Review: The Italian by Lisa Marie Rice

Book Blurb:

He's a dangerous man with dangerous enemies...

In Palermo, Sicily, a city of heart-stopping beauty and intense danger, one man stands for justice. 

Stefano Leone is hunting one of the most dangerous men alive. He lives under armed guard, in constant danger. And then a beautiful American woman contacts him and steals his heart. Is she what she seems or has she been sent by his enemy to find his one weakness? 

Jamie McIntyre comes to Palermo for inspiration for her design business and loses her heart to the toughest, sexiest man she has ever met. She falls under his spell and into his bed, until Stefano?s enemy strikes and she is forced to make an impossible choice.

My Review:

In The Italian by Lisa Marie Rice, I was taken right into Sicily and swept up in the hot romance between Stefano and Jamie!  With her descriptive writing, I could easily see what Jamie saw through her designer eyes on her inspirational trip.  She has another goal while in Sicily also.  Her Grandfather has given her something to give to Stefano, a former student of his.  Stefano lives a dangerous life as he hunts for evil.  Wariness is in his nature, but as soon as he sees Jamie she makes him feel things he has shut off for years...and for a little time he thinks only of her.  Jamie too is immediately drawn to Stefano.  For the little while she is going to be in Palermo, she is suddenly seeing not only a lot of the sights, but a lot of Stefano.  They can't resist each other.  But danger doesn't stop for love or lust or anyone and anything else that can be used as leverage.  They soon find themselves in an almost impossible situation...what will give?

I thoroughly enjoyed (loved!) this novella by Lisa Marie Rice!!  I felt like Jamie in particular was very realistic, and while Stefano might not be your average man, his character, his strength and his loyalty was believable.  The immediate attraction was like a zing that went around the room when they met, and it didn't stop.  I loved the maturity of Jamie and Stefano.  They accept without questioning the intensity of the attraction between them and the fast rush of feelings that both of them experience.  I am a big believer in if you know someone is right you just know and should follow that unexpected path presented to you, and Jamie and Stefano did just that in the way they had to do it.  Even though a future together didn't seem likely, they didn't play games, they didn't deny each other, there was no unnecessary and distracting angst.  They just went with it because it was there and it was so strong.

The suspense is thrust on us as the danger appears where and when it's least expected...making you wonder how Jamie could possibly find the right thing to do.  There more than just her and Stefano involved now.

In the short span of this novella this plot and these characters really captured me.  There are great secondary characters who seem to have stories of their own that I hope might be told, but if they aren't it has no impact on The Italian (only my hope for the future!).

A quick read that enchanted me and flowed well filled with intimate romance and a threat of danger, The Italian and the story told in it was perfect in the span of this novella.  I'd recommend The Italian by Lisa Marie Rice to any romance reader looking for a novella easy to fall into and explore a different part of the world fill with sizzle, danger, and love!

5/5 sexy superstars!!

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Review: Protecting Justice (Justice Team #4) by Misty Evans and Adrienne Giordano

Book Blurb:

As the premier political spin-doctor in the U.S., Fallyn Pasche can fix any problem--except her own. Her twin sister, Heather, a United States Senator, has been murdered, her father is barely speaking to her, and someone is after coded files Heather hid in a private safe. In order to decode the files and figure out what happened to her twin, Fallyn turns to the Justice Team. What she doesn’t expect is the sexy bodyguard who shows up needing a little personal fixing of his own.

Tony Gerard sees failure every time he looks in the mirror. The former Supreme Court police officer lives with the knowledge that the Chief Justice—a man who was like a father to him—died on his watch. Now he’s sure he can’t protect anyone. When his first assignment for the Justice Team lands him in the media spotlight, working side-by-side with the country’s foremost political fixer, Tony wants to run the other way. But Fallyn’s devil-may-care attitude and tantalizing beauty bring out all of his protective instincts.

As Fallyn and Tony peel back the layers of a government scandal that threatens to bring down the most powerful man in the world, sparks fly along with the intoxicating danger. Desire and passion escalate with their perilous search for the truth as they find relief in each other’s arms from their respective demons. When an unexpected enemy puts Fallyn's life on the line, Tony is forced to face his own failures in order to help her conquer hers. But will he once again fail to protect someone he loves?

