Book Review: THE DESERT SHEIKH (Trilogy) by Katheryn Lane

Published: January 18, 2013

Format: ebook (154 pages)

Origin: Author

***Though the author provides the free ebook, I offer the opinion.***

My Look:

Book One: KIDNAPPED BY THE SHEIKH . . .

Who could have known that simple automobile troubles would lead Dr. Sarah Greenwich into more than inconvenience and another bill to pay?  It is a dose of perfect luck that the British Ambassador’s driver, whom she is friendly with, happens by and provides a lift.  However, this is exactly where all of her troubles really begin. 

Crews of armed men line the road in the desert, and because of the car, they identify her wrongly.   To save the friendly man, who drove her, she goes along with the kidnapper’s assumption and goes willingly with the kidnappers, hoping her future will turn out like many others’ pasts.  Once the money is paid, she is released, no harm done.  However, she can’t forget her real identity or the fear of what will happen once they find out she’s not whom she says.  It’s even harder to forget about the Sheikh and the emotions he stirs.

 

Book Two: MARRIED TO THE SHEIKH . . .

The handsome Sheikh and Sarah cement their love, after he arranges for Dr. Sarah Greenwich’s escape into safety, which came after she had fallen in love with him.  

For a short time, Sarah and her Sheikh husband are blissful.  However, what should be the best time in he life quickly spirals into a mess.  Yes, her husband is a powerful warlord, but he is working hard to bring the region together, peacefully.  Her employer doesn’t understand or care.  They want her gone, and her husband wants her medical expertise for his people in the desert instead.  

Can she accept his culture, his demands, and her lost position? Will he accept her need to help people, work outside of the desert, and her background that is not like his?

 

Book Three: THE SHEIKH’S SON . . .  

This Sheikh’s son has spent nine years in London with his Mum.  He’s been bullied, teased and harassed because who he is and who is missing from his life.  She wants so much more for her son, Ali. 

His Mum is probably the only still married, non-widowed, single mum she knows.  Working in the medical field gives her less time with him and more time without him.  Romance for her died a long time ago, and a father figure for him never existed.  Once someone knocks on her door, she’s about to be weighted down by major emotions and lots of questions.

Does her child have the uncanny ability to bring parents together?  Does he have the best of his mum and the best of his dad to make them give their love another try?  As much as she loves his father, will the whole new relationship hurt her son?

My Take:

THE DESERT SHEIKH (TRILOGY) by Katheryn Lane begins with a hint of mystery, blends in a huge dose of romance, but keeps true reality intruding on these characters!

I enjoyed learning culture and watching these lovers blossom, but I worried over the original relationship pitfalls that plague this exotic location.   Watching the highs and lows of these two characters kept the pages turning, but it was the couple’s trials that kept me invested in this read and pulling for these two to work out.   

Katheryn Lane’s THE DESERT SHEIKH TRILOGY will leave you looking forward to more of her titles such as THE SHEIKH’S BELOVED (Books 1 and 2) and HER LATIN LOVER!  For more information about this author, feel free to check out her blog at http://Katheryn-Lane.blogspot.com or check her out on Goodreads at http://www.goodreads.com/author/KatherynLane

Book Review: HOW HARD CAN IT BE by Robyn Peterman

Publisher: eKensington

Published: January 17, 2013

Format: ebook (265 pages)

Origin: Publisher through NetGalley (eGalley)

***Though the publisher provides the free ebook, I offer the opinion.***

My Look:

Rena Gundershlict’s life consists of a career she enjoys at a job she hates and her faithful, Vinnie.  We’ll speak more about Vinnie later.

Rena searching for an excitement that corporate America doesn’t provide.  She’s recently out of trouble for the weather girl mix-up that would have never happened if she didn’t listen to Oprah. But, I digress.  Rena’s onto a new career, of sorts.  She’s keeping the accounting bit until her new life takes off, but she’s walking into the first step of being a romance writer.  

