Review: The Best Kind of Trouble (The Hurley Boys #1) by Lauren Dane

Series: The Hurley Boys #1

Series: The Hurley Boys #1

Series: The Hurley Boys #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Harlequin

Publication Date: 8/26/14

Format: eARC

Pages: 384

Source: Publisher

Rating: 3 stars

GoodReads  |  Amazon  |  B&N

She has complete control… and he's determined to take it away 

 A librarian in the small town of Hood River, Natalie Clayton's world is very nearly perfect. After a turbulent childhood and her once-wild ways, life is now under control. But trouble has a way of turning up unexpectedly—especially in the tall, charismatically sexy form of Paddy Hurley…. 

And Paddy is the kind of trouble that Natalie has a taste for. 

Even after years of the rock and roll lifestyle, Paddy never forgot the two wickedly hot weeks he once shared with Natalie. Now he wants more… even if it means tempting Natalie and her iron-grip control. But there's a fine line between well-behaved and misbehaved—and the only compromise is between the sheets!

My Thoughts

REVIEW: SAFE IN THE TYCOON'S ARMS by JENNIFER FAYE

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Harlequin
Publication Date: 3/4/14
Format: eARC
Pages: 256
Source: Author
Rating: 3.5 stars

The man behind the headlines...

When billionaire Lucas Carrington returns to his New York mansion, he never expects to find beautiful stranger Kate Whitley making herself at home. Invited by his aunt to stay, he soon discovers she's a woman in need. She's raising funds for her sick daughter, so he agrees to let her stay--temporarily!

Kate may not belong in Lucas's high-society world, but she sees there is more to this tycoon than the headlines suggest. Yet with so much at stake, can she trust herself and her heart with New York's most sought-after bachelor?

Safe in the Tycoon's Arms. What a title, huh? I kind of love it, it reminds me of some of my favorite reads when I was younger. Books I borrowed from my aunts. This was a good story, a bit like a made-for-television movie, in fact.

With the caretaker's permission, Kate is shacking up in an all but abandoned mansion in NYC. She's in the city seeking treatment for her daughter's brain tumor. The hospital is requiring payment up-front, and after many unsuccessful tries, Kate is out of money. When the owner shows up unexpectedly, the two have an awkward confrontation, followed by an understanding. The tycoon in question, Lucas Carrington, is understandably upset a stranger is in his home. But when he learns her story, he begins to thaw, and wants to help Kate raise the money for her daughter's treatment. Of course, the two begin to develop feelings over time.

Kate is a character most readers will like and empathize with. Having a gravely ill child is a sure way to earn sympathy, but she was also a smart, resourceful person. She has abandonment issues, stemming from an absentee father and no-good ex. Her abandonment fears come into play with her newly-developing relationship with Lucas. Lucas was an interesting character. He has issues of his own, going back to manipulative parents and an ex who's pushed him to his limits. He was grumpy and broody, seemed a bit repressed, in fact, and reminded me a bit of the morose men in the gothic novels I've always loved.

The relationship between Kate and Lucas has a one step forward-two steps back feel to it, with past and current events coming between them. Of course, we have frustrations and misunderstandings along the way, with Kate dealing with her daughter's illness and Lucas's stubborn ways, and Lucas working to become a better man. A man who deserves Kate's love. The story had a great, heartwarming conclusion. I really enjoyed Safe in the Tycoon's Arms.                                                                                                                                                                            

Safe in the Tycoon's Arms is not my typical read, as of late. That is a good thing. As a teen, I devoured the category romances put out by Harlequin. There's a certain comfort in opening a story and having a fairly sure expectation of what I will get. This was the book I needed, exactly when I needed it.


Favorite Quote:

  With every bit of her willpower, she lifted her chin and looked at him. Wondering. Hoping.
  His Adam's apple bobbed. Their gazes met. And the air around them seemed to crackle with awareness.
  "Kissing you is all I thought about." His voice was deep and thick, sending goose bumps of excitement down her spine. "My only regret is that it ended far too soon."

