tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38143223348752945682024-02-19T07:39:08.906-08:00I Mainline FictionRamblings of a rabid reader!Sharon Redfernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09814133108457972356noreply@blogger.comBlogger161125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814322334875294568.post-92146388728870765502020-08-27T09:48:00.003-07:002020-08-27T09:48:37.601-07:00Playmaker by Jami Davenport<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLTMsBVvWuBMmfb1syiQ_T-jbr-EyKEf8YLzH9GAXWz2rb8NG5_MDA1XBNckKjHrv9-UFASxrD4r9Xnj0ZZH9qITFVBrhlJLYgc9v9UBohRqeaLOygkTrauxJzs76or31hws_e01oum8/s406/playmaker.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLTMsBVvWuBMmfb1syiQ_T-jbr-EyKEf8YLzH9GAXWz2rb8NG5_MDA1XBNckKjHrv9-UFASxrD4r9Xnj0ZZH9qITFVBrhlJLYgc9v9UBohRqeaLOygkTrauxJzs76or31hws_e01oum8/s0/playmaker.jpg" /></a></div><br />A new entry in Jami Davenport's latest series about four friends who play in the NHL, Scoring. Kaden has achieved his dream of playing in the NHL for the Seattle Sockeyes but it has turned to dust. He is currently suspended from the team and the woman he loves has disappeared. Life sucks!<p></p><div>He hires a former player now a professional PI to find the woman he knows as Lanie. Lanie is actually Delaney, a member of a prominent family who knows something she shouldn't and has been on the run for a while. When her past caught up with her in Seattle, she ran away to protect herself and Kaden.</div><div><br /></div><div>Having read the earlier books in the series, it's nice to finally find out what is going on with the mysterious woman Kaden has been seeing. He gets his act together and is reinstated on the team and now he needs to get his personal life in the same place. When he finds out where she is, he and the gang head to Madrona Island. Note: this is a shout out to other books by Ms. Davenport. The interesting part comes when teammate and friend Steele, lets it be known that he can help because "he knows people". This seems to be a recurring theme in a lot of these hockey themed books- the team is like your family and they are there for you through thick and thin. Even the WAGS (wives and girlfriends) add their support and advise wanted or not. </div><div>Needless to say there is lots of drama in this book, some secrets are revealed, and of course there is plenty of hot sex! Sometimes, I find these damsel in distress books to be annoying, but this one worked perfectly well with a little stretch on the bounds of reality. As in the other books there is just enough information about other characters besides the lead to make you anticipate the next book in the series- hint: hope it's Steele!</div><div><br /></div><div>I was never a hockey fan but I came across her book Crashing the Net, an early Sockeyes novel and loved it. Now I'm a total hockey romance fangirl. Maybe I'll actually watch a game soon! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgQGpQkgwq50u3pSgBmPqZQ4rq2SNYuhleM30n4AA7uJUpVvUL5PEjiPHutiylCpkkds0cA8dTiH-awJQbrba4JDidI2Bn2zY9GR0HYGg7mBZxtTU5CWT4iHHE22LyrWSy8RefWwcCz4/s1600/5+hearts.jpg" /></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"></blockquote></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Sharon Redfernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09814133108457972356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814322334875294568.post-9297075841174648732020-06-08T17:18:00.001-07:002020-06-08T17:18:43.976-07:00Dance Away With Me by Susan Elizabeth Phillips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Nineteen years ago, I went into a little used book shop up the road from my house. Besides used paperbacks, she had new hardcovers that you could take for a week for a dollar. She recommended This Heart of Mine which started me on my SEP ( Susan Elizabeth Phillips) love affair. I was anxiously awaiting Dance Away with Me and I was not disappointed.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Widowed Tess Hartsong has moved to a very rustic cabin in Tempest, TN. She feels driven to dance to loud music outdoors to try and sooth her broken heart. One morning while dancing in the rain in her undies, a craggy mountain man comes down and shuts off the music and yells at her to have some consideration for others. In mid rant, a dainty pregnant woman comes down and shoos him away. She explains that he is Ian North, a world famous street artist and her husband. She is famous model Bianca and is about 7 months pregnant. Tess is a midwife but she can't bring herself to practice her specialty because of her depression.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Ian is determined to get Tess out of the neighborhood because he is aware of Bianca's quirky personality and he sees trouble ahead. Tess, however takes a job at the local general store/luncheonette. She gradually learns all is not what it seems with Ian and Bianca (not really his wife). She also runs afoul of local folk when she pushes safe sex, smoking cessation, and some other health initiatives that the very conservative townfolk aren't happy about.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">When a tragedy happens, Tess and Ian are thrown together to raise a baby. This leads to all kinds of complications including a growing attraction between the two. In the meantime, trouble is brewing in the town and possibly around the baby's custody.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">I loved all of the characters in this book and how their relationships grow and develop. I also loved the quirky town folk and their gradual acceptance of Tess and her ideas. Like her earlier books, the romance is always there and percolating but the character development is also so important. You can just picture these people by reading SEP's words and she never does anything that doesn't feel true to their character. We know Ian and Tess will get their HEA but it isn't easy and we don't want it to be.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">All those years ago, I was so excited to find out that SEP had already written 12 books that I could read. She became an automatic buy for me both her written books and the audio versions. This book is a great addition to any SEPPIE's collection. I've read it twice and tomorrow I'll start listening to it with great enjoyment!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>Sharon Redfernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09814133108457972356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814322334875294568.post-74377887797295552882020-05-12T16:09:00.001-07:002020-05-12T16:09:25.599-07:00Wylde (Arizona Vengeance #7) by Sawyer Bennett<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love this book. Aaron Wylde, who lives up to his nickname Wylde, is sort of at loose ends after the Arizona Vengeance wins the Stanley Cup. He’s out jogging and he passes a little bookstore with a nerdy but cute woman behind the counter. He’s intrigued so he goes inside. Store owner Clarke is not so intrigued. At a glance she sizes him up as an affluent jock and just the type she despises. An incident in her past has made her very wary of this type. However, when Aaron sort of tricks her into being his date at two weddings, Clarke goes along. Thus begins a fun romance.<br />