My Review:

In Protecting Justice by Misty Evans and Adrienne Giordano, spin doctor Fallyn has not been extremely close with her twin sister Heather, nor her father.  But when Heather, a US Senator dies unexpectedly, it is Fallyn who is picking up the pieces of a life cut short way too soon.  In a short time, Fallyn becomes convinced Heather was actually murdered as more and more secrets come to light - some of them very dangerous...secrets someone doesn't want exposed.  Tony is a (for now) temporary member of the justice team, on leave from his job as a supreme court police officer.  He has issues and guilt of his own, but when he's called on to protect Fallyn from the press, his duties become much more serious as something sinister is simmering.  Soon he is not only protecting her, but Tony and other members of the Justice Team are helping Fallyn untangle a web of secrets in a hunt for the truth about Heather's death.  What they are discovering soon starts becoming political, involving much more than anyone would have guessed.   As all this is moving forward, at the same time Tony and Fallyn are finding themselves becoming more and more personally involved as an attraction between them heats up...  Tony is determined to keep Fallyn safe.  They are both determined to find out the truth.  Will this determination also help them find peace and future with each other, or will it be too late?

Protecting Justice pulled me in from the start.  I had as much doubt about Heather's death as Fallyn did immediately.  The whirlwind adventure of fact finding, fear (of truths and unknowns), the frightening jeopardy Fallyn just might find herself in, and an unexpected chemistry between her and Tony really made for a book than entranced me and had me glued to the pages!

I really liked Fallyn.  She is a strong heroine, and her development through Protecting Justice is powerful and motivating.  She is determined, brace, loyal, and very smart.  She has a unique perspective that makes her stand out.  She definitely has her own regrets and sorrows, but this seems to have worked to push her forward rather than hold her back.  I think it takes a very strong person to do this, and she's someone I'd like to have not only on my side but as a friend.  I really liked her determination and her ability to stand up to anyone and not be scared enough to back down (but have no fear inside I think she was scared...but she was mad enough that she carried on).

I liked Tony a lot also.  He is definitely not perfect, and he carries a weigh on his shoulders.  Whether or not that weight is his fault, it is still there, affecting him, making him doubt himself.  Working with Fallyn, and then being with Fallyn made me feel like he was in the right place at the right time.  I felt like I could trust him to have my back for sure!  Both of these characters are worth getting to know, and seeing them work together was great!

Not only is the political world that we see and the underworld we don't see explored (and really opened my eyes, because you just never really know!  The writing, the plot and the well developed characters made the plot very plausible).  Sometimes book like this really open my eyes and I think wow, that could really happen, and this was one of them.  Not only was the suspenseful plot, but romance can creep up on you when you least expect it and not always at at the best time!

Filled with government cover ups, secrets, and threats, Protecting Justice has many layers to it that are slowly peeled away...only to find a few more to dig through.  Protecting Justice is predominantly as suspense book with a romance woven in.  This really works for the plot because the feelings, the attraction and the romance are there but they don't overwhelm the plot.

Protecting Justice is very well paced and kept right on going!  So well written, it's hard to believe there are two different authors writing this together.  They did an outstanding job and I'm thrilled to have read this book!

Protecting Justice is part of the Justice Team series, but can definitely be read as s stand alone.  You won't feel like you are missing anything.  I'd highly recommend it to all romantic suspense readers!

5/5 stars

Review link coming soon! 

Review: My One and Only (Ardent Springs #3) by Terri Osburn

Book Blurb:

As far as Dr. Haleigh Rae Mitchner is concerned, Cooper Ridgeway is more suited to a superhero cape than mechanic’s overalls. It’s just like Ardent Springs’s most upstanding resident to rescue a pregnant, homeless teenager and bring her to Haleigh’s delivery room. When they team up to help the new mother and baby, Haleigh is determined not to cross the line with Cooper. Not only is he her best friend’s brother, he’s a guy who deserves more than Haleigh’s checkered past could ever offer.

At first glance, Haleigh is no longer the girl Cooper pined for in school. The sleek, professional OB-GYN seems more out of reach than ever for this small-town mechanic. But the more time he spends with the complicated woman, the more he wants her. Who better than Cooper to prove to her that nothing is beyond fixing? Especially in Ardent Springs, a town that’s tailor-made for second chances.

