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A Wedding in Springtime by Amanda Forester-a review

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A Wedding In Springtime by Amanda Forester-a review

a wedding in springtime

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Barnes and Noble/ The Book Depository

DESCRIPTION-Release Date May 7, 2013

Five minutes into Miss Eugenia Talbot’s presentation at court, notorious rogue Mr. William Grant made her laugh, ruining her debut. To hush up the scandal, Eugenia’s aunt hires a matchmaker to quickly find a suitor— anyone except the infamous William Grant—to help restore Eugenia’s reputation. But amiable Eugenia shows a disturbing tendency to follow her heart, and is again caught in the company of notorious Grant. When a traitor creeps closer, threatening to ruin more than just Eugenia’s reputation, her kindheartedness may be her ultimate undoing

REVIEW

5 out of 5 for this reader folks!

WELCOME to London England 1810 where manners and the way one carry themselves and/or places oneself in a public position could determine whether one is ruined or successful. Welcome to the regency romance genre!

“Ten minutes into her societal debut, Eugenia Talbot was ruined.”

I do love a book that begins with a good ruining don’t you?? LOL

A Wedding in Springtime by author Amanda Forester was CREATIVE and a multi-layered read! This author had so many sub-plots circling around the main plot that I feared at first it was going to get confusing and take away from the main story! Let me tell you something .. Amanda Forester has a talent for knitting all these sub-stories together to make the main story that much more exciting! I have read many historical romances and most follow a simple formula. Amanda Forester has completely ignored this formula and walked down a different path! It made her book stand out and I often was wondering if I was reading a romance or a mystery! In my opinion …. BOTH! 🙂

Our main character is Eugenia Talbot. Genie is the product of a scandal when her mother ran away from her privileged life and married a commoner. Now it is up to Genie to salvage the family name (she has been hosted by her stuck up aunt) and enter society as a respectable lady! Well about 5 minutes into her debut she loses her sense of “respectability” by laughing at the wrong moment in front of the wrong person. I tell you I was chuckling right from the start as her reason for ruin is HILARIOUS!

A large factor of her ruined societal debut has to do with a “good rake” (there is a full explanation of a good vs bad rake in this book ..lol) who encourages this laughter and adds to Genie’s demise. Mr William Grant. Grant is a devilishly handsome young man who embraces all the riches and indulgences of life and refuses to ever consider the sanctity of marriage. He would much rather frolic through his stages of life carefree and he ensures that this is common knowledge among the ton.

To ensure that Genie does in fact become married soonest to salvage what little reputation she has left, her stuck up aunt covets the advice of a dowager duchess (one who’s grandson just so happens to be betrothed to her daughter) and so begins the search for a proper suitor. During all this, a friendship and strong attraction is developing between Genie and Grant. I will not elaborate from there as I do not want to provide any major spoilers!

With the backdrop of Napoleon warring with England, many secrets, letters, codes and villians revealed, romances and the typical gossip of the ton, this story is a page turner. The cast of characters (believe me there are so many that I could go on and on) are so interesting that you cannot wait for more and hope that in the next book you get to meet them again. The wit and banter that Amanda Forester uses in conversation between her characters had me laughing out loud. The mystery and suspense she tangles in with the romance was like a cherry on a sundae!

I am so looking forward to her next book! 🙂

ARC from Netgallery was provided for an honest review.

Reviewed by Rachel

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Bound With Pearls by Sidney Bristol- a review

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Bound With Pearls by Sidney Bristol-a review

Bound with Pearls

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Barnes and Noble / KOBO

DESCRIPTION-Release Date December 2012

The last thing Christine wants to do is another favor for her sister, but Lucy always gets what she wants. This time it’s Chris playing sub to a demanding Dom. Their relationship begins with a power exchange and progresses to time spent between the sheets. Now emotions are getting complicated and the Dom isn’t just a hunky guy in black.

Daniel’s expectations are turned upside down when he meets Chris. She’s more than a well-trained submissive. She’s a woman with a body he wants to memorize. He’s willing to spend as much time as it takes to learn her, because she might be his match and his muse. He’ll make her come so hard he’s imprinted on every inch, and then he’ll offer her the most precious thing he can, himself.