This group—the one that the best-selling romance writer, Evangeline O’Hara, is supposed to be a part of—is mainly made up of seniors, and there was no sign that the author was here or no announcement that the author was expected either.  Rena sits quietly and listens, but she is walloped at the conversational topics including handcuffs, lover recipes, threesomes, and sexy uses for hardware?  Really?  Maybe Vinnie could use something to help in his solo job?  

However, when the women turn their attention to Rena, she starts spouting a story that comes from nowhere and makes little sense, but these generous ladies are nothing but encouraging—even providing her further ideas for a threesome.  Not that she was opposed to the topic in her novel, but since she didn’t really have a novel, it was kinda was a moot point.

The meeting takes an even stranger turn once Rena brings up the bestselling author.  Their smiles turned to growls and their sweet voices moved to accusation, as they demanded to know if Rena was friends with the viper!  

Luckily, it all calmed down but Rena was more confused than ever.  Why would these sweet ladies despise this author so much?  

It didn’t take long to find out.

This viper radiated evil and these nice ladies shook with fear, all the while pushing Rena behind the group to keep her safe.  Trying to help her new-found friends, Rena goes on to meet the novelist and finds herself earning money to buy a new car by helping the author.  

Here’s where the problems really begin.  Rena is asked to run an errand.  A simple errand that shouldn’t cause a fear, but due to the restraining order, after her television station debacle, this one errand can become money lost and an arrest record.  Sure, with a little help, she can dodge the arrest; Rena accepts the errand.  However, she wasn’t counting on seeing the sexist man alive.  

Unfortunately, he did take notice of her, and his notice could brand her all for him.  However, this lust a first sight ends badly.  

Once Detective Jack Careena figures out who she is, he’s slapping cuffs on her.  Real cuffs. Ultimately, he finds the pickle she’s in rather amusing, and he’s not dismissing a lustful relationship with her either.  Maybe things won’t be so bad, after all?

On the way back from the police station, Rena finds out that those jewels she didn’t steal has the Viper on her with the threat of  blackmail.  She’ll help the author for free or face charges. Now the many things that she’s heard about this author is beginning to make sense.  She’s been blackmailing these women too.  

Fine, Rena’s pulling the next story from her butt and bringing this woman down!  

 

My Take:

HOW HARD CAN IT BE by Robyn Peterman is an over-the-top, zany parody based on the romance writing world with romance and bits of suspense built into it!  

Rena Gundershlict is a young for her age thirty-year-old, and her search for the job that will make her happy gets her into some hysterical situations.  However, throughout all the craziness, you’ll find Rena quite lovable.  It takes a group of elderly writers, a hot and grounded detective, and an aunt who believes in Bigfoot to bring about the right career path and a wonderful life for Rena.  However, it takes Rena’s abilities and courage to save her friends from the Viper for Rena to find herself.   

Even though HOW HARD CAN IT BE by Robyn Peterman is a standalone novel, you’ll look forward to the next adventure from Robyn Peterman! 

Book Review: TAKING THE REINS by Kat Murray

Publisher: Brava

Published: December 24, 2012

Format: Paperback (288 pages)

ISBN: 9780758281043

Origin: Publisher

***Though the publisher provides the free book, I offer the opinion.***

My Look:

For Peyton Muldoon working in a man’s world came with challenges.  

The first one had been her dearly departed mother, Sylvia.  Forget gaining her mother’s approval, Peyton had spent most of her time keeping Sylvia from killing off her father’s ranch. Her mother hired the wrong people, slept with the worse people, and chased Peyton’s siblings away from home.  

However, Peyton couldn’t leave the M-Star ranch. 

From early on, the land was in her blood, and while her father brought Peyton to tag along, he hoped to pass the ranch off to his son, Peyton’s brother, Trace.  The only problem was Trace had the bug for the rodeo, not the land.

The ranch was left to his wife and his children’s mother—until she died, but it was Peyton who worked the land, caring for the animals. Now, after facing down the truth about the thief on the inside, Peyton fired her mother’s former lover, Sam Nylen, leaving her with one big problem. Who could she get for her trainer?  There was only one answer.  Red Callahan.  His name drew a shudder, especially since she just now heard him telling a man not to do business with M-Star.  