I really enjoyed the interplay between these two both in terms of snarky comments and sexual tension. Aaron quickly realizes he needs to be Aaron and not Wylde if he’s going to get anywhere with Clarke. Clarke is prickly, but she sees the good side of him and enjoys being around him. When they both reveal how their past lives have affected them it gives them a bond. However, Aaron has been able to move on but Clarke still carries deep scars from her experience. At times, she seems unreasonable and make some bad decisions, but this is a romance and that is to be expected. It also makes it extra spicy when they finally get it together.<br />
Besides these two great characters, I enjoyed all of the glimpses of the lives of the Vengeance players and their significant others. Big things happen in this book. I can’t wait for the next one!<br />
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<br />Sharon Redfernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09814133108457972356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814322334875294568.post-83660317169380145052020-04-30T16:46:00.000-07:002020-04-30T16:46:22.129-07:00Blocked by Jami Davenport<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;">In this latest Seattle Sockeye’s entry, Ms. Davenport continues her sub series, Scoring. The brothers are a group of guys who were friends in the AHL and are now called up to the NHL. The most recent to come up is Axel, the handsome man about town, whose reputation is as a major player. Unknowingly having a one night fling with the wife of his new teams back up goalie, Jock, does not endear him to the Sockeye’s team. To add to this Sh*t sundae, Axel gets one look at Jock’s sister, Geneva, and falls hard. </span></span><br />
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</span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;">I loved how Miss Davenport started all this. Could somebody be in any more of a disastrous situation and find a way to stay on the team and get the girl ? What follows is a man seeing his lifelong dream of being in the NHL possibly going up in smoke and thinking he met the one girl for him who is also unattainable. Watching Axel humble himself and work his butt off to become accepted by the team but yet put on the charm to get Geneva was really entertaining.<br />
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</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;">Although Axel and Geneva’s romance is the highlight of the book and very very hot, Jock’s story is interwoven throughout. It’s hard not to feel bad for a guy whose wife is such a loser and whose marriage blows up in such a spectacular way in front of his teammates.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;"><br />There is plenty of romance in this book as well as a mysterious relationship for Kaden, general stupidity for some of the guys and an interesting vignette with Steele and a group of undercover female cops.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As always, there are enough teasers to make you want the next book to come out as soon as possible so you can see what happens!</span><br />
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Sharon Redfernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09814133108457972356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814322334875294568.post-3912980146469688412020-04-28T07:24:00.002-07:002020-04-28T07:27:39.880-07:00Rafe by Sawyer Bennett<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I love a second chance romance. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> In the story Rafe, a player for the Arizona Vengeance, asked to be traded to the Carolina Cold Fury when he discovers his father is terminally ill. Going back home not only gives him a chance to be with his dad, but also to reconnect with his first love Calliope. She has remained close to his parents and is willing to be a support for Rafe but nothing more. Years ago Rafe made the lamebrain decision to leave Calliope behind ”for her own good”. Needless to say, he thought he was doing the right thing but she was crushed.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This story was really about closure in mending relationships on so many levels. Although Rafe loves his dad, his father being a workaholic meant he wasn’t there for a lot of Rafe's athletic career. Rafe also had to work out his feelings for Calliope and come to terms with what his rash decision caused in her life and his.<br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Although the theme of the book is sad, it was enjoyable to see the Cold Fury players back in the book. That is not to say that the Vengeance players didn’t have their part too. This is especially true of Wylde who had some surprisingly emotional advice for Rafe. All in all, a small book with big feels.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><br /></span></span>Sharon Redfernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09814133108457972356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814322334875294568.post-33882652022007830282020-04-05T12:48:00.002-07:002020-04-05T12:48:55.737-07:00Code Name: Hacker by Sawyer Bennett<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcJk-AoC82e-Ig6sOz6D6Zrw7tP6PgUfVaXLZj1lWP9hhhQVXlOxxXf_6n2xcdV648xeNFl90zJnjgL9sO6PPk1KuRxG5mf-nz3ICqueGeJotJWahdox37-0Y-_GbByC-3JVGUjfKwwI/s1600/hacker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcJk-AoC82e-Ig6sOz6D6Zrw7tP6PgUfVaXLZj1lWP9hhhQVXlOxxXf_6n2xcdV648xeNFl90zJnjgL9sO6PPk1KuRxG5mf-nz3ICqueGeJotJWahdox37-0Y-_GbByC-3JVGUjfKwwI/s1600/hacker.jpg" /></a><b>I'm so glad to see a book featuring Bebe, the kick ass hacker for Jameson Security Force.</b><br />
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In this, the 4th book in an excellent romantic suspense series, Bebe meets Griff, a handsome biker type. Given that she spent time in prison when she hacked the Feds and allowed herself to get caught to avoid giving nuclear codes to a possible enemy, Bebe is leery about having a new relationship. She has a son to protect, her mother and her new job which she loves. But Griff is everything on her list...<br />
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Griff isn't just randomly in Bebe's circle. He's there on a mission to kill her actually. As they become more entangled, he has to reveal his true secret- he's FBI. Thus starts a whole cross/double cross story which could mean a real HEA for Griff and Bebe or just the opposite.<br />
I enjoyed Bebe and Griff's romance and then their working together. Both aspects had suspense-first as a reader you're thinking it's a killer falls for target theme, then it's a can they avoid being killed together theme. During all this the two are heating up the pages which just makes the suspense higher because now, you are invested in these two.<br />
