Synopsis

Brody is a Navy SEAL who comes home after two years on a top-secret assignment. He is ready to be home, but the unfinished business of the mission causes him to worry that his family may be in danger.

At 21 years old, Devyn, was married and mother of twin 2 week old preemie girls when Brody left for deployment. Now that he has returned home, she has to figure out if she is still in love with him or in love with the idea of him.

Opinion

This was one of the more somber, serious romances that I have read in a long time. It is a military romance that does not glamorize what being married to a SEAL in active duty must feel like. While I do not usually prefer books told in the first person, this one works well because I felt like Brody and Devyn were telling me their story.

The young couple is dealing with several issues

Two year separation
Being parents as a couple
Post-traumatic stress

Brody has secrets from the mission that torment him but he cannot reveal what is worrying him. Devyn worries that his reticent behavior means that he does not love her as he used to do.

“What if…he came back different and didn’t love me anymore?” Devyn

It is some consolation that it is obvious to the reader that they still love each other.

“She owned my soul since the first moment I saw her.” Brody

“His kiss sent a relentless ache though straight to my core.” Devyn

However, it is difficult for them to verbalize their insecurities to each other. As a reader, I wanted them to openly communicate but I understood what was holding them back since these were not trivial issues. While the physical aspect of their relationship never lost its heat, the misinterpretation of nonverbal cues from the other person caused additional distress.

Should you buy? Yes. There is action and suspense, but the book’s main focus is the dynamic of a military couple who have to figure how to save their marriage. They learn how to reconnect and re-calibrate their relationship.

Book details from Goodreads
ebook, 250 pages
Published March 24th 2014 by Soaring Phoenix Press
series Lucky Thirteen #1

Available on Amazon

J is for Just Joe #atozchallenge #ABCofRomance @AprilA2Z

Apr10

Just Joe (Harlequin More Than Words) ♥♥♥

Synopsis

Stacy is the executive director of a charity called Bounties from the Garden. She is trying to keep her charity financially healthy to allow her to serve the community and grow the program. Times have been hard, so she is participating in a dance competition to try to win the top monetary prize.

Joe is a realtor and volunteer at Bounties from the Garden. Over time, he realizes that he is falling for Stacy.

The book is inspired by real life heroines.

Opinion

For most of the book, the romance is extremely one-sided in the sense that Joe is only one that is open to the idea of them being in a relationship.

“I knew that kissing you would be magic.” Joe

Stacy, on the other hand, is very resistant. She does not have time for romance. She has decided, before she even knew Joe, that she does not want to be in a relationship with him. When he first asked her to dinner, she bluntly told him that she does not date.

I volunteer at a few non-profits in my area and know that it takes a special kind of person to be the executive director of a charitable organization. They have to be doing it for the love of serving others and they need to be passionate about the organization’s mission. For those reasons, I gave Stacy a lot of leeway in her behavior and attitude.

Stacy has had some bad relationship experiences in the past and this causes her to be prickly and bitter. She was not a man-hater, but lacked trust in any man’s ability to stay around. Fear of rejection causes Stacy to lash out repeatedly and in the end she almost ruined her chance at happiness.

Joe has had his share of tragedy in his life as well. In contrast to Stacy, he was more positive and learned that life is precious. He has adjusted his priorities and concentrates on what is most important in life. He sees past Stacy’s cantankerous behavior and focuses on her good qualities.

“I like the way your hair sparkles in the sunshine.” Joe

Should you buy? Sure, especially if you want a clean romance. Once you get past being so snappy and irritable, the story is actually kind of heartwarming. I like the fact that the story is inspired by true life heroines. Bravo Harlequin!

Book details from Goodreads
Kindle Edition, 67 pages
Published April 1st 2013 by Harlequin Special Releases
series Harlequin More Than Words
Available on Amazon

I is for “In the…” #atozchallenge #ABCofRomance @AprilA2Z

Apr10

In the Doctor’s Bed (Harlequin Kimani Romance\Hopewell Genera) ♥ ♥ ♥

After reading Hidden Pleasures a few years back, I had to read another Brenda Jackson novel to make sure that other book was a one off. In the Doctor’s Bed embodies what I am used to reading from Brenda Jackson.