Red Callahan was a drifter, of sorts.  

Meanwhile, his reputation allowed him to pick and choose what jobs he took, and he always took them on a temporary basis.  Sometimes, this was out of necessity. Red wouldn’t let a ranch owner boot out help to hire him.  However, most times, the temporary lifestyle suited him.  Red was from bad stock too.  His father, Mac Callahan, left his parenting skills on the train to nowhere and looked to his son to bail him out of trouble.  With his last job ending, he already had a folder filled with offers.  Most times, he went on instinct but when instinct didn’t answer he did it the old-fashioned way . . . eenie . . . meenie . . ..  

A knock sounded to interrupt his unscientific picking process.  The woman on the other of that door took his sense right away.  

The Peyton “spitfire” Muldoon was laying out an offer that he needed to walk right away from, but his instinct decided to malfunction on him now.   He could think of at least 100 reasons why this would be the wrong move.  He would have been able to recite them to Peyton too, but she just issued him a timeline for a response and walked her fine form out the door.  

A timeline?

Peyton was a fine filly who acted like a sulky mare, but she’d cut you down faster than blink. He understood her situation more than he wanted to admit.  She was fighting the bad reputation her mother actively forged, being a woman—a handicap in this business, and her own stubborn streak. Not to mention, she was doing everything herself.  If there was a ranch who really need him, it was M-Star.

However, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.  

Well, maybe that was the problem, he could bring himself to do it, but she wouldn’t be receptive to that.  

He’s been in lust with this woman a long time.  To be around Peyton meant all his senses would be on high alert, teasing himself with something he could never have.  Walking away was the right thing to do.  However, he couldn’t do that either.  He stayed hold up trying to will his instinct into submission and reject the offer.  This was a battle he wasn’t winning, but the clock ticked passed the allotted forty-eight hours.  

Now, like it or not, Red Callahan was going, hat in hand, to M-Star to drive himself crazy every day, hoping for something that would never be.  

However, for the first time, Red was nervous.  What if she turned him down now? 

My Take:

TAKING THE REINS by Kat Murray is Western, with a sexy twist and a hint of mystery!

I fell in love with Red long before Peyton, but I knew Peyton wouldn’t be far behind.  He cared about the land and the horses the same way she does.  This is Peyton’s life and Red has a part in that now.  Her tenacity and strength draw you in, and you’ll feel about M-Star the way she does.  Soon, you’ll figure here’s a woman inside those boots who is afraid. Peyton’s not afraid of making choices, but she worries how those choices will change her way of life.

Red knows lust from love, but the respect he has for Peyton changes everything.  He wants her dream to succeed, and it doesn’t take him long to know that he wants to be a permanent fixture at M-Star, with Peyton.  Although Red knows his horses, he doesn’t know the fairer sex, and he’s in for a bumpy ride.  A ride he’d take no matter what the cost. 

TAKING THE REINS by Kat Murray is a standalone novel, but you’ll look forward to the release of BUCKING THE RULES coming June 2013 from BRAVA! 

THE VIEW FROM HERE

by Cindy Myers

Publisher: Kensington

Published: November 27, 2012

Format: Paperback (352 pages)

ISBN: 9780758277404

Origin: Publisher

***Though the publisher provides the free book, I offer the opinion.***

My Look:

The Colorado address held no clue. The envelope from an attorney startles Maggie Stevens, and she really didn’t need anymore surprises.  

Her husband, Carter Stevens, provided enough surprise to last her a life time and it wasn’t the good kind.  How ever can the words, “I don’t love you anymore” be kind?  His further revelations that he had someone new came as even more of a blow.  A younger woman with more money held Carter’s heart, or more accurately, Carter’s purse strings, and Carter’s future.  As the remnants of her marriage stood in boxes, ready for the next chapter, Maggie wasn’t ready for the next day.