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Running through all of the book in the background is the everyday goings on of the Jameson people and especially concern about Malik, a fellow team member who is missing and possibly dead. Those of us who have read Ms. Sawyer's Cold Fury hockey series, remember Malik as the brother of Max Fournier, team goalie. Again, another layer adding to the suspense.<br />
Like previous books in the series, this one has a solid romance, enough suspense to make it an unstoppable page turner, and a tease for the next book.<br />
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<br />Sharon Redfernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09814133108457972356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814322334875294568.post-86183028045947591162020-01-13T14:42:00.001-08:002020-01-13T14:42:35.743-08:00Code Name: Heist by Sawyer Bennett<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43621105-code-name" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Code Name: Heist (Jameson Force Security, #3)" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1547968287l/43621105._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43621105-code-name">Code Name: Heist</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6950682.Sawyer_Bennett">Sawyer Bennett</a><br />
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My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2971522366">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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I listened to the audio version of this book. Joe Arden and McKenzie Cartwright do an excellent job telling us the story of Saint and Sin. Years ago the two were lovers while they were involved in high level thefts. Sin set up Saint and caused his arrest and subsequent imprisonment in order to save his life. Saint is now working for Jameson and is sent into an undercover situation involving a worldwide theft ring led by a pretty bad guy. Imagine his surprise when he walks into his first meeting and sees Sin sitting at the table. Working together gives them time to talk about the past and work through her actions in the past. In a fast-paced story, their romance is flourishing in spite of the danger they find themselves in. Everything comes full circle before they can find their HEA.<br />
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The narrators do an excellent job of retelling the past while keeping the present time storyline moving right along. Tension is high both because of the dangerous job and the reawakening of old feelings between the two onetime lovers.. The various accents are well done and consistent. The narration added to my enjoyment of this book.<br />
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While this book is primarily Saint and Sin’s story, there is enough side action going on to set up future possibilities. Like the first two books in the series this one leaves you wanting the next one to come sooner rather than later!<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/3653142-sharon-redfern">View all my reviews</a>Sharon Redfernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09814133108457972356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814322334875294568.post-70887971325851696862019-11-05T17:31:00.000-08:002019-11-05T17:31:34.998-08:00Someone to Remember- a highly awaited second chance love story<div class="big450BoxBody" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: repeat-y; color: #181818; font-family: lato, "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">
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Someone to Remember by Mary Balogh- Westcott #7</h3>
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So happy to have finally been able to read this book! Matilda Westcott has been a background character in all of the Westcott novels before this one. A fussy prim and proper “spinster”, Matilda nonetheless has had a sparked about her where you just knew there was something there.<br />
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In the last book she shockingly went to a gentleman’s home to have him intervene in a court case involving his natural born son. That little episode was the first sign of who Matilda’s lost love might have been.<br />
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I just love a second chance romance and especially one that involves people of a certain age. When Matilda and Charles, Viscount Dirksen reunite it makes you just go ahh because she so deserves her HEA and it will be a fun life with a one-time rake who has loved her all these years.<br />
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My only quibble is it being a novella because I would have enjoyed a longer read. That said, it was very satisfying to read at long last.<br />
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Sharon Redfernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09814133108457972356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814322334875294568.post-55331366544525723542019-11-04T11:47:00.003-08:002019-11-04T11:47:26.615-08:00Erik by Sawyer Bennett- loved reading it and now listening to it!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdL0iigHw0ixb9pWh4AqLelcxYcLydUiy0pxgYhUT2U2z31R-y8r6-0EwR35RPj0L0Dkeue5jqNZhF5OJiJ7R54PkfyxzNiLV8Csr3F7nFRNETf-p4pt8vvFIDV93X_CMoeOHY7EEC_8/s1600/erik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="228" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdL0iigHw0ixb9pWh4AqLelcxYcLydUiy0pxgYhUT2U2z31R-y8r6-0EwR35RPj0L0Dkeue5jqNZhF5OJiJ7R54PkfyxzNiLV8Csr3F7nFRNETf-p4pt8vvFIDV93X_CMoeOHY7EEC_8/s320/erik.jpg" width="210" /></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Things begin to change when Eric runs into Blue with her brother, Billy, who has Cerebral Palsy and needs to be in a wheelchair. Eric is intrigued by this side of Blue and is genuinely interested in Billy. This encounter is the beginning of Blue seeing Eric in a new light.<br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">I enjoyed this book when I originally read it and now, listening to the story skillfully told by narrators Jason Clarke and Ava Erickson, I enjoyed it even more. I love the fact that Blue was able to finally see that Erik had matured and was capable of having a meaningful relationship. On the flipside, I liked that Erik realized the ramifications of his behavior and was willing to do what needed to be done to change Blue’s opinion of him.<br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">As in the first book, the conversation between the players adds a fun aspect to the story, especially after the infamous waxing incident. Jason Clarke does a great job distinguishing the voices of the male leads and Ava gets across the full range of Blue’s emotions. The book is an enjoyable mix of sports, hot sex, and family dynamics with a little drama thrown in. There is also a pretty interesting set up for Legends story which is next in the series.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">5 Stars </span></span>Sharon Redfernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09814133108457972356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814322334875294568.post-42390721784896558202019-10-17T13:17:00.001-07:002019-10-17T13:24:07.911-07:00The Bride Test Revisited 5 STARS <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was so excited when I got approved for an ARC of this book. I had absolutely loved The Kiss Quotient and couldn’t wait to read this one. However, for some reason I really didn’t like this book. I ended up not reviewing it . Recently I saw that the next book in the series was coming out and I decided to revisit this book but as an audiobook. I love this book!</span><br />
