Second Chance Baby

Susan Meier
Book 2 of Babies in the Boardroom Series
Contemporary Romance

"If she ever met fate in person, she swore to God she was going to kick its butt."




Nick Andreas is in a bind.  He needs a new assistant - now - and the best qualified applicant just happens to be his ex-wife.  Never mind that they had been eighteen when they got married - and divorced.  Never mind that they hadn't seen each other in fifteen years.  This was still not going to be an easy situation.  But there was  no other choice, so they would have to find a way to get along.  When he first sees Maggie, she is beautiful, sexy - and pregnant.  Maggie hasn't had an easy fifteen years, but things are tight and she needs this job.  Putting aside her attraction for her ex, and the part of her heart that berates herself for leaving, they start to work together.  But as the past reveals itself, they might find there is a future for them after all.

My Opinion: True to form, this is another fun romance with the second of the Andreas brothers.  Nick is a full character with real feelings and concerns.  Maggie shows great personal growth and character throughout.  Their story is almost sad in background, but their current romance is sweet and fun.  You will stay on your toes with this one.  There was nice interplay with the other brothers which was nice, both old and new.  I really enjoyed being sucked into their story, worried about what would happen next and how it could all work out.  Definitely a good read.

I was given a free copy of this book to review.  No other compensation was given.  The summary and review are 100% my own.

Return to Three Creeks

Caron Todd
Contemporary Romance

"Like the Twilight Zone.  That couldn't be good.  The Twilight Zone never had a happy ending."




Liz hasn't been back to her hometown in fifteen years - not since that terrible time in her life.  And nothing short of her grandmother's request for help in packing up her house would drag her back.  But here she is, in Three Creeks once again.  Not much has changed - her family is still crazy, the town is still small and everything is haunted with memories.  Except for Jack McKinnon - her grandmother's new neighbor.  Jack is a bit of a mystery.  Besides being a newcomer with little known past, he is daring enough to try new crops in a town that doesn't take change well.  But the real danger comes from his previous life.  Can Liz and Jack overcome all that is between them, or will their pasts keep them apart?

My Opinion: This was a very well written book with some good lines and quips.  The romance is light but sweet.  More of the emotional side of the story seems to concentrate on Liz trying to deal with the past and memories of a tragedy that happened before she left the small town.  There is a large cast that involves half the small town and are sometimes a little hard to keep them straight.  The mystery of Jack's past kept the momentum and intrigue up, despite slow action that would otherwise exist.  Overall it's an interesting read and has some sweet moments and good family values.  The pumpkins on the front are perfect for this time of year (yeah, I'm kinda corny sometimes).

Note: You can buy the Kindle edition on Amazon.  If you want a print version, you will have to order it form Harlequin's website.

I received a free copy of this book for review.  No other compensation was given.  The summary and opinion are 100% my own.

What are YOU Reading? Thursday

This week's reader review is brought to us by Valerie Steimle.



Title: Identity
Author: Betsy Love
Genre: Christian, Contemporary
Format: Print




Was this book recommended to you?  If so, by whom?  If not, why did you pick it?
Yes, it was recommended by the author, Betsy Love.

Plot Summary
Two girls having the same identity in looks get on a plane returning from Mexico.  The plane goes down and one survives, the other one doesn't. The one who survies has amnesia and does not know who she is.

Valerie's Opinion
A very interesting situation and wonderful reading.  The story take lots of twits and turns as well as having a satisfying ending.


Thank you Valerie, this sounds like an intriguing book.  Please visit her site at: www.strengthenyourhome.com 


Have you read any good romances lately?  Click here to fill out the form and submit your review for our What Are YOU Reading? Feature.

CLOSED Giveaway!!! Monster Mash and Bash Hop!

Well, it's almost Halloween and I'm so excited to be part of A Book Lover's Dream's Monster Mash and Bash Giveaway!  Well, let's get down to business.....what can you win??  Author Rose Pressey has generously offered e-copies of her two books to the winner.

