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Everything You Need To Know by HelenKay Dimon

October 16, 2013 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Welcome to Need to Know—Because a Woman Can’t Be Too Informed

Dating in D.C. is like navigating an apocalyptic wasteland populated by men in expensive suits with zero mating potential. Need to Know provides all the information a savvy single woman like you needs to avoid dating disasters.

By night, Jordan McAdam is the proprietor of a popular website that rates D.C.’s hottest bachelors—everything from how quick they are email you back to their skills in the sack. She’s been burned once too often to accept any man at face value. By day, her job as an office temp puts her in the perfect position to do a little fact checking on her rich and powerful subjects. When her latest assignment brings her face to face with the sexy but mysterious Forest Redder, Jordan decides to do a little “hands on” research of her own. To Jordan, he seems like the perfect man – but she knows there is no such thing. Moreover, there’s a big problem: Forest knows Jordan’s the woman behind the scandalous site—and Jordan knows he knows. Will he expose her secret—or find his own posted on Need to Know?

What worked for me (and what didn’t): Like my other Cosmo Red Hot Read, this one surprised me because it had more story and the sex, while steamy, wasn’t something which occurred immediately. A relationship (a fast one but a relationship nonetheless) was developed prior to the couple getting physical. (That’s not to say there’s necessarily anything wrong with a story which starts with a bang (or even a real life encounter) but merely, it’s not what my mind went to when I saw the label “Cosmo Red Hot Read”. Perhaps that says something about me.

Holding Out For A Hero by Amy Andrews

October 14, 2013 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I received a review copy from the publisher. Holding Out for A Hero releases on October 15.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) When sensible schoolteacher Ella Lucas rides into her home town on a Harley and seduces the resident football hero, Jake Prince, she figures she can be forgiven and move on. After all, she’s just buried her mother. Two years later, back in the city, their paths cross again but this time Jake is in the process of destroying her favourite dive bar.

With her home facing a wrecker’s ball, her school being closed down and her 15-year-old brother hell bent on self-destruction, it’s the last straw. Throw in a dominatrix best friend who is dating a blue ribbon guy so straight he still lives at home with his mother, it’s no wonder the sanest person in Ella’s life is a dog.

With all this to contend with, the last thing Ella needs is Jake back in her life. But, as fate would have it, Jake is the only chance she has to save her school.

As the school football season heats up, old secrets threaten to surface and Ella takes on greedy developers, school boards and national tabloids. But can she save not just her home, her school and her brother, but also the reputation of the man she’s never been able to forget? And, more importantly, does she want to?

What worked for me (and what didn’t): This book is set in Queensland, so it probably shouldn’t have taken me as long as it did to realise that “football” in this story means “rugby league” and not Aussie Rules (which everyone knows is the only true football :P). It is a sport book but actual game play doesn’t feature strongly in the story. That is, I don’t think one needs to understand the game to enjoy Holding Out For A Hero. Similarly, I don’t think one will understand the game all that much better by reading it. It does make an interesting backdrop and bookend to a tale about identity, forgiveness, and fighting the good fight as the underdog.

The Other Guy by Cary Attwell

October 11, 2013 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I’ve had this one on my TBR for a while. It was highly recommended by a number of Goodreads friends. Of course, when I actually went to read it, I remembered nothing of the synopsis so it was (as it often the case) a bit of an adventure.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Emory James is, by his own admission, not the type of person the adjective exciting would ever deign to touch with a ten-foot pole. Cautious, reserved and staid, however, all crowd around him like best friends. Still, he gets by — or at least he gets by up until his fiancée dumps him at the altar. Out of spite, he takes a solo honeymoon to Thailand, where he can pretend to be someone better than himself for a little while. In meeting Nate, a fellow traveler, Emory slowly discovers how to stop pretending.

What worked for me (and what didn’t): This book was an instant delight for me and it was heading firmly into A territory until the plot took a downturn late in the piece. I understand why it happened and even accept that it made sense in terms of the story being told, but it frustrated me and so for that little section, I was a bit frowny. That said, the rest of the book was a entirely charming and funny and wonderful and I highly recommend it.

Come As You Are by Theresa Weir

October 9, 2013 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I received a copy for review via NetGalley.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Molly Young has a secret. To keep it she holds the world at a distance. Behind her lies a trail of dumped boyfriends who came too close to discovering what no one can know. When her estranged father dies of an unexpected heart attack he leaves an even deeper secret, one tied to Molly’s.

At the funeral repast Molly is unable to tolerate the shoulder-to-shoulder mourners and runs out the door and down the street to the nearest bar. Come dawn, with no memory of the past ten hours, she finds herself in bed with a beautiful stranger. She slips away before he wakes up, unaware of the role he’s about to play in her life. Is he the one guy who can convince Molly to face her painful secret and become the person she’s meant to be?

What worked for me (and what didn’t): I’m not sure how helpful this review will be to anyone because it’s been days since I read the book and I still don’t quite know what to make of it. Even describing the story seems spoilerish but I can’t work out another way to do it. So, with the warning that there may be spoilers (I can’t tell if they count as spoilers or not), let’s proceed.

Learning Curve by Kaje Harper

October 7, 2013 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I’m a fan of the series. The books are expensive so I used a 50% off coupon at Kobo to ease the pain.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Mac is afraid he’ll never recover enough to go back to being a cop, while Tony is afraid that he will.

Three months after being shot, Detective Jared MacLean is healing, but he’s afraid it may not be enough to go back on the job. He won’t give up, though. Being a cop is written deep in Mac’s bones, and he’ll do whatever it takes to carry his badge again.

Tony used to wish he could have Mac safely home, but watching his strong husband battle disabilities is far from Tony’s dream come true. When Mac is asked to consult on a case involving one of Tony’s students, both men will have to face old demons and new fears to find a way to move forward together.

Warning: Series spoilers.

What worked for me (and what didn’t): I like Mac and Tony and there is something attractive to me in seeing what happens “after the HEA” for some of my favourite couples. At the end of the last book, Mac had been shot in the head and was on disability, recovering from a traumatic brain injury, his goal being to get back to the job he loves. Tony is struggling with wanting Mac to be safe and wanting him to be the man he is – something which seems mutually exclusive.

I’m Over at Dear Author…

October 4, 2013 / Kaetrin

with a review of Headfirst Falling by Melissa Guinn. Regular readers of this blog will probably have no trouble guessing the two other books I refer to in the opening paragraph.