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</span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Whatever strange mood I was in when I read this the first time has obviously gone because this is a great book. I enjoyed Khai as a character in the first book because his diagnosis of autism was a connection to Stella, the heroine of the book.</span><br />
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When </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Khai’s mom goes to Vietnam to find him a bride, she meets My in the ladies restroom of the hotel where she is interviewing potential brides. When My passes the initial bride test, she quickly finds her self on a plane heading to California to become Khai’s fiancé . </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Now known as Esmeralda, or Esme for short, My finds herself living with a handsome but aloof and confusing man.</span></span><br />
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</span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Author Hoang draws on her own spectrum experience to write about the difficulties of a couple dealing with cultural clashes, language issues, and each partner dealling with their own insecurities. I really enjoyed the way the relationship slowly unfurls because it seemed so realistic. Emotionally Esme is far ahead of Khai but feels the lack of education and sophistication. Khai has a great job and material things but he’s a baby when it comes to a relationship.</span></span><br />
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</span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">It was pretty wonderful when the man who thinks he has no feelings discovers that he does and the woman who thinks she has no value finds out she is truly a gem. The HEA is so satisfying because of the seeming impossibility at the beginning of the story.</span></span><br />
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</span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Bring on Quan’s book, please!</span></span>Sharon Redfernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09814133108457972356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814322334875294568.post-84237072689773278782019-03-25T16:10:00.000-07:002019-03-25T16:10:45.873-07:00The Goodbye Cafe by Mariah Stewart- 5 Hearts<img alt="Image result for the goodbye cafe by mariah stewart" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81ZM7%2BGsYcL.jpg" width="206" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is the third book in a series about three sisters forced to relocate to a small Pennsylvania town to fulfill a stipulation in their fathers will. This book focuses on Allie whose life in LA has fallen apart. Divorced and unemployed, Allie is the prickliest of the sisters. She was very resentful at being coerced into coming and having to work on a dilapidated old theater in order to receive her inheritance. As time has passed, she has found peace with her situation and her new found family. The arrival of her daughter has made a big difference. The one major annoyance in her life has been local lawman Ben, who ticketed her the day she drove into town and the relationship has been downhill ever since.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;">Ally has been working on the restoration of the Sugarhill theater and re-discovering her love of art. When her eccentric aunt Barney buys the local café Ali finds her self working there as well. Given Allie’s cantankerous nature it’s a little rocky in the beginning especially as Ben is a regular customer. However, her time with her family has allowed Allie to discover some truths about herself and to see the positives she has in her life. Her contact with Ben gives her the opportunity to clear up misconceptions on both sides and develop a friendship . Friendship turns into something more as they both get to know each other. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;">I enjoyed watching Ally grow and become less dependent on drinking and her anger. As she becomes closer to her sisters and her daughter she is able to find space for love in her life. She becomes stronger in her dealings with her ex-husband and is able to stand up and protect her daughter when his new relationship causes friction. Working at the café gives her a different perspective on her life and the opportunities and losses she has had.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;">There is an interesting twist in this story that leads into what I would presume is the next book in the series. As I have enjoyed all of the books in this storyline I’m glad to see that it might continue. Mrs. Stewart always does a great job creating a fictional town that has a multitude of interesting residents, storylines, and of course a happy ever after ending.</span></span>Sharon Redfernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09814133108457972356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814322334875294568.post-23413670624210170812019-03-13T16:51:00.000-07:002019-03-13T16:51:44.885-07:00California Girls by Susan Mallery-5 Hearts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">California Girls is the story of three sisters who experience major upheavals in their lives and how they handle their new normal.</span><br />
Finola is a TV host whose husband tells her that he is leaving her for another woman just as she is going on air to interview a young pop princess. Adding to the agony, said singer lets Finola know that she is the one that Finola’s husband is cheating with and makes snide remarks throughout the interview. <br />
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Ali works in a garage and is preparing for her wedding when her future brother-in-law, Daniel, comes to tell her that her fiancée Glen doesn’t want to marry her and is calling off the wedding. Daniel becomes Ali‘s support as she slogs through the process of calling off the arrangements and moving on.<br />
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Zennie is content with her life as a surgical nurse and a single woman. She breaks up with Clark, a man she has been casually dating because there isn’t any spark. When her best friend asks her to be a surrogate for she and her husband, Zennie makes a life altering decision.<br />