Click here for my review of No Shoes, No Shirt, No Spells

Click here for Amazon's information on Rock N Roll Is Undead

So how do you win?  It's easy!  Just use the Rafflecopter below.  There is only one mandatory entry.


Rules: Entrants must be 18 years or older. This giveaway is open internationally.  This contest will end at 11:59 CST on Oct 31, 2011. All entries must be submitted before then. The winner will be notified via email and have 48 hours to respond. If there is no response, a new winner will be chosen. 

Home in Hill Country

Roxanne Rustand
Contemporary Romance

"No Ranger with a 60mm  mortar could have done a better job of destroying his heart."




Kristen Cantrell never expected to find herself back in the town she spent her childhood in.  But the new Home Free program is an offer she can't refuse - a chance to start over with her son.  But the small town is full of rumors about her late father - rumors that she won't let rest.  Nor will her latent feelings for her college flame, Ryan Gallagher seem to stay buried.  Ryan hasn't been home since he joined the military.  But after a serious injury and an urgent letter from his brothers, he has come to help the family out of a crisis.  As they work together to re-make their lives, they just might decide to do it together.

My Opinion:  This was a fun and enjoyable book.  The characters, though it took a while to figure out their background, were fun and easy to relate to.  There wasn't a lot of depth to them, but they interacted well.  The romance was light but very sweet and fun.  Kristen is a sweet character, though a little weak in the will department.  Ryan was a good character with a strong character and good interactions.  However, the book did not conclude well - not saying a bad plot, I just felt unfulfilled when it was done - like there should have been a few more chapters to really end it.  Interesting book and definitely part of a series.

I received a free copy of this book to review.  No other compensation was given.  The summary and review are 100% my own.

Note: Kindle versions are available on amazon.  To purchase a print copy you must visit the Harlequin website.

What are YOU Reading? Thursday

Well, it's Thursday once again - time flies!!  Today's reader review is brought to us by Natalie Ross.



Title: To Finish The Dance
Author: Serena Casey
Genre: Contemporary
Format: E-Book




Was this book recommended to you?  If so, by whom?  If not, why did you pick it?
Yes it was, by the author.


Plot Summary
It's a story of lost love found again after 2 decades. The two main characters have never forgotten each other. The male character has been dumped by his current girlfriend because she knows he's still in love with the with this lost love, so she tells him he needs to go find her and gain closure, if nothing else. He thinks it's crazy but decides to go for it. They both battle with past demons that resurface, as well as other relationship issues and problems. And when they finally meet again and spend just a little bit of time together, they realize the passion and love is as strong as ever. When they are with each other, they feel as young as when they first fell in love. Finally, they conquer problems and push past fears and doubts, to unite as one in marriage.

Natalie's Opinion
I truly enjoyed it. Serena captures both characters emotions and thoughts very well. It's very descriptive and you truly feel how they feel. There was one part in the story where I found it hard to read, but it's because it's was simply too intense and close to home for me, not because of the way it was written or anything else against the author. I don't think this story could have been written any better! I've read my share of books, so I know when one isn't written well and when one has been written well. This book DEFINITELY fits into the category of books that have been written well and I will be buying it and reading it again!

Thanks Natalie, sounds like a good book.

Have you read any good romances lately?  Click here to fill out the form and submit your review for our What Are YOU Reading? Feature.

Fair Maiden

Cheri Schmidt
Historical Romance
Paranormal Romance

"Your cook made some pastries that had me dying to be alive again, just from the way others reacted."



Tessa doesn't know where she is.  Worse, she doesn't know who she is.  But apparently, she is a ghost.  A ghost trapped in a castle she doesn't recognize.  She can walk through walls, levitate objects and can't be seen by any of the servants.  Until Christian, Lord Kresley, arrives and is the only one who can see her.  Christian has never seen such a beautiful lady, nor encountered such a mystery.  As they endeavor to figure out who she is and what happened to her, they just may find that the past doesn't want to stay in the past.  And that their feelings for each other could lead them down a dangerous path indeed.