REVIEW

5 out of 5 for this reader folks!

What a HOT, SMEXY SMEXY, WILD read! (*Fanning Myself*)

So before I begin this review I have a secret to reveal! I LOVE me a hot smut filled book. However if you add great characters and a great story then I LOVE LOVE LOVE me a hot smut filled book. This was a LOVE LOVE LOVE! LOL

Bound with Pearls written by Sidney Bristol is all about the formation of a dom/sub relationship and the many (did I mention MANY) emotions that are explored during this formation.

This book is not for the easily offended. There are extreme sexual scenarios that are played out and extreme language used. This is a dirty, gritty and sexy book that exploits many common and not so common (pass the ginger …lol) sides of the dom/sub relationship.

Now that I have armed you a little .. let me “de-arm” you! This story for a BDSM book was FUN and much less intense than many books in the BDSM genre that I have read! While some scenes were intense, there was so much blooming within the forming relationship that it didn’t feel “heavy”! Don’t get me wrong, all emotions were felt but I never went to a dark ugly place. Not sure if that makes sense but it’s the best way I can explain it! LOL

So our submissive’s name is Christine. Christine is an unattached submissive that had adopted the lifestyle many years ago and was well trained by a previous dom. After being begged by her horrible, spoiled brat bitchy sister Lucy, to please fill in as a sub (bitchy sister’s dom lost a poker game and bet the use of his sub to another dom … DUDE REALLY???) on her behalf, Christine agrees to spend one night with the winning poker game dom named Daniel.

Seeing as neither Christine nor Daniel know each other (either by rep or by looks) this makes for a very uncomfortable situation and both are NOT looking forward to this “play session”! Well aren’t they pleasantly surprised when they are clearly not only attracted to each other but they also “fit” together. I had to chuckle when Christine suddenly wanted to take back many of her “limits” and go all the way. I also melted a little when Daniel said NO and refused to take advantage because the .. er… um …. did it just got really hot in here!? LOL

From this one night, these two decide to see each other again and again, and trust builds between them (that’s pretty great considering a dom/sun relationship REQUIRES that)! Tenderness like you can never imagine, and serious boundaries are crossed! Limits are pushed. I found while I was getting angry I was completely smitten as well.

Loved this blurb and it paints the perfect picture.

“Any man could get her off, but she needed him. Their connection, the chemistry wasn’t something easily found.”

This is a shorter book and I hate giving anything away, so I will leave this review at that! I really truly loved this book and I was fulfilled in all aspects that I have learned to expect and appreciate when reading a BDSM story. I believed in this relationship and I was cheering them on throughout their journey to each other!

I have to comment quickly on this books cover! IT’S BEAUTIFUL! You understand why the title was named what it was, and the model is exactly how I pictured Christine. This is BDSM in it’s sexiest! 🙂

As I do for many of my reviews, let me leave you with a yummy blurb of a breakfast tied up…. that made me …er… um…. yup it’s definitely hot in here .. WINK!

“You aren’t in trouble.”

She hurriedly chewed and swallowed. “I’m not?”

He chuckled. “Nope.” One side of his mouth kicked up in a lopsided smile, giving him a boyish look.

“Then, why …” Her voice trailed off as he pressed another bite of pancake to her lips.

“Why did I tie you up?” he filled in for her. “Because I like you tied down and at my mercy.”

Yes Sir Daniel .. SIGH! LOL

Copy supplied by the author

Reviewed by Rachel

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Abbey Road by Ophelia London – a Review

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Abbey Road by Ophelia London – a Review

abbey road

Links to order Abbey Road: Amazon / Barnes & Noble

DESCRIPTION:
Touted by the tabloids as the biggest rock star of our generation, Abigail Kelly is used to being in the spotlight. But beyond the glam of Hollywood, her world is falling apart. Still reeling from the death of her brother and wilting under the iron fist of Max, her manager, Abby banishes herself to the secluded beaches of Florida for the summer, thinking some anonymity and sunshine are just what she needs. What she finds, instead, is Todd, an ex-marine eager to embrace life after war. Together, Abby and Todd find the balance Abby’s life has been missing. 