My Review:

In My One and Only by Terri Osburn, Haleigh is back in her hometown of Ardent Springs.  With a lot of past and present issues weighing on her, the last thing she's looking for is a relationship.  Especially with her best friends twin brother.  But a homeless young mother in her delivery room ends up bringing Cooper and Haleigh into each other's orbits again.  Cooper has always been interested in Haleigh, but she's given him nothing to indicate she felt the same way.  As they spend more time in each others company however, the mutual attraction becomes obvious.  Haleigh is convinced she'll never be enough for Cooper, but Cooper gets the feeling he'll never meet Haleigh's standards.  Slowly they become closer, but Haleigh's issues, secrecy and past have a strong hold on her and soon despite her best efforts, she's hurting Cooper anyway.  Will they be over before they really start?  Or can Haleigh have her second chance in Ardent Springs?

I felt a lot of conflict at times while reading My One and Only.  I really liked Cooper.  He has a big heart, thinks of others, is successful and has been happy in his life even if he hasn't found a woman to settle down with.  He really just comes across as a great guy, has lots of friends, and doesn't judge.  I found Haleigh very difficult to like and connect with.  She has a lot of guilt from the past, is insecure, and has a strong need for her mother's approval despite having always felt nothing but disdain from the woman.  This really affects her way of being in all areas of her life.  Her actions contradict a lot of what she says, especially to Cooper.  Part of me really just wanted him to let her go.  But like in real life, there are people you don't always like or connect with, and this helped the characters feel real.  They, especially Haleigh, were definitely not perfect (ok, Cooper was probably close!).  I liked that they had a history together, and it helped with the development of their relationship as adults.

There are a lot of sub plots within My One and Only involving the secondary characters, from the young homeless new mother and the mystery she shows up with, and family dynamics involving not only Haleigh and her mother, but between both main characters and Cooper's sister.  This added more believability to the plot to see these other areas of their lives.  The secondary characters are all different and important to different parts of the story.

Part of Terri Osburn's Ardent Springs series, My One and Only can be read as a stand alone.

3/5 stars

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Review: An Unpredictable Match (The Match Series Book 5) by Barbara Dunlop

Book Blurb:

From New York Times Bestselling Author Barbara Dunlop, a comedic, contemporary romance series featuring the high-tech antics of matchmaking senior citizens unleashed on their unsuspecting heirs.

When Hammond Vashon’s family mansion is invaded by a Hollywood film production, he senses a conspiracy. He knows his grandmother Daisy has plans to match-make him, and it doesn’t take long to identify his grandmother as the force behind the production and starlet Pippa Carrington as his intended match.

Line producer MacKenzie Bowen is shocked when Hammond kicks her boss off the set and promotes her to producer. She’s attracted to handsome, wealthy mansion owner, but she knows better than to get romantically involved with the guy at the top of the film food chain—at least, she ought to know better.

Fascinated by MacKenzie, and more than interested in a exploring their mutual attraction, Hammond let’s his guard down. Busy avoiding Pippa and worrying about his grandmother’s machinations, he doesn’t realize his true match is MacKenzie until it’s too late.

 
My Review:


In An Unpredictable Match by Barbara Dunlop, when a group of senior citizens decides to play matchmakers, no one is safe!  Hammond and MacKenzie's grandmother's, with the help of their group of friends and a computer program that's never wrong, have decided that Hammond and MacKenzie are each others perfect match.  Being obvious about it won't work though...so in their own complicated way they work to bring them together by using Hammond's family mansion as the set of a film production that MacKenzie is working on.  It's not as easy as they think it will be though, and things get complicated very fast...threatening all they've worked for to bring Hammond and MacKenzie together.  Will it be a match made in heaven when all is said and done or will they go their separate ways?


I enjoyed this entertaining story by Barbara Dunlop where almost everyone is trying to outsmart each other!  I laughed, worried, and could feel the heat coming off the pages!  Hammond is attracted to MacKenzie from the start.  MacKenzie is just as attracted, but as a woman in Hollywood, knows the risk of gossip by becoming involved with anyone remotely linked to a production she's working on.  The air sizzles when they are around each other though!  They have no idea they've been set up, and it was fun to watch them get to know each other.  Hammond had his own ideas what the seniors were up to, but they still managed to pull one over on him.  I liked the push and pull between Hammond and MacKenzie as things started to heat up, and the tension it sometimes created was realistic.  The ups and downs of what happens as the plot and the production move on, and the consequences of actions added a lot of oomph to the story.