Purchase Links

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  iBooks

 

About the author

In another life, Jennifer Faye was a statistician. She still has a love for numbers, formulas and spreadsheets, but when she was presented with the opportunity to follow her lifelong passion to spend her days writing and pursuing her dream of becoming a Harlequin author, she couldn't pass it up. These days when she's not writing, Jennifer enjoys reading, fine needlework, quilting, tweeting and cheering on the Pittsburgh Penguins. She lives in Pennsylvania with her amazingly patient husband, two remarkably talented daughters and their two very spoiled furbabies otherwise known as cats, but shh...don't tell them they're not human.

Jennifer loves to hear from readers—you can contact her via her

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Tumblr  |  GoodReads

 

 

 

JANUARY HARLEQUIN GIVEAWAY

It is time for the January Harlequin Giveaway, and I have two sweet treats up for grabs. Good luck!

Series: Worth the Fight #1

Genre: Contemporary/Sports Romance

Publisher: Carina Press

Publication Date: 12/2/13

Logan Rettino never imagined she'd fall so far. Dropped by her ex on national TV, she's gone from prima ballerina to ring card girl, reduced to revving up the crowds before MMA bouts. However distasteful she finds her new job, it pays well…and she needs the money if she's ever going to rebuild her life. Promised a huge bonus if she can convince a brooding, gifted welterweight to keep fighting, she'll do whatever it takes to earn his trust.

Keane O'Shea is unbeatable in the octagon. A former marine, he fights with a ruthlessness no gym jockey can match. He knows his brutal strength is too much for the delicate ex-ballerina, regardless of how fascinating he finds Logan's tight dancer's body. But one private performance and he's drawn to her in a way he can't—or won't—resist.

As Logan discovers the heartbreaking truth that lies beneath this handsome warrior's rage, she'll need to forfeit everything she thought mattered for the one thing that matters the most: saving Keane from himself.

Series: The Lane #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Carina Press
Publication Date: 1/13/13

Bri Martin likes her skirts too short, her heels too high, and trouble close at hand. So when big, brooding underground boxer Luke Turner comes into the bar where she works and starts a fight before she brings his first drink, she can't help being intrigued. Luke is everything she never wanted and everything she can't resist.

Soon, Luke is showing up everywhere Bri is, and she can't break free of his hold on her, nor does she want to. When her best friend turns on her, it's Luke who is there. When Luke's opponent comes after her to send Luke a message, it's he who comes to her rescue.

Before Bri knows it, she's caught in the midst of a rivalry between her boyfriend and her boss, both of whom are not content to settle their scores inside the ring. She swore she'd never live this life, so like the one she once ran from. But only by confronting her past can she decide where her future lies…and whether Luke can be a part of it.

 

GIVEAWAY

I have an ecopy of both Knock Out and Wild Ones to give away.
Must be 18+ years of age to enter; open Intl.

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

REVIEW: SNOWBOUND WITH THE SOLDIER by JENNIFER FAYE

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Harlequin
Publication Date: 10/1/13
Format: eARC
Pages: 256
Source: Received from author for review
Rating:  3 stars

Maybe this Christmas...?

It has been seven long years since Kara Jameson last saw Jason Greene. Returning home as a wounded war hero, Jason looks a shell of the man she once knew. Yet her heart still skips a beat as if it was yesterday.

Stepping back into civilian life, Jason looks to Kara for help. But there's too much water under the bridge; not to mention too much lingering attraction.

But it seems that the mountain weather has other ideas, and when Kara and Jason end up snowbound together they are forced to confront the ghosts of Christmas past.

Snowbound with the Soldier is my first winter holiday read for this year, and now I find myself longing for snow and Christmas decorations! This was a bittersweet story about a returned soldier, reconnecting with his former love, forgiveness and forgiving. 

I honestly thought Snowbound would be a bit different. I assumed that the story was about a former couple, snowbound, and rediscovering their love for one another. Yes, Kara and Jason are snowbound, but that is only for a short amount of the story. The story spans a few months, and deals with more than Kara and Jason. It also focuses on Jason's relationship with his estranged father, and what happened with Kara after Jason left. These aspects provided for some difficult emotions for the characters, and gave the story more depth.

I liked Snowbound with the Soldier. A lot of that comes from my being a fan of reconnected love stories, and those in which characters are stranded together. I think I might have found this to have more impact if Jason and Kara had been snowbound longer, and truly forced to face their heavy issues in an powerful way. I would also like to point out that this is a romance that is heavier on the sweet instead of the spice. Perfect if you're looking for a story that is light on the physical.

