Review: Secrets of a Summer Night (Wallflower Series #1) by Lisa Kleypas

I have not read a historical romance in quite some time. Not usually my cup of tea, but I have read contemporary romance stories written by Lisa Kleypas (Sugar Daddy, Blue-Eyed Devil, Smooth Talking Stranger) and thoroughly enjoyed those books. They are what I would call a series since most of the characters in the story repeat themselves in either future books or past books. With that being said, I thought I would give a historical romance a try written by Ms Kleypas and I wasn't disappointed!

Secrets of a Summer Night is book #1 of the Wallflower series. The book is about Annabelle Peyton and Simon Hunt. Annabelle is a beautiful young lady whose family is experiencing financial struggles since Annabelle's father is no longer alive. She gives the pretense that her family is still well-to-do but quite a few people can tell due to her clothes that are looking a little threadbare and a few other clues. Simon enters the picture almost immediately and is instantly attracted to Annabelle and starts pursuing her immediately. Since Simon doesn't come from "old money" he is considered a commoner to London society even though he is a wealthy and successful entrepreneur. Then there are the wallflowers. Two American heiresses who are outcasts because they are American, a stuttering English heiress, and of course, Annabelle. I love the interaction between the wallflowers. It adds another dimension to the story besides that of the relationship between Annabelle and Simon. Simon proves to be a very worthy mate for Annabelle (after much debating, arguing and chasing on Simon's part), and the love scenes between these two hold nothing back. Pretty steamy!

I look forward to reading the next book in the Wallflower Series. If the next book is as interesting as this one, I'll start giving historical romance a try again!

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Review: Healing Luke by Beth Cornelison

After reading a previous book by Beth Cornelison, Under Fire, I knew I had to check out some of her other books. Ms Cornelison has written some contemporary fiction as well as category romance books, and quite frankly, can't understand why we haven't heard more from this talented author. The plots are very original and I love the dialogue between the main characters as well as the secondary characters in her books. This book, Healing Luke, was no exception!

Luke Morgan, who was once a ladies' man, survives a horrific boating accident where he loses an eye, a thumb and has numerous scars (physical and emotional). Enter Abby Stanford, a physical therapist on vacation (actually her honeymoon...she was jilted by her finance) where Luke's father asks for Abby's help once he knows what her occupation is, and also notices how Luke seems to respond to Abby. Luke is under the assumption that his dad hired Abby to help out with the boating business they own. Once he finds out she is actually there to work with him, he is at once infuriated, but then mellows as Abby's therapy and their attraction for each other comes to light.

I enjoyed this story about Abby & Luke. As a therapist, Abby shows so much patience with Luke, and as a man, Luke shows Abby that she can love again.

I'll definitely be looking out for more books by the talented Ms Cornelison! She's a great storyteller!

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Review: Kiss and Tell (Sunrise Key Trilogy #1) by Suzanne Brockmann

I never got around to reading this Suzanne Brockmann book when it was first published in 1996 as a Loveswept category romance. I did finally take the opportunity to read Kiss and Tell (Book 1 in the Sunrise Key Trilogy) and thought it only okay.

The book's heroine, Leila Hunt who is an accountant from New York, comes home to Sunrise Key for a much needed vacation to visit her brother. Marshall Devlin, the hero in the book, is a doctor and also happens to be Lelia's brother's best friend and has always bucked heads with Leila, but in reality, has always had a crush on her. When Leila's brother hosts a New Year's Eve party, Leila gets a bone-melting kiss from a ninja (did I say this was also a costume party?) when the clock strikes midnight then has to promptly leave. Since she has no idea who this mystery man is, she makes it her task to find the man who gave her that wonderful kiss that she couldn't forget. It's a little hard to do since she seems to know almost every man on the island!

I have to say, sometimes these category romance books drive me crazy! Can someone who is supposedly as smart as Leila really not realize who would have given her that kiss? Knowing that the man who she thought she could never consider was actually her masked ninja?

I'm glad Suzanne Brockmann moved the greener pastures and decided to write romantic suspense with her Troubleshooter series. Those books are definitely more enjoyable!