Maggie had given up her dreams to his dreams, not that he forced her to do it, you see. However, he never minded that she did it. After twenty years of marriage and a career that was largely spent working at Carter’s business, she didn’t even have children to keep herself grounded; Carter didn’t want them. Yes, Maggie agreed, blindly.  

Finally, she dared to open the envelope waiting to see what other legal business Carter directed to her. 

The proclamation inside, nearly felled her. Maggie’s father, Jacob Charles Murphy, had passed away—leaving to Maggie his property and a mystery that still surrounded the man she had never known.   Oh, he left her a gold mine too.

No. Really.  A gold mine called The French Mistress.

Upon her mother’s passing, Maggie had gained only pictures of her father.  One was of a skinny man glowing with a newborn in his arms.  Maggie never understood how someone could look so happy but abandon the family he created, although her mother would have told a different story. She claimed the Vietnam War changed him. Even so why not visit or get to know his daughter?

Maybe now was the time to find out about Jacob Charles Murphy.  

Maggie had a best friend still in Texas but nothing else. Seeing Carter and soon to be wife around the same town was something Maggie could spare herself by going. Despite the fears and the lamenting, now was the time to leave Texas for a while. She had dreamed of traveling, although Colorado was never the destination.  After all, the change of scenery would do wonders, even if she never figured out exactly who her father was really.   And what about the mine? Is it really a gold mine or was it nothing more than a cavern in a mountain that he pretended was something more?

Maybe Maggie was out to stake her claim in Colorado. Soothing dreams of a new life, a mystery, and a comfortable lifestyle awaits her in the mountains of Colorado.  

 

My Take:

THE VIEW FROM HERE by Cindy Myers will keep you reading, seeing that Maggie gains more than what she bargains for with a few new friends, a new path, a new direction, and a new future.

Cindy Myers spins a tale that has Maggie Stevens, at the tender age of forty, finding herself.   

Previously, Maggie never took a chance or went out on her own, but even she knows that left her wanting something she never had.  The quest to find about her dad has her discover a lot more about herself, while accepting her father was flawed.   Maggie desired to know the feeling of accomplishment, the adventure of learning something new every day, and the stripping down a facade of the life she created but never liked.  Maybe, we all have a small part of the old Maggie in us, opting for comfortable and shying away from adventure.  Maybe we possess some part of the new Maggie, forging ahead with something new.   I related to Maggie Stevens, and I’m sure you will too! 

THE VIEW FROM HERE by Cindy Myers is a standalone novel!

TIES THAT BIND

by Marie Bostwick

Publisher: Kensington

Published: May 1, 2012

Format: Paperback (352 pages)

ISBN: 9780758269287

Series: Cobbled Court Quilts

Origin: Publisher

***Though the publisher provides the free book, I offer the opinion.***

My Look:

Margot Matthews tries again, even though the last holiday gathering quickly soured, but maybe on neutral ground, this Christmas celebration might be different.   She understands Mari’s reluctance, but at least her estranged sister agrees to come for the day.  

Now, Margo doesn’t need anymore issues but issues and pressure is all Margot seems to find.  

The quilt shop is bustling and the church board is selecting a new interim pastor to replace their beloved pastor, who is convalescing and taking a sabbatical dictated by a recent heart attack.  However, when her lack of a dating partner moves a friend to volunteer Margot’s time to greet, meet, and assist the new pastor, Margot nearly implodes.  Thankfully, out of what would have been an embarrassing situation relief comes, as the new pastor is Phillipa, not Phillip, and she and Margot easily become friends.  

Another newcomer arrives in New Bern, Connecticut yelling out to Margot, but his voice fails to float above the noisy wreck he drives.   Margot meets Paul Collier and his teenage son, James—who clearly doesn’t want to be in this town.  After giving the man directions,  Margot tells the family about the holiday church services and the other holiday activities New Bern has to assist the family in obvious transition.

However, the next family to be in tumult and transition is Margot’s.  While her father blusters about her sister’s tardiness to this year’s celebration, no one expects what happens next.

The police call and tell the family to get to the hospital.  