My Opinion: This was a fun book.  I'll admit it started out rather slow and could have done with more character development, but it was still good.  I enjoyed the mystery of Tessa and what had happened to her in the past.  The twists and turns keep you on your toes and anxious for a happily-ever-after.  Christian is a great character and by the end you really enjoy the role he finds himself in.  Tessa is a bit lacking in courage but is a sweet if slightly uninspiring girl - not that she wasn't written well, that's just her character.  Their romance is sweet and frustrated by their circumstances.  It was a fun book that I would recommend.

I was given a free copy of this book to review.  No other compensation was given.  The summary and opinion are 100% my own.

What Are YOU Reading? Thursday

Well, it's Thursday again.  My how time flies!  Today our reader review comes from Sophia Rose.



Title: Colonel Fitzwilliam's Correspondence
Author: D.W. Wilkin
Genre: Regency
Format: Print




Was this book recommended to you?  If so, by whom?  If not, why did you pick it?
I chose this book because I love Jane Austen and Jane Austen fanfiction.  And within that answer- more like a subpart, I like the character chosen to be the hero of the story.

Book Summary
Mr. Darcy of Pride and Prejudice fame is getting married and his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam is to stand up with him.  Colonel Fitzwilliam meets the members of Elizabeth's family and reacquaints himself with Bingley's family.  The Colonel likes the various family members and begins a correspondence with them that will take him through the Napoleonic Wars.  While the Colonel is away, Kitty Bennet (his most devoted correspondent) grows up and now is learning to survive as a young lady in London society with suitors.  Kitty is unaware that her dear correspondent has deeper feelings for her.  The Colonel must endure the hardships of war and to learn of Kitty's suitors and then he returns home an invalid with no real desire to do more than hide from society, family, and friends.  Kitty then becomes his nurse and cheerleader.  It comes down to the end to discover if she accepts the hand of her noble betrothed or learns to love the Colonel.

Sophia's Opinion

This author carries on this Pride and Prejudice sequel with Jane Austen's voice in his head I think.  The characters were well written, the plot was good, and it was also historically accurate.
It is not a light read for someone who wants a romantic comedy romp, but it is a quiet romance that has a light 'barely there' touch though is deep all the same.

Thank you Sophia!  This sounds like a fun read.

If you are interested in submitting your review of a clean romance, please click here.

Dangerous Favor

Joyce DiPastena
Book 4 of Series
Loyalty's Web, Illuminations of the Heart, (book 3 coming soon), Dangerous Favor
Medieval Romance

"Reassuring herself that something clever and amusing would pop into her mouth once she stood in his presence, she took three quick, determined steps towards the tent."


Etienne is at Lady Violette's tournament for two reasons - to help his friend Therri win the Lady's hand and to win the tournament and gain some independence with the forfeit money.  He does not expect to find himself involved with the enchanting Mathilde, a woman his friend nearly runs over at their first meeting.  Nor does he expect his attraction to her to entangle him in a plot against the young king and threaten his loyalties.  But he can't just walk away from the beautiful woman - a woman he can't afford to love or marry.  As things get more complicated and more dangerous, Etienne may find that he has to decide if love is there and if it is worth all costs.

My Opinion: DiPastena has done it again!  I can't get enough of this series.  The rich world of medieval France continues in it's tangled web of loyalties of love.  I was sucked in once again and simply couldn't put it down.  Building on two side characters in previous books, Etienne and Therri have their own adventures of finding love and testing priorities.  Their wonderful characters are complimented by Mathilde and Lady Violette.  Mathilde is a brave character that you just have to love.  She plays the damsel who, though in distress, is determined to try to help herself.  Lady Violette is slightly volitile but still a fun side character.  Mathilde and Etienne have a sweet romance that makes you smile and curl your toes.  Overall a great tale of romance and mystery - a great book in a fabulous series!