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In most stories the three sisters would bond together and emerge with a sparkling new future. That is not how this story goes. Finola is too wrapped up in her own mess to offer support to her sisters. Ali makes choices that her sisters and mother have problems accepting and Zennie’s pregnancy really throws a curve into the family dynamics. Topping the dysfunctional pyramid is the sisters mother, Mary Jo, who never seems able to be understanding or empathic but who also surprises us every now and then.<br />
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To me, this book tells the story of how the people we love and the life we live is not guaranteed. Relationships are work and you can’t take love for granted. Each of the sisters learns things about themselves that they don’t like acknowledging but also find out what their strengths are and how they can move on either alone or with someone. This was an enjoyable and thoughtful read.Sharon Redfernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09814133108457972356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814322334875294568.post-39969981733923285212016-09-29T19:05:00.003-07:002016-09-29T19:07:17.113-07:00I really enjoy reading romance novels!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_E7CmehU77AuF_nRozT2I4zhKisdqMhfN6rGAfji_YelVDWe_pVqCDtSPRi_fDrjnRd26KVss4ff3rKuWy-mq0ub1BGu5LzyRCbprg_vMzJky2MKL8Kou8BSJAT7MRMyS7mUaYHPdESQ/s1600/venetia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_E7CmehU77AuF_nRozT2I4zhKisdqMhfN6rGAfji_YelVDWe_pVqCDtSPRi_fDrjnRd26KVss4ff3rKuWy-mq0ub1BGu5LzyRCbprg_vMzJky2MKL8Kou8BSJAT7MRMyS7mUaYHPdESQ/s320/venetia.jpg" width="210" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I work in a library and I have access to thousands of books of all different genres. But, when I'm stressed or in the mood for a pick me up, I go to the tried and true romance novel. I enjoy biographies, love a well written mystery, even a nicely photographed cook book. But nothing settles my frazzled nerves like a session with Julia Quinn, or Susan Elizabeth Phillips, or Nalini Singh, or even Jane Austen. Even though it is sometimes considered a low form of literature, millions of romance readers can't be all wrong!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Today I took a class taught by a very enthusiastic young librarian named Caitlin. I'd taken previous classes from her on different topics and I looked forward to this one. She did not disappoint and she opened my eyes to a whole group of new authors that I had never heard of and would have to look up. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I came away from the class with a new enthusiasm to promote romance in our library. Romance is a billion dollar industry and the genre outsells all other genres of fiction by a large margin.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So, tonight I'm going to settle in a re-read a Georgette Heyer book in celebration of the first romance novel I ever read.</span>Sharon Redfernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09814133108457972356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814322334875294568.post-28669340657535145712016-08-29T08:21:00.000-07:002016-08-29T08:21:06.077-07:00A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny- Amazing Read!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When Armand Gamache accepts the position as the new head of the training academy for the <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #252525; line-height: 107%;">Sûreté du Québec</span> , he has to decide who will be accepted into the new class of cadets. He agonizes over one applicant that the prior head had denied. This tattooed, pierced, and surly young lady has a connection to Gamache that she is unaware of. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While in Three Pines, Gamache becomes aware of an old map found in the walls of Gabi and Olivier‘s building that shows topographical information but also has symbols like a pyramid, a cow, and three pine trees. The map is an oddity because Three Pines is not found on any other paper maps or even with a GPS. So why was this map made?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the academy, Gamache fires several teachers, keeps one who is definitely his enemy, and hires the man who betrayed him and all of his officers while in charge of the <span style="background: white; color: #252525; line-height: 107%;">Sûreté</span>. At the same time, he gives four cadets copies of the map and asks them to investigate it and discover the secrets behind it. One of the cadets is Amelia Choquet, the cadet that Gamache was conflicted about. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What I really enjoyed about this book is the way it addresses one of the loose ends from the big blow up in the <span style="background: white; color: #252525; line-height: 107%;">Sûreté</span> in previous books. The cadet Academy is the last piece of a nasty puzzle that had pieces all over the service and was poisoning it from the inside. By rooting out the poison at the beginning of all of the officer’s careers, Gamache is making a change in the entire force while finally rooting out the last of the bad eggs. When one of the bad eggs is murdered, Gamache has to work even harder to clean up the other baddies while solving the murder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also enjoyed the intertwining of the Three Pines map with the Academy goings on. Introducing the new cadets but pairing them with older characters makes for an interesting blend of old and new. As always the quirky villagers add a touch of humor to a serious mystery but they are also part of a sad history that unfolds as the map’s origin gets uncovered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ms. Penny’s books are just so wonderful to read. I found myself reading this one until 2:30AM on a work night because I just could not stop reading it! There are so many little twists and turns but also familiar characters to revisit and new ones to wonder about. This book is a wonderful mix of mystery, police procedural, and a down home with the family kind of vibe. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Sharon Redfernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09814133108457972356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814322334875294568.post-89840975570844544572016-08-28T16:56:00.000-07:002016-08-28T17:01:18.770-07:00A Summer at Sea by Katie Fforde- YAY now published in the U.S!!!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFK4ufZU5C5CtiDhoh3FLn2HRMYiJ6UfdV4R81YCvsrJ9IeC90Absn6oX8_XlMfFkOFR1bMo5cwrDY4QtFF6LoLUO_fC0-MNkKTsgbmWdzzJviNFoa4oIlfmCBu4BvAZ8POVsBT9jA-CQ/s1600/a+summer+at+sea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFK4ufZU5C5CtiDhoh3FLn2HRMYiJ6UfdV4R81YCvsrJ9IeC90Absn6oX8_XlMfFkOFR1bMo5cwrDY4QtFF6LoLUO_fC0-MNkKTsgbmWdzzJviNFoa4oIlfmCBu4BvAZ8POVsBT9jA-CQ/s320/a+summer+at+sea.jpg" width="201" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Emily has decided to take a sabbatical from her job as a midwife after having a run-in with a local OB at a home birth. The unit she works for is on shaky ground due to opposition from the local Dr's. When Emily is offered the chance to spend the time off in Scotland working as a cook on a puffer (steamboat) she accepts the offer. Her old friend Rebecca owns the boat with her husband and Rebecca's pregnancy is making her unable to keep up with the kitchen on the boat. So, off Emily goes to help out.