An Unpredictable Match is a fun book with a great set of characters.  This kind of thing might not happen in real life, but An Unpredictable Match is a well written, well paced book to escape into another world in.  I'd recommend it to an romance reader!


4/5 stars


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Review: Turn Me Loose (Paradise, Idaho #3) by Rosalind James

Book Blurb:

Rochelle Marks is working hard to build a name for herself that has nothing to do with her pinup-girl curves. She’s made mistakes in the past, and now she’s trying to stop her little sister, Stacy, from making worse ones. Rochelle’s done with being nothing more than someone’s good time. Even if that someone is the one-night stand who turned her life upside down before vanishing—and who’s just arrived in Paradise, Idaho, looking to pick up where they left off.

Tech mogul Travis Cochran’s hard-won new priorities have brought him to town as a university lecturer, but he’s come for something else, too: the smart, sassy, gorgeous woman who’s been in his head for months. When Stacy’s choices draw her big sister into a web of down-home crime and cold-blooded murder, Travis’s mission gets a whole lot more urgent. Now convincing Rochelle to trust him isn’t just about winning her back. It may be the only way to keep her alive.…

 
My Review:

In Turn Me Loose by Rosalind James, Rochelle has worked hard to shed her past and get where she is today.  As an assistant to the dean at the university, she is shocked to find out the new lecturer is her very hot one night stand from a few months ago.  The same one she never heard from again.  Rochelle tries to stay professional and not cross into personal again with Travis, but the magnetism between them is impossible to ignore.  She knows he is not in Paradise permanently, but the attraction between them is strong and they start to spend more time together.  As responsible Rochelle is pulled into her younger sister's mistakes, Travis finds himself drawn into their web also.  Soon there is not only hope, steam, and a relationship to try to build, but a murder and drug scheme that is turning very dangerous.

I really liked Rochelle as the heroine in Turn Me Loose.  She is a hard worker, independent, and very responsible.  She takes a lot on her shoulders without asking for help.  With the problems she faces, the past she's trying to overcome, and her present day issues, she felt very real.  Travis might seem very sure of himself, but he's had his own issues to resolve.  I liked how he was with Rochelle.  He very obviously pursued her, but he respected her at the same time.  He was protective of her, but not pushy.  Neither of them has forgotten their memorable night...and it was fun and entertaining at times to watch them get to know each other.  The connection between them is obvious from the outside looking in!  I liked that Rosalind James developed their relationship before the turmoil of suspense came into play.

Rosalind writes about realistic, tough issues in Turn Me Loose, and she writes about them well.  The suspense of Turn Me Loose held my interest as much as the growing relationship between Travis and Rochelle.  I couldn't wait to see where both of these would go!  There is tension, conflict, and mystery well woven into a romance in Turn Me Loose.  Rosalind kept me guessing and intrigued on this journey.

Small town issues and family dynamics are also a big part of Turn Me Loose.  These are strong parts of the plot and necessary to the plot.

Part of Rosalind James' Paradise, Idaho series, Turn Me Loose can be read as a stand alone.  I'd recommend it to romantic suspense readers.

4/5 stars

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Review: Seducing the Bachelor (Bachelor Auction #3) by Sinclair Jayne

Book Blurb:

Single mom and veterinary student Talon Reese thinks she is volunteering her time, not her heart or her body, for Marietta Montana’s second annual Bachelor Auction. But when Bachelor number 3 hits the stage, igniting every hormone she forgot she possessed, she’s questioning her vow of no more men. With a man this drool worthy, some fun doesn’t have to be off the table, even if she's not looking for a relationship. 

Special Forces sniper Colt Ewing blew out of Marietta on graduation day and never looked back, until his former football coach asked for his help. Standing on the auction block is a tough mission for Colt until he meets his winning bidder, a woman who’s as warm and friendly as he is aloof and silent. All night her mouth has been creating sexual fantasies, so when she opens it to boldly proposition him, there’s no way in hell he’s going to say no. 

