Tag: contemporary (Page 105 of 122)

Men of Smithfield: Sam and Aaron by LB Gregg

June 16, 2014 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I’ve read and enjoyed the earlier books and was happily surprised to see a brand new story in the series. I was provided with a review copy by the publisher via NetGalley.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) With our family’s legacy, Meyers B&B, in the flailing hands of me, Sam Meyers, and my sister Wynne, we’re determined to revive the place. We’ve started a series of blind-date cooking classes, and taken on our first boarder. Granddad is even now rolling in his grave.

Signed up for the class is our new guest, Aaron Saunders, a Californian transplant who’s distractingly handsome and clearly up to no good. I can’t quite figure him out. He blew into town and has been relentless in his search for…something.

The sexy sneak is intriguing. And we’ve had a steamy moment. Or two. But now I can’t stop wondering why he’s searching in secret. From the library, to the historical society, to my own backyard, Aaron leaves no stone unturned or record book unopened. He’s definitely gotten my attention. But that might not be the only thing he’s after.

What worked for me (and what didn’t): Anyone who’s ever read a book by LB Gregg before will know she has a quirky sense of humour – so it ought not be a surprise that the “meet cute” here is when Sam, his butt hanging out of his ripped jeans (argument with a fence), has his arm stuck in the after hours book return slot at the local library, meets Aaron, who appears to be a thief and has a bag of handy lock-picks tries to get him out. Until the police arrive that is.

Review at AudioGals

June 12, 2014 / Kaetrin

I’m over at AudioGals with a review of Wait for You by J. Lynn, narrated by Sophie Eastlake. I reviewed it in print here and it was fun to revisit the story with a favourite narrator.

The Return of Rafe MacKade by Nora Roberts, narrated by Luke Daniels

June 8, 2014 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I’ve had this entire series on my TBR for ages. I’m reviewing the second book for AudioGals and I thought I’d listen to the first one as well (and beforehand) so I bought it from Audible. My TBL is much shorter than my TBR and sometimes, listening is a way I can get to something more quickly.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Ten years after disappearing from Antietam, Maryland, the bad boy has returned. Cleaned up and successful now—and still dangerously good-looking—Rafe MacKade sets the town on fire, and tongues wagging.

Lovely newcomer Regan Bishop is intrigued—what kind of man could cause this sort of talk? She’ s just about to find out.…

What worked for me (and what didn’t): What struck me the most about this book, is its plot similarities to the first Inn Boonsboro book, The Next Always. That series had three brothers, this one has four but, Rafe returns to town, having bought a rundown old mansion which had historic significance in terms of the US Civil War and which is also haunted. There is also a domestic violence subplot – although in The Next Always, it is a stalker wanna-be-boyfriend and in this book it relates to one of the secondary characters – who is the heroine of book 3, The Heart of Devin MacKade. Of course, The Return of Rafe MacKade was first published in 1995 by Silhouette and so pre-dates The Next Always by decades. But because this book came second to my ears, it is the one I’m giving the side-eye to. I realise that’s ass backwards.

Devil’s Game by Joanna Wylde

June 3, 2014 / Kaetrin

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

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Liam “Hunter” Blake hates the Reapers MC. Born and raised a Devil’s Jack, he knows his duty. He’ll defend his club from their oldest enemies—the Reapers—using whatever weapons he can find. But why use force when the Reapers’ president has a daughter who’s alone and vulnerable? Hunter has wanted her from the minute he saw her, and now he has an excuse to take her.

Em has lived her entire life in the shadow of the Reapers. Her overprotective father, Picnic, is the club’s president. The last time she had a boyfriend, Picnic shot him. Now the men in her life are far more interested in keeping her daddy happy than showing her a good time. Then she meets a handsome stranger—a man who isn’t afraid to treat her like a real woman. One who isn’t afraid of her father. His name is Liam, and he’s The One.

Or so she thinks.

What worked for me (and what didn’t): There were a lot of things to enjoy in Devil’s Game – most especially the heroine, Em Hayes. As the daughter of the Reaper’s local President, she’d grown up knowing Club culture and understanding her place in it. She’s protected in many respects because of her dad’s position but at the same time, she feels stifled as well. Reese “Picnic” Hayes knows what guys are like, being one himself, and he doesn’t hesitate to chase off unworthy contenders. This has left Em in the unfortunate position of being a virgin at the ripe old age of 22. After she is kidnapped (which occurred in Reaper’s Legacy), she has something of an epiphany and decides to push back against some of the Club culture she dislikes and strike out on her own a bit more.

His Fair Lady by Kimberly Gardner

May 23, 2014 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I bought this after I saw Jayne’s review on Dear Author.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Mark Talleo is something of a dog with the ladies. Any girl, anytime, anywhere is his motto until he meets Josie Frazier. The long lean redhead not only shares his love of musical theatre, but her smoky sexy voice and infectious laugh drive Mark wild and haunt his every step. Equally fascinating is his sense that she has a secret, one he is determined to uncover on his way to becoming her leading man.

Josie does have a secret, one she guards with her whole self. Although she has always known she was female, her name used to be Joey and she’s still biologically male. As much as she yearns for love and acceptance, her fear of rejection is just as strong.

Mark’s need to know the truth is matched only by Josie’s need to hide it. But when malicious gossip reveals her deepest secret the price of honesty may turn out to be too high to pay. But if each can accept that the woman he wants is the woman she is then at last he may find His Fair Lady.

What worked for me (and what didn’t): I’m so glad I read this book. It was so good.

I’ve been meaning to diversify my reading further but so far have largely been defeated by the size of my TBR. Since I started reading m/m romance and hanging out on Twitter, I’ve become more open generally and much more socially aware. I still have a long way to go of course but I’m not as blind to things as I once was. And I’ve found that fiction is both a safe space and a great way for me to learn about people I might not get to meet in my real life white bread world.
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Review at Dear Author

May 20, 2014 / Kaetrin

Sunita and I are reviewing Bollywood and the Beast by Suleikha Snyder today over at Dear Author. Most (all?) of the books I’ve read set in India have been historical so it was a nice change to read a contemporary romance set there. I do plan on reading more.