While Mari knew she wouldn’t survive, she hoped her daughter Olivia, who could still talk to her, would.  Mari set out to make sure her sister, Margot, would raise her daughter.  Her last few moments of life were spent scribbling this wish on a piece of scrap paper while they were still pinned in the car.

Who knew that Mari’s last wish would be the thing to tatter the Matthews family into smaller shreds?  Soon, a horrid custody battle ensues in a case where there clearly will be no winner. 

 

My Take:

Marie Bostwick’s TIES THAT BIND is a tale that shows just how easily family dysfunction can worsen in tragedy but also how friendship and faith can increase during these traumatic times, but this read demonstrates the power of love too. 

This author creates a charming environment that Margot embraces after leaving a faulty career in a place she didn’t like.  The quilters and the town had made Margot one of their own, and this resilient place always has room for newcomers.  In this story, Margot comes into her own both in her family standing and in life.  From public humiliation to trail by fire, Margot finds the strength to just be her.   She takes up the fight to raise Olivia inside this wonderful town. However, Margot also realizes that sometimes, you must give up something or someone to make the right choices. 

TIES THAT BIND by Marie Bostwick is a standalone novel, but you’ll want to check out the other books in the Cobbled Court Quilts series: A SINGLE THREAD (Kensington 2008), A THREAD OF TRUTH (Kensington 2009), A THREAD SO THIN (Kensington 2010), and THREADING THE NEEDLE (Kensington 2011).

POSTCARDS FROM CEDAR KEY

by Terri DuLong

Publisher: Kensington

Published: October 30, 2012

Format: Paperback (352 pages)

ISBN: 9780758268662

Series: Cedar Key

Origin: Publisher

***Though the publisher provides the free book, I offer the opinion.***

My Look:

Berkley Whitmore moves to Cedar Key to solve a mystery—the one that taunts her from childhood days and haunts her memory, while stoking her fears and feelings of abandonment.  

It’s something her mother or grandmother never discussed and tried to pretend like it really never meant anything, but to Berkley, it meant weeks of fear culminating with her being ripped out of her environment and brought to Salem to live with her grandmother.  Sure, eventually, her mother returned, but to a child of tender years, her mother’s brief hiatus was almost a lifetime of fear.  

Now, Berkley has relocated her chocolate shop from Massachusetts to Cedar Key, but teeters between an enjoyment of life on the small Florida island, fear that she’ll never discover her mother’s secret, or feelings of dread over what she might just discover about her mother.  For Berkley well knows that her quest to clear up the hazy past could have massive implications on her present that may stretch beyond to her future.  Since her mother and grandmother passed and her father died in the war, Berkley is alone minus a distant aunt who never visited her or her mother and her grandmother.  

However, those postcards that she’s found among her mother’s belongings has Berkley’s soul knowing what she has to do, but doing it wasn’t as easy as it appears.  It was too simple to open the shop and move into the apartment upstairs, but the question of who could know something about her mother enters into every interaction, every chance meeting, and every encounter. Many times, Berkley had come close to forgetting about the unanswered questions, the major gash that they tore through her life and the windstorm of emotions the past caused, but she cannot.  

Although, despite the introductions to many life long islanders, it doesn’t seem that anyone knew her mother, Jeanette Whitmore.  

Meanwhile, Berkley meets an Englishman, Saxton Tate, whom lives on the island and whose sweet sounding, accented voice stirs all the right places, but Berkley knows she’s a woman who is best on her own.  She has never done well in relationships so why even entertain the notion? It seems this gentleman has other ideas. 

 

My Take:

POSTCARDS FROM CEDAR KEY by Terri DuLong is a story about family secrets, new friends, moving away from the past, accepting the present, and finding a future.

The author sprinkles a tale with candy and crystals mixes in the problems of the heart, family issues and creates a character in Berkley Whitmore to whom anyone of us can relate.   Terri DuLong reintroduces us to many of the islanders from past Cedar Key stories, but she incorporates newcomers whom I hope will spur more titles in the Cedar Key series!   