Please note, I received an Advanced Review Copy of this book.  It is scheduled to be released in January 2012.  I will add cover art and a link to purchase this book as soon as it is available.

I received a free copy of this book to review.  No other compensation was given.  The summary and opinion are 100% my own.

What are YOU Reading? Thursday

Sorry this is a little late - time just got away from me today.  Our reader review today is brought to us by Ranee' Clark.  




Title: A Proper Companion
Author: Candice Hern
Genre: Regency
Format: E-Book








Was this book recommended to you?  If so, by whom?  If not, why did you pick it?
This author was recommended to me by my mom!


Plot Summary
Emily Townsend is determined to serve her eccentric, rich mistress in dignity, while her eccentric, rich mistress is determined to find her beautiful companion a rich husband. And to make matters worse, the old lady's grandson discovers he's in love with Emily only after he's hastily engaged himself to someone else.


Ranee's Opinion
Basically Belieavable?: ****
Okay, I'll admit it; it's probably nigh impossible to earn five stars with me on believability. Ms. Hern knows regency. In fact, I didn't give her five stars only because it's a bit too believable. Too believable, you say. How can it be too believable? The story goes into too much detail, and perhaps I don't read enough regency romance--no, that can't be true--but many of the descriptions simply lost me and slowed down the story. And as with any good story worth reading, I was engrossed enough to only notice one or two times when the characters slipped out of their otherwise thoroughly regency speech.
Charismatic Characters: *****
I adore romance heroines who don't fall to tears every thirty seconds, and especially ones who don't lap up the obvious "havey-cavey" advances of dirty villains just for a good twist in the story. Emily is definitely good for that. And although Lady Bradleigh's roguish grandson Robert is your typical reformed rake, he's still so well done that it hardly manners. And Lady Bradleigh herself is just a jewel, even if a bit stereotypical herself.
Yay or Yuck? (The Final Word): ***
On one hand there's far, far too much telling. On the other hand, it's still worth reading. One of the issues is that in too many cases, Emily or Robert recount scenes after they've happened, as they're sitting in their bedroom after ball or while one of them stares at the other across the room. In addition, the story didn't really get rolling until just over halfway through. Big chunks of the beginning, while Emily, Lady Bradleigh, and Robert are in Bath, could definitely be cut, as well as scenes where either Emily or Robert recount a scene from their point of view that we've already seen from the other point of view. However, if you like regency romance, you will like this story. I certainly did!
A Cautionary Tale: This is definitely a sweet romance, but there are a couple mere moments of "spice."


Please visit Ranee's site at: http://raneesclark.blogspot.com

If you are interested in sharing your reviews of clean romance books, please fill out the form here.

FREE E-Book!!!

For those of you who wanted to win a copy of Kiss Me, I'm Irish by Bella Street, here's your bonus chance to get a copy of this great book!  Author Bella Street is offering a free e-book copy to my readers who want it!  Just use the coupon on Smashwords and download it in your choice of format!  How wonderful is that??

Just click on this link:  Kiss Me, I'm Irish
Then add it to your cart.
Fill in the following coupon code:  NW26K 
Then check-out and pick your format to download!  


That's it!  This coupon is good through 11/1/2011.

Elusive Echoes

Kay Springsteen
Book 2 of Echoes Series
Contemporary
E-Book


"Sometimes he made her feel like someone’s vanilla-cream little sister."


Sean McGee is back for his own adventure with love.  In fact, Sean's been in love with Melanie since they were children.  But ever since Melanie returned to Orson's Folly, she's been different - and focused more on their physical relationship and not the emotional side.  But Sean wants all or nothing, not realizing just how far his love might be tested to get what he wants.  Melanie is scared of who she was when she was away from her hometown.  She isn't proud of that time of her life - and knows that if the truth came out, Sean would never see her the same way again.  But what happens when her past won't stay in the past?  Can their love withstand anything?