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">All is not perfect on the puffer. Emily has to share a tiny space with sulky coworker Billie. Rebecca seems to be trying to fix up Emily with her brother in law, Alasdair, a slightly dour Scotsman who turns out to be the local GP. A widower, Alasdair has a young daughter who takes a liking to Emily much to Alasdair's dismay. As the time goes by, the two find more common ground and develop a bit of a romance. Still, Emily plans to go back home and Alasdair doesn't want to disappoint his daughter.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">I really enjoyed this story. There was a nice blend of medical, romance, travel, even knitting themes throughout the book. I loved the way that Emily and Alasdair slowly find their way towards each other. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the places the puffer travels to as well as the whole idea of traveling by steamboat. As an American, this British vacation style just seems so interesting! Emily's need for a break makes perfect sense and her final decision about her future stays true to her personality. I'm so happy that Katie's books are becoming more available in the US so more readers can enjoy this wonderful author!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span>Sharon Redfernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09814133108457972356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814322334875294568.post-22015669554607469662016-08-16T07:13:00.002-07:002016-08-16T07:16:03.438-07:00Love those Chicago Stars! First Star I See Tonight by Susan Elizabeth Phillips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Reading a SEP book is like meeting up with an old friend. You know that when you are done, you are going to feel warm and fuzzy and glad you spent the time with them. In this new book, Piper Dove has bought out her deceased father's detective agency and has her first big client. The job requires investigating former Stars QB Cooper Graham. Unfortunately for Piper, Cooper makes her and she gets fired. The upside is that Cooper hires her to work at his new club after she exposes some shady dealings going on at the site. Since the job includes a free apartment, she agrees and they begin spending a lot of time together. Piper makes some pretty crazy decisions while at the same time giving Cooper some great advice. However, when things get more serious, she can't get over her concern about their different lives.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">This is a fun romance with SEP's trademark humor and snarkiness between the couple. The supporting characters are fun too and move the story along. Piper is the feisty chick we wish we could be sometimes and Cooper is that dream guy- gorgeous body but with a nice heart to go with it.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Besides the wonderful main love story, one of my favorite things about a Stars book is seeing older characters pop up in the storyline. This always makes me remember their story and how much I enjoyed it. I especially liked seeing Heath "the Python" Campion in this book. He and Annabelle were one of my favorite couples. The mix of old and new characters was perfect in this book. I hated to get to the end.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span>Sharon Redfernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09814133108457972356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814322334875294568.post-37425529657994698062016-08-12T15:43:00.000-07:002016-08-12T15:51:14.980-07:00Summer of Love by Katie Fforde<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">I have loved Katie Fforde's books ever since I read The Second Thyme Around (now called Thyme Out) in 2000. Summer of Love is a wonderful story about Sian, a city girl who moves to the country with her young son. She is settling into village life and meets her neighbor Fiona with whom she develops a strong friendship. When Fiona's son Gus comes home from exploring, Sian realizes he is the one night stand that resulted in her much loved son. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">The results of this news affect Sian's relationships with her new friend and Gus. Fiona is also sorting out her feelings about a man she has met and who she is very attracted to. I enjoyed all of the angst and craziness that ensues while these couples sort out their lives. As always, Ms. Fforde does a great job with her characters even when they aren't behaving their best. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">I'm also excited that American readers can get these great books without having to order from overseas sellers as I have had to do to get the books.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>Sharon Redfernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09814133108457972356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814322334875294568.post-22933647860480206362015-11-01T08:13:00.001-08:002015-11-01T08:13:30.342-08:00Melting Into You by Laura Trentham<br />
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Melting into You is the third book in the Falcon football series. I have enjoyed every book in the series and this one is no exception. Lilliana Hancock has returned to Falcon after a time in New York working on her art. When her father- with whom she had a love/hate relationship- leaves her the crumbling family home, she decides to turn it into a B&B. Standing in her way is Alec Grayson, inspector, HS football coach, and the former pro football player. Lilliana had always had a thing for Alec until her dream seemingly came true in college and they “hooked up”. Sadly, Alec left the next morning with barely a word and Liliana has not been a fan ever since.<br />
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When Alec comes early for his home inspection, Lilliana has relaxed with a little homegrown help and the long simmering attraction comes to a head and she propositions him. After incredibly hot sex, Alec gets it in his head that she is trying to “bribe” him into passing the inspection and again leaves her alone and angry.<br />
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I was glad that these two could finally talk about what happened and start to have a real relationship. Lilliana makes a conscious decision to not tell him about their encounter in college when it becomes clear Alec doesn’t remember. Alec and Lilliana become involved in the bad home situation of one of Alec’s players and that brings them even closer. Their strong attraction to each other keeps them together through ups and downs and the sex is pretty darn good as well.<br />
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The great thing about books in a series is seeing old favorite characters from previous books interspersed in the story. This book could be read on its own but I recommend reading the others as well. I hope we’ll see more of Falcon in future books.<br />