If you're looking for a holiday read story that also has a lot of emotion, you might enjoy Snowbound with the Soldier.

Favorite Quote;


  Her weight shifted fully against him. Warmth filled his chest. After all those long, lonely nights in different towns and countries, Jason felt as if he'd finally found his way home. He never wanted to let her go.   ~eARC, 11%

 

 

 

Purchase Snowbound with the Soldier

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository

About the author:

In another life, Jennifer Faye was a statistician. She still has a love for numbers, formulas and spreadsheets, but when she was presented with the opportunity to follow her lifelong passion to spend her days writing and pursuing her dream of becoming a Harlequin author, she couldn't pass it up. These days when she's not writing, Jennifer enjoys reading, fine needlework, quilting, tweeting and cheering on the Pittsburgh Penguins. She lives in Pennsylvania with her amazingly patient husband, two remarkably talented daughters and their two very spoiled furbabies otherwise known as cats, but shh...don't tell them they're not human.

Jennifer loves to hear from readers—you can contact her via her

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Tumblr  |  GoodReads

REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY: BIG SKY SUMMER by LINDA LAEL MILLER

Series: Swoon-Worthy Cowboys #4
Category/Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Harlequin
Publication Date: 5/28/13
Format: eARC
Pages: 320
Source: Received from publisher for review

The "First Lady of the West," #1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller, welcomes you home to Parable, Montana-where love awaits.  

With his father's rodeo legacy to continue and a prosperous spread to run, Walker Parrish has no time to dwell on wrecked relationships. But country-western sweetheart Casey Elder is out of the spotlight and back in Parable, Montana. And Walker can't ignore that his "act now, think later" passion for Casey has had consequences. Two teenage consequences! Keeping her children's paternity under wraps has always been part of Casey's plan to give them normal, uncomplicated lives. Now the best way to hold her family together seems to be to let Walker be a part of it-as her husband of convenience. Or will some secrets-like Casey's desire to be the rancher's wife in every way-unravel, with unforeseen results?

 

Big Sky Summer is essentially a story of second chances at love and family. I always enjoy a good second chance love story, but this one was a bit of a hard sell. And while I did enjoy the story overall, there are a couple of reasons why I didn't fall quickly into the story and become invested in the romance.

The first reason is that Casey and Walker initially fell in love fifteen years before the story began. And that's fine, as long as I have something to go on and reason to believe in that love. There wasn't much back story, just some bits of info here and there, and we don't even actually learn how they met or of what really happened until nearly the end of the story. But the present day love story was kind of sweet and charming. I always love to see a romance that leaves the woman rattled and flushing and the man flustered and hot under the collar. I enjoyed seeing the two slowly reveal their feelings for one another.

The second, and perhaps biggest obstacle was the fact that when Casey and Walker did fall in love the first time, Casey ended up pregnant. Fearing that Walker would hold her back, she lied and told him the baby wasn't his. Move ahead about a year, and Casey winds up pregnant -- again -- by Walker, and knowing that he wouldn't buy her lies again, she confesses that this and her first baby are both his kids. So...instead of telling their kids the truth, and having an honest relationship, Casey and Walker go on letting everyone believe that he's only a family friend. So now fast forward thirteen or so years, and Casey and the kids now live on the ranch next to Walker's, but the truth about their paternity is still hidden. This leads us to the big storyline of Big Sky Summer, Casey and Walker finding a way to tell their kids the truth, and becoming a family.

Okay, so I try really hard to judge a story by the writing and not by the character's bad choices. But in this case, I have a hard time believing that Walker, a solid, honest man who loves Casey and loves their kids, would allow Casey to talk him into this decision. It just doesn't quite fit with the image of this man I've been given, and makes Casey fairly unlikeable for me. I did like how she completely took responsibility for her selfish and harmful decisions. And I think the author did a really good job with the kids' frustrations and pain at the lies they'd been told.

Despite how very frustrated and puzzled I was at the characters, I did like Big Sky Summer. I really enjoyed Casey and Walker's present day relationship, and find it nice to read about grown people who are trying to find their way. I would say this story would be a good fit for those who like a down home romance.


Favorite Quote:

  Walker looked up just at that moment -- luck wouldn't have had it any other way, Casey figured sadly -- and when their glances connected, the planet slipped off its axis for the length of a heartbeat.  ~eARC, 18%

Purchase Big Sky Country at:

   

GIVEAWAY

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Connect with Linda Lael Miller at her Website .