Terri DuLong’s POSTCARDS FROM CEDAR KEY is a standalone novel, but you’ll want to check out the other books in the Cedar Key series: SUNRISE ON CEDAR KEY (Kensington 2011), CASTING ABOUT (Kensington 2010), and SPINNING FORWARD (Kensington 2009).

ALMOST HOME

by Debbie Macomber, Cathy Lamb, Judy Duarte, and Mary Carter

Publisher: Zebra

Published: (Reprint) August 7, 2012

Format: Paperback (442 pages)

ISBN: 9781420131048

Origin: Publisher

***Though the publisher provides the free book, I offer the opinion.***

My Look:

In WHALE ISLAND by Cathy Lamb, you’ll meet three zany women as they spy on one’s former boyfriend.  Chelese Hamilton didn’t need the skylight to give way under her and Brenda’s weight and she didn’t need to see one fine-looking Aiden Bridger from the Washington Review waiting on her porch either.  However,  most of all, she didn’t need Chief O’Connaghey at her door while the dashing Mr. Bridger was here to learn all about her frequent mishaps.  As if this situation couldn’t get any worse, this man discovered she was the author who won the book award and this one award would wreck her life.    

Judy Duarte writes the QUEEN OF HEARTS and introduces Jennifer Kramer, who used to be the high school homecoming queen who married her king.  Problem was that her king chose gambling over his wife and daughter and left her with a mountain of debt.  Working at the local newspaper, as an advice columnist, Jennifer meets Marc Alvarado, and she couldn’t believe he just offered her part-time employment too.  However, Marc is keeping secrets and wonders how Jennifer will feel once she knows the truth. 

While THE HONEYMOON HOUSE by Mary Carter heralds Amanda soon after she cancelled her wedding to Pete, did she do the right thing?  You’ll also discover Amanda’s best friend, Kate, who meets Andy while she’s on a mission.  It’s a search and destroy romance mission, since the wedding is off and her best friend, Amanda, can’t face the wedding that never happened in the place where the bride and groom were to spend their first month together. Who knew some guy would mistake her presence as a break in?  And yes, she did go far and beyond the original goal by setting up those beautiful photos, but who knew Andy was a photographer.   Why in the world did he swear her to secrecy about those amazing photos?

THE MARRYING KIND by Debbie Macomber ushers Katie Kern back into Jason Ingrim’s field of vision.  She’s a vision that hasn’t aged much in the ten years since they ended a marriage that barely had been.  Jason is in San Francisco for his wedding—to Elaine.  He told himself to just walk away and not think about Katie, but how do you not think about what she did?  He knew his mistake, but it was too late.  She was in front of him now.  Jason needed answers to put the ghost of wedding past to bed.  Katie gave him answers, but these weren’t anything that he expected.  Talking about the past led to many surprises in the present and the next morning understanding hasn’t helped either Katie or Jason and could possibly hurt Elaine and Daddy Warbucks too.  

 

My Take:

ALMOST HOME by Debbie Macomber, Cathy Lamb, Judy Duarte, and Mary Carter is a compilation of stories about second chances, fresh starts, forgiving, and forgiveness!

These authors create incredible characters each in their own set of circumstances, seeing only what they see and knowing what they think is true but realizing later that not everything is always as it appears.  You’ll laugh and be somber and feel their pain and rejection but happy endings abound in this work by some amazing authors! 

KISSING UNDER THE MISTLETOE

by: Marina Adair              

Publisher: Montlake Romance 

Published: October 16, 2012        

Format: Paperback (310 pages)      

ISBN: 9781612185859            

Origin: Publisher 

***Though the publisher provides the free book, I offer the opinion.***

My Look:

Through the loss of eleven jobs, Regan had landed a job with perks that she could only dream about . . . like a beautiful furnished home, where her daughter had her own room, and a new life in the most scenic place too.  Regan Martin landed the Ryo Wines job in St. Helena until the man who has made her life a living hell for years shows up here—in the same place, at the same time, promising more of the same.