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<br />Sharon Redfernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09814133108457972356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814322334875294568.post-71398025249516994582015-10-09T17:21:00.000-07:002015-10-09T17:21:30.376-07:00Blindsided by Jami Davenport<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6CR4bPBogbmImAaXec1OclgqRnfzTTsNJoI9FngVR_Abic39YW-YsYp1b5RIE9ruga47lLTFzW5d9wG1yEExIoFKwuspX_EQXDladJFhi-54Knc375vZIkAKAkTnJ3pTqXdU1YPpceB4/s1600/JamiDavenport_Blindsided200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6CR4bPBogbmImAaXec1OclgqRnfzTTsNJoI9FngVR_Abic39YW-YsYp1b5RIE9ruga47lLTFzW5d9wG1yEExIoFKwuspX_EQXDladJFhi-54Knc375vZIkAKAkTnJ3pTqXdU1YPpceB4/s1600/JamiDavenport_Blindsided200.jpg" /></a>Emma Maxwell has lived most of her adult life in unrequited love with Tanner Wolfe. Emma is the odd duck in her family, being the only singleton in the group and the only one who secretly wants to follow her famous parents and become a professional singer. Her sisters have fallen for famous hockey players and one, Avery, happens to be engaged to Tanner's estranged brother. Estranged is a mild description for how Tanner feels about Isaac (hero of Melting Ice). Tanner and Isaac have been apart since Isaac left their abusive father's home for junior hockey.<br />
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Tanner is a deeply troubled man with a "good ole boy" facade. Unfortunately for him, his love'em and leave'em lifestyle has angered the new owners of his struggling football team and he needs to appear to clean up his act. When he discovers Emma singing karaoke at a casino, it leads to them pretending to date and then ultimately getting married.<br />
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Emma loves Tanner but she isn't sure she wants to give up her dreams. Tanner likes Emma and the<br />
faux family life she provides but his demons still haunt him. When they finally get together physically it's super hot but not enough to keep them together without some honesty on both sides. Tanner is afraid to reveal his past and Emma is afraid to reveal her hopes for the future. In Emma's case, she has two possible futures and she isn't sure which one is the one she really wants.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBV2MAP1lF9TjYjjV8dlMN6UrQdyuAIzwsWSmvoJawj4FwWlqhNr2Jnxxit_dKvZFHs9rcxOlyxLjegW_zEKv5O3laU-7O43fQqx5n_hyS_FP8TOt3VxxOvL9i_R6xtwx1wW_Uk09GtKE/s1600/5+hearts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBV2MAP1lF9TjYjjV8dlMN6UrQdyuAIzwsWSmvoJawj4FwWlqhNr2Jnxxit_dKvZFHs9rcxOlyxLjegW_zEKv5O3laU-7O43fQqx5n_hyS_FP8TOt3VxxOvL9i_R6xtwx1wW_Uk09GtKE/s200/5+hearts.jpg" width="200" /></a>I enjoyed both of these characters. Emma is a bit meek but she's definitely got a feisty side to her. Tanner is a mess but he knows that he can't keep going on as he has without losing everything. This story has it all, unrequited love, fake marriage, hot hunky athlete with mild mannered woman, family conflicts and even a sort of villainess in Emma's sister Bella. I couldn't read it fast enough!Sharon Redfernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09814133108457972356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814322334875294568.post-41257477649001819262015-10-03T08:44:00.000-07:002015-10-03T08:44:31.292-07:00Christmas at Lilac Cottage by Holly Martin<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5T_3YKBWrzGY5rsgdAkZKo68eqCo48O_qjiG29iIMnMgrsMzSW7ia4iXfLA3ypGj61SJq83t7tZvwCPGuvZStFqOwQEe2KgmxEmuse_ouGhEd3ZPIS1N5eRwbFHEcMh90V62JyWAXZo/s1600/26052279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5T_3YKBWrzGY5rsgdAkZKo68eqCo48O_qjiG29iIMnMgrsMzSW7ia4iXfLA3ypGj61SJq83t7tZvwCPGuvZStFqOwQEe2KgmxEmuse_ouGhEd3ZPIS1N5eRwbFHEcMh90V62JyWAXZo/s320/26052279.jpg" width="208" /></a>Christmas at Lilac Cottage is a mix of two of my favorite things-Christmas and Brit-lit. When Penny rents out the side apartment to her cottage, she expected Henry and Daisy to be a married couple. Instead she gets a hunky guy and his teen daughter. Penny is a professional ice carver and Henry is a custom furniture maker- a match made in heaven! Penny has had bad luck with love before and she is wary of getting close to Henry but she finally gives in and goes for it. As expected the path to the HEA is never smooth but after some misunderstandings the magic of Christmas prevails.<br />
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I loved the characters in this book. Some of Penny's ice carver competitors are hysterical. The descriptions of the little town and the people made me long to spend the holidays across the pond! This is a new author for me and I can't wait to read her previous and upcoming books!<br />
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<br />Sharon Redfernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09814133108457972356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814322334875294568.post-85833237787142225062015-09-05T09:38:00.001-07:002015-09-05T09:38:01.722-07:00The Sparrow Sisters-an intriguing read!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7GjOCexVQ_9gSiUnGRU9y8XdbQr0JjBLCIPDxKSXuASo9zATxk92Im8fUYXyhcZLRUn4CHfScAYRvc1vAP0LxnXyfVwv8hMaprDZ5gtmzOdC45IsLVgMN0plBuLaX7Z4R64cIHTDGCc/s1600/TheSparrowSisters-cvr-2-299x450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7GjOCexVQ_9gSiUnGRU9y8XdbQr0JjBLCIPDxKSXuASo9zATxk92Im8fUYXyhcZLRUn4CHfScAYRvc1vAP0LxnXyfVwv8hMaprDZ5gtmzOdC45IsLVgMN0plBuLaX7Z4R64cIHTDGCc/s320/TheSparrowSisters-cvr-2-299x450.jpg" width="212" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Such an interesting book! The Sparrow sisters, Patience, Nettie and Sorrell live in the ancestral home and own a nursery that seems to be the barometer of the town's mental and physical health. When Henry arrives in town to be the new doctor, he discovers a sort of rival in Patience who is viewed as a healer by the townsfolk. Henry's ire is tempered by his immediate attraction to Patience and her reluctant return of that feeling. As the two become closer to each other, their happiness is tempered by a unspoken distrust of what the other stands for. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">When a tragedy happens, the town and the relationship is poisoned by distrust and everything starts to go wrong. Henry has to finally decide how he feels about Patience and her special gift. The townspeople have to look to their own history to see what happens when unfounded suspicion destroys the balance of the natural magic that the Sparrows seem to embody. I loved the people in this book and the way the story played out. There seemed to be a bit of a teaser about one of the sisters which could mean a future book which would be great.</span><br />