But as Colt and Talon burn up the sheets, he begins to forget why he hates this town, and Talon wonders if she can learn to trust enough to fall in love. But will that be enough to convince him to stay?

My Review:

In Seducing the Bachelor by Sinclair Jayne, don't let the title fool you!  It is a deep, emotional read that I really enjoyed and couldn't put down.

Talon has finally found a place to call home in Marietta, Montana with her son Parker.  The same place Colt swore he'd never return to after leaving for the army right after high school.  But that's where he finds himself on his leave, helping out his former football coach by being part of a bachelor auction.  Definitely uncomfortable and definitely not his thing, Colt goes through with it...even though he only has eyes for the woman in the bar who's captured his eye.  That woman is Talon, and unbeknown to her, her friends have 'won' Colt for her...  Despite the immediate attraction, Colt quickly finds out that Talon is tied close to his past.  A past that still torments him.  The pull between them is strong though, and even knowing Colt will leave again, Talon decides she deserves to have some fun.  But can her heart survive when he leaves?

I really liked Talon.  I liked her positive, happy attitude, her resilience and strength.  She did not have the best childhood, but is now thriving in Marietta with her son.  I liked that she finally decided it was ok for her to be a woman, have feelings, and have fun!  I was worried about her getting too attached to Colt though, because he made it clear he was not staying.  She was so good and non judgemental with Colt though, and it felt good to feel like I knew her.  I loved, loved, Colt.  Sinclair writes his character so well, she really pulled me in and made me feel for him.  My heart ached for him at times.  Colt too has moved on from a horrendous childhood and never looked back.  He's focused on his life now, but the past still haunts him and affects who he is today.  He doesn't do relationships, he doesn't know how.  He has few close friends, but even them he rarely sees.  He is very driven, but I felt like he must be so lonely at times, even if he didn't think about his life that way.  As Colt and Talon become closer, the attraction and connection becomes even stronger.  Talon is hoping for more from Colt, but he can't make promises he doesn't know he can keep.  He doesn't know if he has it in him to give more.  I couldn't wait to see how this relationship ended up.  They just felt so right together, honestly like two pieces of a puzzle fitting together, and I really hoped Colt could take the chance.

Talon and Colt are powerful characters, and Sinclair Jayne brought them to life so clearly that they felt real.  I won't forget them anytime soon!  Her descriptions of the ranch, the tree house, even the house were vivid, making things easy to see in my mind.  Parker, Talon's son is a really sweet boy who is a strong secondary character.  I just adored him.

Characters from the other Bachelor Auction series make appearances in Seducing the Bachelor, but it can definitely be read as a stand alone.  It is very well paced and smoothly written.

Like I said, I loved, loved this book.  However, there are a few loose ends that are left undone and the story didn't feel finished to me because of this.  To me they felt like important parts of the plot and leaving them undone left me feeling a bit lost.  That was my only disappointment with this book, but it was significant enough to give a 4 star review instead of a 5 star review.

I'd recommend Seducing the Bachelor to any romance reader, particularly if you like an army man!

4/5 stars

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Review: Midnight at Tiffany's (Made in New York 0.5) by Sarah Morgan

Book Blurb:

Matilda is a New York waitress by day, but an aspiring author by night – and she loves to write about kickass heroines!

So when she meets gorgeous millionaire Chase Adams, she decides to channel them and act on their sizzling attraction! One magical night later, she's living the dream, but will a trip to Tiffany's make it a reality?

My Review:

Midnight at Tiffany's by Sarah Morgan is a great start to a new series!

I loved how Matilda and Chase met - it was as entertaining as it was hot!  Matilda is a hilarious, heart warming heroine who is easy to relate to.  She's following her dreams in her own way...and after a night with Chase is convinced he can be no more than someone to dream about in the future.  Chase sees things differently though, and is just as enchanted with Matilda as she is with him.  They both felt the immediate connection, both physically and emotionally, and he is convinced they can have a future together.  Matilda isn't as sure, but Chase won't give up easily.

Midnight at Tiffany's is a fun, fast paced romance in a great setting.  With a touch of fairy tale, I really enjoyed this novella and look forward to the rest of the series.

I'd recommend Midnight at Tiffany's to any romance reader looking for a well written, fast paced escape!

4/5 stars

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