My Opinion:  This was a really good book.  It started off a little slower, but took a great turn and ended up being a wonderfully written and exciting book.  Emotions ran the gamut and pulled you into the story of Orson's Folly once again.  Melanie is a great and stable character who you understand and can relate to.  Sean, though sometimes a little stubborn, is a strong character who is kind and sweet.  The side characters are once again really fun and flush out the story.  Well written and fun, you don't want to miss this one.  I must say that this is a little more heated than many others I review - nothing explicit, but I may not recommend it to a teenager nonetheless.

I received a free copy of this book to review.  No other compensation was given.  The summary and review are 100% my own.

October Means Halloween

With October upon us, I always get in the mood for some Halloween fun.  I love all the decorations and costumes.  Not that I'm into watching thrasher movies and such, but I do like a little magic and paranormal -ness of the season.  With that in mind, I thought I'd make out a list of some of the paranormal romances that I have reviewed.  So go on, pick one up and enjoy the romance that can happen when things aren't always what they seem!

Twilight Series - Young Adult books.  4 book series.  Involving vampires and werewolves.

The Ruby Ghost - Regency romance.  Book 2 in series.  Involves ghosts.

Legacies of Bubalo: The Blood Red Rose - Young Adult Fanasy.  Short book.  Involving vampires.

Marina's Tales Series - Young Adult books.  3 book series.  E-books.  Involve mermaids.

Matching Wits with Venus - Contemporary.  E-book.  Involves classic gods and goddesses.

Spellbound - Young Adult Book.  1st in a possible series.  Involving witches and curses.

Every Last Kiss - Young Adult.  Book 1 in series.  Involving time travel and mystical beings.

No Shoes, No Shirts, No Spells - Contemporary.  Involving magic.


What are your favorite Halloween or paranormal books??

October Sponsors

It’s October and time for a new set of sponsors!  This month we are privileged to have six amazing authors joining us.  Here’s a little bit about them, and be sure to click on their links to check them out.

First, we have a returning sponsor, Bonnie Blythe. She has written 7 clean Christian romance novels that have won many awards. Her titles include: Milagro for Miranda, Claire's No-So-Gothic Romance, How Sweet It Is, Restorations, Texas Whirlwind, Dearly Loved and Melody's Knight. They are all available in print and e-book versions!  

Next is Roseanne E. Wilkins and her book, Tangled Hearts.  Serra Lanning, was as the Chaste Mormon Model Kara Kukaanei. She is living a lonely life. When her sister Brooke shows up with her son in tow and asks Serra to watch him while she and her husband go on vacation to France, Serra's whole life is turned upside down. Serra's decision to hide from Brooke's in-law's create problems she doesn't anticipate. When the tires to her new SUV are slashed, she knows she has more to fear than having her nephew taken.

Another new sponsor is Ginger Hansen.  Ginger has published 3 clean romance novels….so far.  This month we are featuring her book entitled Ellie’s Song, the story of a shy music artist who is in love with a country music star – but not with the limelight he lives in.

Our fourth sponsor is Linda Hope Lee.  She writes contemporary, romantic suspense, and mystery novels.   This month we will feature her book, Treasures of the Heart.  This novel is develops as about-to-be-engaged Rachel Taylor's life is turned upside down when an old boyfriend returns to town. 

We are also featuring another book by Linda Hope Lee, entitled Finding Sara.  On the run to avoid marrying a man she does not love, Long Island heiress Sara Carleton boards a train heading to the West Coast. Fate intervenes when she is mugged during a stop at Red Rock, Colorado.

And finally, our sixth sponsor is Meg Mims, author of Double Crossing.  For my review of this historical romance, please click here.  A wonderfully adventurous read set just after the Civil War with mystery, daring and a near cross-country train ride.

Thank you to all my wonderful sponsors this month.  If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, space is still on sale for $5 a month!  Please click here for details and more information.