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Sharon Redfernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09814133108457972356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814322334875294568.post-41870232362269232822015-08-02T16:09:00.000-07:002015-08-02T16:09:02.332-07:00The Lure of the Moonflower by Lauren Willig; the end of a long and wonderful reading relationship.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3a8cBg27B4CGIRqgLbl-Vv8f85ikDzuOvSUZZXzLRs_V0tyKF68DFPzL5iWBjy1wLlM8Weh1J0EEqaLK4nzM3zGWRAhTdJRALo6eO2OAkqPM7TUEWngb36Jw7PinSQIIIEde7eqqrIc/s1600/moonflower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3a8cBg27B4CGIRqgLbl-Vv8f85ikDzuOvSUZZXzLRs_V0tyKF68DFPzL5iWBjy1wLlM8Weh1J0EEqaLK4nzM3zGWRAhTdJRALo6eO2OAkqPM7TUEWngb36Jw7PinSQIIIEde7eqqrIc/s320/moonflower.jpg" width="212" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">As much as I wanted to fly through this book, reading the story and enjoying the adventure, I also wanted to go slowly and not get to the end of what has been a long and wonderful reading relationship. From the first word of The Secret History of the Pink Carnation to the last page of this book, I have enjoyed all of the couples, all of the tight squeezes, the going back and forth from the present to the 1800's and before, every nuance of this amazing series.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">In this last book, the Pink Carnation meets her match both in love and war. Two characters that have been consistently woven in through the books come together and find the one person who can love them for who they are warts and all. Add to that the wedding of Eloise and Colin and you have the book we have been waiting for through twelve books and ten years of reading.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Even though I loved this book, I am going to miss anticipating a new installment coming every year, and every one of them a great read. Thank you Ms. Willig for all these years of enjoyment!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">PS- I have also listened to every book after reading it and enjoyed the narration of Kate Reading for all of the books. I can't wait to listen to this one.</span></span><br />
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Sharon Redfernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09814133108457972356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814322334875294568.post-2098409461383903062015-08-01T06:42:00.004-07:002015-08-01T06:42:37.504-07:00Perfect Touch by Elizabeth Lowell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">When Sara Medina goes to Jackson to meet Jay Vermilion, she walks into a firestorm. First she discovers that the wonderful sexy voice she has been intrigued been belongs to a man who fits the voice. Jay and Sara make a connection almost immediately. When they go out to the Vermilion ranch, it is a western paradise. The big problem is that the paintings she has come to curate seem to be a lure for a murderer and Sara is in the center of it all.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">I love Ms. Lowell's mix of suspense and romance in this book. There is plenty of both spicy and scary action, enough to keep you turning the pages pretty quickly. A great summer read!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>Sharon Redfernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09814133108457972356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814322334875294568.post-71522310630436485612015-07-26T16:34:00.002-07:002015-07-26T16:37:24.788-07:0011 years of hunky dragons and their mates- who would of thought!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpblErsYXzxwIwdOWA3wDyZrIISIH7Jv40fAALShBWYDxAC5pI64oa9C7weTpT0UBkZwg81_lxkBFqwiI5-IPOfD1C89zkH0RanUPZ32ZbrmcgGQ_bUMSdAsMfwTxrj8uStLPcVvWoUpk/s1600/dragonfall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpblErsYXzxwIwdOWA3wDyZrIISIH7Jv40fAALShBWYDxAC5pI64oa9C7weTpT0UBkZwg81_lxkBFqwiI5-IPOfD1C89zkH0RanUPZ32ZbrmcgGQ_bUMSdAsMfwTxrj8uStLPcVvWoUpk/s1600/dragonfall.jpg" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">When I picked up You Slay Me in 2004, who knew I was starting an 11 year love affair with dragons and their mates. It's been a long wait since the last book in 2012 so I'm happy to see my favorites back in a new theme of Black Dragons with Kostya, one of the moodiest of all the dragons.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Aoife Dakar goes to a Goth Faire with a new guy she has met and ends up in the Home for the Bewildered for 2 years after witnessing a magical murder and actually telling people about it. She also gains possession of a magical ring which holds the key to ending the curse on the dragons. When Aoife literally runs into demon dog Jim and then saves Kostya from drowning, her life takes a huge turn for the strange. Kostya is smoking hot literally and figuratively and Aoife falls for him in a big way.She winds up meeting Aisling, Drake and other dragon folk and becoming the one person who might end the dragon curse.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">I so enjoyed this book and Aoife's quirky character. Some might find her annoying but I enjoyed her bizarre euphemisms for swear words and her confusion about everything going on around her. Efferjim the demon is back being the snarky, narcissistic Newfie called Jim and helps add to the confusion in Aoife's life. Aoife and Kostya are the latest in a long line of dragons and their mates whose stories have been fun to read. I look forward to the continuation of the Black Dragon story.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>Sharon Redfernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09814133108457972356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3814322334875294568.post-85119649056063141142015-06-07T07:23:00.000-07:002015-06-07T07:24:06.538-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cnZKyz6rQBW24H8A_RPy8kHLeY_94yYPfosQYD2xkStGSD3Dd8IVjY6IktlctnoJkGQG_TYcY5Y1qllEJxRT31VTyBRSM-kEbgGReczRsq5q58UThWqKQzKAuh9fZ-4eOKhOB6wNYHA/s1600/wicked_charms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cnZKyz6rQBW24H8A_RPy8kHLeY_94yYPfosQYD2xkStGSD3Dd8IVjY6IktlctnoJkGQG_TYcY5Y1qllEJxRT31VTyBRSM-kEbgGReczRsq5q58UThWqKQzKAuh9fZ-4eOKhOB6wNYHA/s1600/wicked_charms.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">It's been a long time since the last book in this series and I was so happy to see this one. I have always enjoyed the Lizzy & Diesel stories and this one is just as much fun as the others. Lizzie and Diesel are after another of the Seven Deadly Sin Stones, this time the Stone of Avarice. As usual the duo is competing with Diesel's cousin Wulf and his wacky lackey, Hatchett, to get the stone. Lizzie's friends Clara and Glo play significant parts in this book along with Glo's supposedly magic broom and enchanted Magic 8 Ball. There is an interesting new villain, Martin Ammon, who has some pretty funny moments in the book.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">This is a nice mix of fun and mild suspense with a touch of forbidden romance between Lizzie and Diesel. I hope the next book in the series comes in a much lesser span of time than this one.</span></span><br />
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Sharon Redfernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09814133108457972356noreply@blogger.com0