That is, until Max resurfaces, demanding Abby return to Los Angeles to record her band’s newest album. As the pressures of public appearances, paparazzi, and late-night recordings start to mount, Abby will have to risk everything or lose the life she always dreamed of.

Ophelia London’s ABBY ROAD is a love letter to music—both the kind you cherish and the kind you create—as well as a beautiful love story that proves even when everyone in the world can recognize your face, the only people who matter are those who can see inside your heart.

REVIEW

5 out of 5 for this reader folks!

“How does it feel, Abby?  To know you killed your own brother?”

I read that in the prologue of Abbey Road by Ophelia London!  YUP .. that got my attention!  Actually this was one of those books I couldn’t put down!  It flowed!  So without going into too much detail and spoiling anything for you, I will give you a little something something of this fabo book!

Meet Abigail Kelly!  Lead singer to rock star band Mustang Sally, pink loving, blond, bad-ass, sassy and has it all going on rock star!  Now meet Abby!  Tired, broken, grief stricken, pushed over, confused, brown loving, artist.  Guess what??  These two are the same person.  Can you imagine what it feels like to have yourself split in two?  To be one person in front of an audience and press, to have the burden of so many people’s careers on your shoulders, but to be so self depreciating and shamefully broken on the inside?  YAH .. that sucks!

Meet Todd Camford!  Yummy hottie, ex-Marine, business major, beach bum, fishing, fun loving with a sharp temper is he cares, been heart broken  (but managing) and knows what he wants in life.  He’s kinda Mr. Perfect and Abby’s salvation.  She just doesn’t know it yet!

Meet Max who cares what his last name is… JERK manager with serious control issues! Every story needs an antagonist.  

I have to say, this book got right to the core of my heart.    I love a good romance and if it has lots of smut even better!  Here’s the thing though.  THIS HAD NONE (aside from serious hot kissing)  and it’s a 5 star in my opinion.  The characters and story line were so well written that I had no need for smut filling.  This is a exceptional love at first sight story. Plain and simple!  

“This guy, this man I’d known for two short days, who named his dog after a member of the Rat Pack, whose sisters nicknamed him Pockets, who’d been lost in the Andes for eighteen hours, who loved Frank Sinatra, Dr Pepper, and the Marines, he was the only person who allowed me to unload one suitcase of personal baggage, one corner of repressed feelings – all with no judgment and no blame.  Nothing but his calming presence.”

SWOON WORTHY RIGHT?

Abby does a lot of discovery and changing in this book and while much of it is in direct relation to having Todd in her life, it was very liberating to read a character who really comes into her own … on her own.  Todd has to make some tough decisions to get Abby back on track, but he does it out of love.   Let’s forgive him okay???  WINK

I would have liked to have read more back story on Todd as opposed to just casual conversation snippets of his life.  There were some minor details given, but I think this character had more to him than was given.  Don’t get me wrong, he is easy to connect with, but I would of loved to understand some of his more intense personality traits and why they are there.

So … through a journey of small town Florida, to the hectic “go go go” of LA rock star life you are bound to get wrapped up in these two!  If you happen to appreciate funny friendly banter, modern life references (like Mr Big, Tom Hanks and that Angelina lady) and ANYTHING BEATLES than go out and snag this book!  I have a feeling that Ophelia London is going to be an author I am personally going to be watching out for.

I will leave you with a snippet, just cause it made me chuckle and put MISS ROCK STAR in her simple humble place (which by the way she accepts wholeheartedly)!

Todd leaned forward.  “What were you doing a year ago, Abby?”

“One year ago I was on my way to England,” I began without having to think, “Five shows in five days in five cities.  Then Europe.  Then Asia.”  I folded my arms.  “Top that.”

“I was climbing Everest.”

OUCH!  LOL

Reviewed by Rachel T.