   

COURTNEY REVIEWS: THE BEST MAN (BLUE HERON #1) by KRISTAN HIGGINS

Series: Blue Heron #1
Category/Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Harlequin HQN
Publication Date: 2/26/13
Format: ARC
Pages: 432
Source: Received from publisher for review

Sometimes the best man is the one you least expect…

Faith Holland left her hometown after being jilted at the altar. Now a little older and wiser, she's ready to return to the Blue Heron Winery, her family's vineyard, to confront the ghosts of her past, and maybe enjoy a glass of red. After all, there's some great scenery there….

Like Levi Cooper, the local police chief—and best friend of her former fiancé. There's a lot about Levi that Faith never noticed, and it's not just those deep green eyes. The only catch is she's having a hard time forgetting that he helped ruin her wedding all those years ago. If she can find a minute amidst all her family drama to stop and smell the rosé, she just might find a reason to stay at Blue Heron, and finish that walk down the aisle.

When I started The Best Man, I figured it would end up being our typical boy jilts girl (probably by cheating on her), best man swoops in to save the day, they fall in love and get their HEA. Well let me tell you, Kristan Higgins version completely surprised me. Completely!

You see, Faith gets blindsided on her wedding day by Jeremy finally telling her that he is gay. Prompted by the best man, Levi, who Faith thinks is really trying to ruin her life. Holy crap! I don't think that has ever been the reason a wedding gets ruined, and it really took things in a way different direction. I don't intend for that to be a spoiler, simply because that isn't the end of the story. That information is in the prologue, but is a focus throughout the entire story and resulted in a lot of laughs and tears on my part. I was really hoping it was in the blurb, because c'mon that is catchy, who doesn't want to know where THAT is going...

I thought to myself "Hold the freaking phone.." What! Then, when you're told they've been together for 8 YEARS, people...8 freaking years! How on earth did she not realize this? How could he not tell her? How could they get to their WEDDING DAY before Levi thought that he should stop all of this madness, because he thought Jeremy was gay the second he laid eyes on him. The phrase the plot thickens applies here, and trust me it is thicker than gravy, as some of us southern folk know well how thick that should be!

Our story begins with Faith coming home to New York after living in San Francisco for 3 1/2 years post wedding fiasco. Levi is now out of the military, and the chief of Police in Manningsport (how I love military men in my books). Jeremy is the town doctor, and neighbor to Faith's family with adjoining wineries. Higgins includes not only alternating viewpoints from Faith and Levi, but also trips down memory lane. As it is well established that I am a sap and it takes next to nothing to get me teary, then I will say yes, I cried on more than one occasion. The detail taken to finding out how things went down at the wedding (sob), after the wedding, and how and if the journey back to love and acceptance will happen was written beautifully.

Forgiveness is a huge theme for this story, but not just for Faith and Jeremy. Faith blames herself for a lot of family issues and Levi has to deal with life post-military, post-divorce, and as the sole person in his sister's life as she starts college. Now, here is the part where you don't need to write this off as a downer and boring. It is really funny too! As quick as I can cry, it takes a lot for me to actually laugh out loud. Usually I'm more of a LOTI (laughing on the inside!), but I did a lot of laughing. I loved that Faith was just as awkward as the rest of us, and while she was a pretty confident person, she was genuine and relatable. She has a boredom scale for Levi's facial expressions that are just hysterical! Add in small town living with everyone knowing your business (gosh, I can relate to that), grandparents who joke (might be serious) about killing each other, speed dating with seniors to make her father go (with a best friend who actually likes old guys), and a sister who kicks her husband out of the house because he is spicing up their relationship (with 50 Shades sexting, but lets him come home for conjugal visits) and you have a very, very well rounded story. I learned a bit about wineries in New York, which was fun and something I didn't know anything about. I thought the descriptions of the landscape and wines really added an element to the story. Where I grew up is an huge backdrop for my life, so I like when a place is just as much a character as the people are.

Worth the time and not a lot of effort to read The Best Man. I really enjoyed it, and while it seems much like a story that has been done many times, Kristan Higgins did a fantastic job making it her own and giving us a memorable story.

 

 

 

Purchase The Best Man at:

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository