)
Rating: 3/5
Summary: "Special Circumstances": The words have sent chills down Tally's spine since her days as a repellent, rebellious ugly. Back then Specials were a sinister rumor — frighteningly beautiful, dangerously strong, breathtakingly fast. Ordinary pretties might live their whole lives without meeting a Special. But Tally's never been ordinary. And now she's been turned into one of them: a superamped fighting machine, engineered to keep the uglies down and the pretties stupid. The strength, the speed, and the clarity and focus of her thinking feel better than anything Tally can remember. Most of the time. One tiny corner of her heart still remembers something more.

Still, it's easy to tune that out — until Tally's offered a chance to stamp out the rebels of the New Smoke permanently. It all comes down to one last choice: listen to that tiny, faint heartbeat, or carry out the mission she's programmed to complete. Either way, Tally's world will never be the same.

My Review: *This review includes spoilers.*

I am...not sure what I thought of Specials. I had a very difficult time rating it. I almost abandoned the book and, thus, the series before I had read even 15 pages. Thankfully, I pushed past that part and realized that this one had an intriguing storyline and redeeming qualities. There were parts that I really liked, most definitely, but there were parts I wasn't crazy about. And the overall effect of the book was that while I was reading it, I was hooked. If I set it down for more than 10 seconds, I pretty much didn't care about picking it up again. I made myself because I knew I would enjoy it once I started, and I did (for the most part).  Now, onto the actual story.

Review: On the Steamy Side by Louisa Edwards

Backlog review. Originally read/reviewed October 2011.


Title: On the Steamy Side
Author: Louisa Edwards
Published: March 2010 (St. Martin's)
Rating: 3 stars
Summary: When Lilah Jane Tunkle fled her dull life in Virginia for the bright lights of New York City, she didn’t expect to wind up a nanny to a gorgeous celebrity chef’s ten-year-old son. Working for the delectable Devon Sparks is a sure-fire recipe for disaster, especially after Lilah gets a tantalizing taste of his perfectly seasoned kisses …

Devon’s not sure he can handle one more surprise ingredient in his life—he quit his popular TV show, his culinary reputation is on the line, and now the son he barely knows is back for seconds. Lilah’s Southern sass is supposed to keep the boy in line, but soon enough she’s teaching Devon a thing or two about homespun food…and turning up the heat.

My Review: Okay, bad cooking puns and typical back cover clichés aside, I thought it sounded good. I absolutely loved Can't Stand the Heat, so I was excited for this one. I also tend to adore any romances where food plays a large part (baking, cooking, etc.); besides dance, that may be my favorite contemporary storyline. But I digress. The book was, in the end, good, but it fell short of my expectations.

Review: Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas

Backlog review. Originally read/reviewed July 2011.


Title: Suddenly You
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Published: 2001 (Avon)

Rating: 3 stars

Summary: She was unmarried, untouched and almost thirty, but novelist Amanda Briars wasn't about to greet her next birthday without making love to a man. When he appeared at her door, she believed he was her gift to herself, hired for one night of passion. Unforgettably handsome, irresistibly virile, he tempted her in ways she never thought possible, but something stopped him from completely fulfilling her dream.

Jack Devlin's determination to possess Amanda became greater when she discovered his true identity. But gently bred Amanda craved respectability more than she admitted, while Jack, the cast-off son of a nobleman and London's most notorious businessman, refused to live by society's rules. Yet when fate conspired for them to marry, their worlds collided with a passionate force neither had expected. . . but both soon craved.

My Review:
 **This review includes spoilers.**

I have very mixed feelings about this book.  It started out intriguingly, with the heroine hiring a male prostitute for her thirtieth birthday because she wanted to lose her virginity.  That pretty much set the tone for the entire novel: unique, as well as sensual.