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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Speaking of Love by Ophelia London – a Review

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Speaking of Love by Ophelia London – a Review

speaking of loveLinks to order Speaking of Love: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

Description:
Speech teacher and successful matchmaker Mackenzie Simms decides to find a woman for her friend, handsome newspaper tycoon Rick Duffy. Though they’ve been each other’s go-to dates for the past month, Mac and Rick couldn’t be more different: she is outspoken, sarcastic, and completely loathes his privileged lifestyle. He’s laid-back, unassuming, and seems comfortable at an upper-class charity function. So why can’t she stop thinking about him?

Rick knows he and the opinionated-though-adorable Mackenzie are better off as friends, so he agrees to the double-date getaway Mac plans at his family cabin. But seeing Mac cuddle up with her “friendly” date rankles Rick beyond reason, and Mac regrets her matchmaking scheme the minute she sees the way her beauty-queen cousin looks at Rick. Can Mac ‘fess up to what’s really in her heart, when speaking her mind puts everything at risk?

 Review:

4 out of 5 for this reader folks!

Simple formula for this read!  Almost lovers, friends, lovers!  You know, the kind of relationship that is made to last!

Speaking of Love was another wonderful SWEET love story by Ophelia London.  It is the second book of her Perfect Kisses series and it certainly did not let me down!  I have discovered that Ophelia London has a great style.  This is the third book of hers I have read, and she is brilliant at sarcastic, quick wit, amazing chemistry between her hero and heroine, including modern day references and just making me believe that love could really be this BEAUTIFUL!

Now .. let’s get to some of the nitty gritty shall we??

We first met Mackenzie Simms (but you better call her Mac and most definitely not BABE, or she’ll go postal all over you) in the first book of this series called Playing at Love.  Mac is my kind of girl!  By profession she is a speech/debate teacher at the local high school and by nature she is outspoken, for sure set in her ways, stubborn, very quick witted, matchmaker to her friends and REALLY REALLY easy to like.  She fights for what she believes in and will go a million miles to help those she loves.

We also met Rick Duffy in Playing for Love.  Rick is a reporter who actually owns the local paper.   He is also a bit of an oxymoron (although it takes Mac forever to figure this out .. silly girl).  Rick comes from a rich pompous family but he truely doesn’t embrace the posh lifestyle that he was born into.  While Rick loves a fancy car and suit, carries himself with much class and is well mannered, he can wear a fine pair of jeans and plaid shirt, drive an old four wheeler, and get dog slobbered with the best of them.

These two .. COMPLETE OPPOSITES!  (Pssstt .. good thing we know that opposites tend to attract right??  LOL)

Mac and Rick tried the whole “let’s get hot and heavy” when they first met and I think it may have gone well, until Mac found out that Rick came from money and is the son of the man who was responsible for essentially ruining Mac’s parents marriage.  Unfortunately our speech professional cannot seem to find the words to tell Rick this small tidbit of information, so they each embrace the “friendship” aspect of their relationship instead and carry on.

I, at times got really frustrated with these two.   I am such “spit it out and say what you mean” kind of personality that I found I rolled my eyes at some of their ignorance towards each other and jumping to negative assumptions right away.  Now of course let’s be honest here .. without any of that this book would not flowed nor had any build up.  WINK!

Somehow through the maze of  setting up her beauty queen cousin with Rick, fighting off an ape-man, constant heat filled banter, mutual attraction, truck catastrophe, snowstorm with serious sexy moments, squirrel fighting and a kick ass demonstration in a small town these two do finally figure it out!  

A great read and I do strongly recommend you read the first book in this series as the characters are introduced and you get a good feel for their personalities and the intrigue of “where is this going”????  That being said, you can read this as a stand alone very comfortably.

I want to finish this review with a flirty moments between Mac and Rick.  

“And anyways, there is still no better song for house cleaning than “I Want Your Sex.”

“Really?” Rick turned to her again, one eyebrow lifted.  “next time you come over to my house, I’ll play it for you.”  The way he was smiling made Mac’s heart hiccup.  “My floors could use a good deep clean.” 

I have to try that .. LOL

Reviewed by Rachel T.

Copy provided by Publisher

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