Doesn’t everyone make mistakes?  Can’t she be allowed to move on? 

There is only one undeniably wonderful little girl who came from her mistake, whom she didn’t know was married and walked out leaving her pregnant and alone.  Her mother had died long ago and unlike the DeLuca clan, it was just her and Holly to fight this world.  Now, Regan wasn’t going to let Gabe DeLuca take away her daughter’s  home, bedroom, and special Christmas.  Not.  Anymore.  Her daughter was her life and she’d protect her like a mamma grizzly would her cubs, fierce and dangerous.

Meanwhile, he never expected to see Regan Martin here—in the same town as his sister, but he wasn’t going to admit that to her.  He played it cool.

Gabe DeLuca needed this Vixen out of here and he would double down his efforts to make it happen.   His sister, Abby, had married a cheating bastard and this brother has made it his life’s mission to protect her from anymore harm, only in part because he helped to cause the train wreck that had been her marriage.  Mostly though, he’d protect Abby because she was family and he has dedicated his life to all of them, since his parents died.  

Today, however, he tried to fight smiles, as this beleaguered woman was melting down and reining projectiles toward him and the car.  

Between her willingness to fight and her lacy undergarment playing peek-a-boo with each throw, he not only grown in his admiration but in the scope of his devilish thoughts too.  All he wanted to do was everything he couldn’t do and despite the amount of damage she did to . . . well . . .  not his car, he wanted nothing less than seeing her in the flesh, sometime soon. However, the big brother—who needed to fix his family’s ills—would deny himself the pleasure because Regan Martin would go back to where she came from, whether she wanted to or not.

My Take:

KISSING UNDER THE MISLETOE is a romance that starts with animosity and continues on to an ending that won’t disappoint! 

Marina Adair creates a cast of characters, ranging from zany to mean, with a whole lot of love throughout.  While Regan quickly earns your backing and cheers, you’ll start to fall in love with Gabe, CHICHI, and Jordan, but Isabel will take mean to a whole new level.  However, it’s Holly who will steal your heart and put Christmas and family into a fresh perspective.  

Though KISSING UNDER THE MISTLETOE is a standalone novel, you’ll be thrilled to read a sneak peek of the next St. Helena Vineyard Novel by Marina Adair . . . A SUMMER AT THE VINEYARD is coming on April 16, 2013 by Montlake Romance!  Check out this author’s Amazon.com author page at  http://www.amazon.com/Marina-Adair/e/B0084HYVSI/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1 for more of her titles or her website at www.MarinaAdair.com.

TOGETHER FOR CHRISTMAS

by Lisa Plumley

Publisher: Zebra

Published: October 2, 2012

Format: Paperback (352 pages)

ISBN: 9781420122121

Origin: Publisher

***Though the publisher provides the free book, I offer the opinion.***

My Look:

Casey Jackson comes to town (Kismet, Michigan) to “baby-sit” Kristen Miller (younger sister of mega singer Heather Miller).  He’s not a fan of chaperoning anyone, snow, or Christmas.   It turns out that Kristen isn’t the kid sister that he was expecting and she’s not the diva type her sister is either.  

Meanwhile, Kristen Miller just finished up a call from her glammy sister . . . “The Heather Miller”. Heather needs Kristen to derail “The Terminator.”   He’s coming to town and will spoil her Christmas special, but while Kristen hates that Heather (PEOPLE’s alluring singer) spoiled her quiet family filled Christmas in Kismet with her stupid special, sister loyalty has her accept the mission. Still, the media hounds are making a pest of themselves and Kristen knows by Heather’s description so will the Terminator.

However, Walden and Talia hatch a plan to keep the media away from Kristen and the Galaxy Diner.

This plan involves a blond wig, leopard print coat, and big sunglasses while being mauled and pawed in public so that the press will follow the fake Heather Miller and leave the Kristen and the dinner in peace.  However, public displays are leading to private practices and leading Walden with a heady case of love.  But does Talia think he just wants the fantasy of her?  Or will she believe he’d prefer her usual purple hair and all of Talia?