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Review: Kiss Me If You Can by Carly Phillips

Carly Phillips' books are what I consider "fun" and this book is no exception. The first book of the "Bachelor Blog" series is about Sam Cooper, news reporter, and Lexie Davis, a web designer, meet after Lexie sees Sam interviewed on TV after he foils a robbery attempt at a jewelry store. As a reward, the jewelry owner's daughter let's Sam pick anything from the store as a reward. Sam, not wanting anything but does pick something since the daughter insisted, picks a ring that looks vaguely familiar to Lexie as she watches this all play out on TV. Come to find out, it's a ring that looks like it matches a necklace that Lexie's grandmother (who she lives with) has that her grandfather had given her grandmother. Since Lexie's grandmother's birthday is approaching, Lexie thought she would track down Sam to see if she could buy it from him.

When Lexie and Sam meet, there is an instant attraction - especially when Lexie proves that she is not one of those groupies who read the Bachelor Blog from the newspaper that is making Sam appear like a rock star to the females who read the blog. Sam soon learns that the ring he picked as his reward has a potential great story to it (he's wanting to be a novelist) and enlists in Lexie's help to find out what the story is behind it.

The character I absolutely LOVED in this story was Lexie's feisty grandmother. This lady had so much personality especially when she was around her best friend, Sylvia. I always looked forward to dialog with Lexie's grandmother and any one of the other characters in the story. She was a hoot!

This was a fun, fast read and would recommend this book. Looking forward to reading Book 2 in the Bachelor Blogs Series!

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Review: Stranger by Megan Hart

This is the first Megan Hart book have a read and thought it very intriguing. I don't think I've read a story where the heroine owns a funeral home. Also the unconventional way she met Sam, her love interest, definitely kept me interested.

Grace spends a lot of her money "being" with other men. She does this because she would rather pay to be with someone instead of fall in love with someone as she doesn't want to risk the loss since she sees this all the time in her job. Her plan goes awry when she meets the "Stranger" (which ends up being Sam). Grace is a very strong person but we do see some of her vulnerable side once her and Sam hook up.

The sex in the book is very steamy as you would expect in a book written by Megan Hart. Definitely on the erotic side!

I would recommend this book because it's an unique love story and I found Grace's job as a Funeral Director quite enlightening. It gives you some background in the funeral home business (this might actually turn some people off) but thought this added to the story.

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Review: Force of Nature by Suzanne Brockmann

It's been a few weeks since I completed Force of Nature, book #11 in the Troubleshooters series by Suzanne Brockmann, but thinking about writing this review reminded me how good this book was. Ric Alvardo & Annie Dugan as well as Jules Cassidy & Robin Chadwick were great characters in this book and I enjoyed reading how their relationships developed. I liked the terrorist plot and how they tried to fool the "bad guys" but failed to do so. There was definitely some suspense in this book that kept you reading a little faster, and of course, the ending didn't disappoint. If you have been like me, and was ready to stop reading the Troubleshooters series, you should keep plugging along...I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. I was, and am looking forward to the next book in this series!

Review: Instant Attraction by Jill Shalvis

This story was a good, fast read and I did like Cam Wilder and Katie Kramer.  You knew from the first time they had an interaction with the other, there was an "Instant Attraction."  Both Cam & Katie are strong but vulnerable people based on their past and both involved in separate major life-changing incidents where they both were never the same again.  I also really liked the Wilder family.  Cam's brothers and foster mother aunt who really love him, but were all very hurt when Cam decided he needed a year away to find himself after his life-changing accident.  Once he returns and meets Katie, he feels his life is slowly turning around and there might be a reason for him to stay in Wishful after all and help run the Wilder Adventures and Expeditions business.  Katie, who is the temporary help and accountant, lands in Wishful after surviving a horrific accident and needed to get away from Southern California.  With the help of Cam and the Wilder family, she overcomes fears and starts taking chances to get her life back on track again.  Both Katie and Cam realize that they are worth taking a chance on each other after all.

This book was really good and look forward to the remaining books in this Wilder series.