Synopsis

Lucien is a doctor and Jocelyn is an intern reporting to him. The hospital has a very strict fraternizing policy that could cost them both their jobs if they are discovered to be in a relationship. Once it is revealed that the attraction each one of them has is not one-sided, the heat is on. Lucien is a sexy Jamaican (I could imagine his sultry accent). Fine chocolate men are one of my weaknesses 🙂

Opinion

I like the fact that they got to know each other during the months that they were concealing their true feelings for one another. So when they finally declared their love for one another, it was not as if they went from being strangers to madly in love with each other in less than a week. Once they acknowledge what they felt for each other, it was like a ball rolling downhill. There was no force that could keep them apart. How romantic!

I can imagine the heat and intensity of the relationship. Understanding the frustration of having to balance the need to keep it secret and wanting to celebrate their love openly. Fortunately for them, all things end well.

Happily ever after.

Book details from Goodreads
Mass Market Paperback, 216 pages
Published July 19th 2011 by Harlequin Kimani (first published January 1st 2011)
Available on Amazon
Series Hopewell General

H is for Harlequin Holiday #a2zchallenge #ABCofRomance @AprilA2Z

Apr9

Harlequin Holiday Collection: Four Classic Seasonal Novellas: And a Dead Guy in a Pear Tree\Seduced by the Season\Evidence of Desire\Season of Wonder ♥♥♥

Synopsis

Four seasonal novellas

And a Dead Guy in a Pear Tree- Holly owns a bed and breakfast. She finds a dead guy in the Christmas tree she bought. Zach is a reporter. She needs to keep him from finding out about the dead guy because that could mean bad publicity for her inn.

Seduced by the season – Sophie is a waitress in Dublin. Clint is a FBI agent investigating an international art theft ring.

Evidence of Desire – Olivia is a scientist working at a crime lab and unfortunately for her, she has a stalker. Jacob works at the same lab and is attracted to her but does not want to act on it because he thinks she is too young.

Season of Wonder – Allison is a divorcee with a daughter suffering from health problems. She is disillusioned when it comes to love because she had a nasty divorce. David is a childhood friend who is happy Allison is back in his life.

Opinion

As most novellas are, these were short on length and substance. Fluff romances. All but Season of Wonder had elements of suspense. I think that Season of Wonder seemed like a Christian romance and out of place after reading the first three.

In “And a Dead Guy in a Pear Tree”, Holly’s grandparents brought a lot of humor to the story which made it the most interesting of the lot.

“Seduced by the season” is an insta-romance story because they fell in love so quickly.

“Evidence of Desire” had the most suspense, but Jacob was too weird to me. I do not understand how Olivia was attracted to him.

Should you buy? I suggest buying if it is on sale. It is light romance. None of the stories are particularly outstanding. All are short stories to pass the time. The characters are not so annoying that I have any strong feelings one way or the other.

Book Details from Goodreads
Kindle Edition, 485 pages
Published (first published January 1st 2011)
Available on Amazon

G is for Going #atozchallenge #ABCofRomance @AprilA2Z

Apr8

Going Down (Holding Out For a Hero Book 1) ♥♥

Synopsis
Eleanor (Ellie) is from Chicago but is hiding in Oregon from her drug trafficking ex-boyfriend and the dirty cop making threats against her life.

Tyson is the sheriff in the small town in Oregon where Eleanor ends up staying. He is attracted to her but is suspicious because her story does not add it.

Opinion
The story was okay. The trope girl-on-run-falls-for-law-enforcement was overdone. Maybe I am jaded because I read a lot of books, but there was nothing new.

Tyson is so intrigued by her secrets that he cannot keep his hands out of her pants…

This turns to love a few days later.

It is funny to me that in these types of books, the policeman is so sure of his judgement of the heroine’s character. The girl is acting suspiciously and her story seems like she invented on the spot.

Dude, you are blinded by lust.

Another thing, I did not like Tyson. He was supposed to be the law-abiding man who could get kinky with his lady. I do not mind kink, but something about his character put me off, like he was too grimy for my taste. I actually read the book twice because I was trying to identify what exactly it was that I did not like about him. Logically, it would seem that I should have liked him especially when he said stuff like:

“I can go from vanilla to red velvet in under ten seconds.” -Tyson

Maybe it was the insta-love. After 1 day, he is already taking her to meet his family?

Should you buy? If you can get it on sale, it is not terribly bad. It is a time filler but do not expect too much in relationship development. If you like the girl-on-run-falls-for-law-enforcement trope, then this will appeal to you. The love scenes were (to borrow Tyson’s expression) more red velvet than vanilla. That might appeal to you.

Book details from Goodreads
Kindle Edition, 105 pages
Published July 20th 2010 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd. (first published July 17th 2010)
Series Holding Out for A Hero #1

Available on Amazon