Simultaneously, Heather Miller has it bad and it’s not just the chicken pox.  She wants Alex Taylor and she’s been busy derailing her own special just to make more time with him.  Now, she’s quarantined with Alex and now maybe things will happen, but is Alex up to something menacing?  Sabotage?

 

My Take:

In TOGETHER FOR CHRISTMAS, Lisa Plumley brings Christmas, snow, and love to Kismet, Michigan!

These characters are a mishmosh of personality, but they all have one thing in common.  Love (in one form or another).  Some have it bad, some of them want more, and some of them think they don’t need love at all.  However, as everyone finds throughout this story, love is as complicated, joyful, and painful—as is all of life.

TOGETHER FOR CHRISTMAS is a standalone novel, but you’ll want to check out this author’s other titles including MELT INTO YOU (Zebra May 2012), and HOLIDAY AFFAIR (Zebra October 2010)!

A CHRISTMAS HOPE

by Joseph Pittman

Publisher: Kensington

Published: September 25, 2012

Format: Paperback (256 pages)

ISBN: 9780758276957

Series: Linden Corners

Origin: Publisher through NetGalley (eGalley)

***Though the publisher provides the free book, I offer the opinion.***

My Look:

Nora Rainer pulled into Linden Corners feeling as if there was any other place she’d rather be and there was one in particular but that wasn’t an option.  She returned to where she was raised to give her son, Travis, a stable place to live with a grandmother who loved him.  Nora knew his missing-in-action father left him along with her, and Greta Connors could help her son heal.  It would hopefully be a two-way exchange, since her husband and Nora’s father passed away awhile ago.  However, this was a no-win proposition for Nora.  The town she left for better things including a law career and a family is the place she returns to as a failure.  A horn sounded as she neared her mother’s driveway.  

Brian Duncan beeped just before impact, but a beautiful red mustang took the hit, resulting in a large dent. Gerta Connors had been a real friend to him and his charge, after Annie’s death, but one look at the woman whose car he just charged into and there was no doubt here stood her daughter, Nora Rainer with her son Travis.  Though the accident was her fault, Nora gave out a piece of her mind anyway.  He understood.  He was just starting to find his way out of a loss and Gerta did mention she was going through one of her own.   Brian did understand pain.

Thomas Van Diver moved back to Linden Corners with a goal.  Thomas needed to find his past, not that he actually lost it but he has lost a lot.  Once, a long time ago, Thomas lived in the beautiful farmhouse near the windmill, the same windmill that was built by the Van Diver ancestors, and during his tender young years, Thomas believed they’d always live there. However, when he was just five, some things happened that changed his life, forever. Thomas maybe didn’t understand the war and why people fought it, but he certainly did understand the government told his father to go there, and he did know Lars Van Diver never came home. The day was as clear to him as the sky was now when his mother’s grief overtook her.   Soon, she and Thomas were leaving the farmhouse and moving in with his mother’s family.  During this tender age, anger gripped Thomas but during his old age longing took its place. His wife, Missy, started out trying to find Thomas’s past but her illness brought that search to a halt. Now, he must complete Missy’s mission by Christmas Eve and only when he finds Nora Rainer does Thomas finds hope that this mission isn’t impossible.

My Take:

A CHRISTMAS HOPE by Joseph Pittman is a story where three sets of lives in the midst of loss, change, and uncertainty come together to meld the past with the present and bring hope for the future.

Joseph Pittman’s characters aren’t perfect and everyone has something that they need to keep hidden—pain, mystery, emotions, but these characters are willing to help another and put their own turmoil aside.  Some welcome the chance to forget their own problems while others do it at a great cost to them or their family, but in the end, it’s worth it to them.  Some wishes still come true while other wishes fade away only to make you wonder if you wanted what you had all along. 

Although A CHRISTMAS HOPE, is a standalone novel, you’ll want to check out his other Linden Corners title,  A CHRISTMAS WISH (Kensington reprint October 2012).