Category Archives: Realistic

July 22, 2011 · 7:33 am

The Bride (Lairds’ Fiancees, #1) by Julie Garwood

By edict of the King, the mighty Scottish laird Alec Kincaid must take an English bride. His choice was Jamie, youngest daughter of Baron Jamison . . . a feisty, violet-eyed beauty. Alec ached to touch her, to tame her, to possess her. . . forever. But Jamie vowed never to surrender to this Highland barbarian.

He was everything her heart warned against–an arrogant scoundrel whose rough good looks spoke of savage pleasures. And though Kincaid’s scorching kisses fired her blood, she brazenly resisted him… until one rapturous moment quelled their clash of wills, and something far more dangerous than desire threatened to conquer her senses…

This is the first book I ever read by Julie Garwood back when it was originally published in 1989. I reread it every year or so and it is still my favorite of all her books. And I have them all. She has been on autobuy since I read The Bride.

The publisher’s blurb does not do this book justice. The best parts of the book are the funny scenes which come constantly. The Kincaid knows how a wife is supposed to behave and Jaime (the fact that she has a man’s name is a running joke) does not follow his preconceptions. She thinks his ideas are crazy and he knows hers are.

Shoot, I may have to pick it up and read it all over again!

All of Julie Garwood’s early historicals are wonderful. I don’t like her contemporary suspense books as much, although I do still read them. I keep hoping she’ll pick up her old style.

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Filed under Historical, Humor, Realistic, Romance

July 5, 2011 · 3:44 am

Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts by Mitzi Szereto

Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts by Mitzi Szereto
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Title: Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts*
Author: Mitzi Szereto
Series:N/A
Genre: Erotic Romance
Publisher: Cleis Press
Format: paperback & digital ebook
Date/Year: July 5, 2011
Reviewed by: ElaineReads

*This book was provided to the reviewer by the author for review

Summary from the publisher:

Imagine that Jane Austen had written the opening line of her satirical novel Pride and Prejudice this way: “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a good romp and a good wife—although not necessarily from the same person or from the opposite sex.” In Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts, the entire cast of characters from Austen’s classic is here, caught with their breeches unbuttoned and their skirts raised high in this rewrite that goes all the way – and then some! Mr. Darcy has never been more devilish and the seemingly chaste Elizabeth never more turned on.

In this no-holds-barred account, men are not necessarily the only dominating sex. This time Mr. Bingley and his sister both have designs on Mr. Darcy’s manhood; Elizabeth’s bff Charlotte marries their family’s strange relation, discovering that her husband’s pious nature extends to worship of a different sort; and, in this telling, Lady Catherine de Bourgh takes the disciplining of those in the parish very seriously. As for the handsome Mr. Wickham, he’s wickeder than ever! And of course there’s plenty of good old-fashioned bodice ripping that shows no pride or prejudice and reveals hot hidden lusts in every scandalous page-turning chapter. This is the book Jane Austen would have written, if only she’d had the nerve!

My Musings:

The original Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is a favorite of mine, so I was a little nervous about reading this book. However, I was very impressed that the author was able to maintain the “flavor” of Austen’s writing even though the content was quite obviously added. There was no delineation between the original book and the new content. It flowed beautifully.

The sex scenes were inserted naturally and very well done. Some of the dialogue was comical, but it was meant to be so. For example, Lady Caroline’s attempts to seduce Mr. Darcy and his attempts to ignore her seduction were hysterical. Should I mention Lady Caroline’s fascination with “birching?”

Lydia’s interest in sex in all its forms was wonderfully described. If it would hold still long enough for her to rub against it, she would. That includes pieces of furniture, men’s thighs, or other more interesting parts of the anatomy. Is it any wonder she ends up with the villain of the book?

Do I find the general acceptance of all this raunchy behavior believable for the time period? No, but I enjoyed it immensely anyhow. I think we all expect our predecessors to be a little more circumspect than they actually were. After all, we think we’re the modern ones.

Ratings:

Overall: 5 stars
Sensuality level: 5

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Filed under Erotica, Historical, Humor, Realistic, Regency, Romance

June 21, 2011 · 10:30 pm

Smokin’ Seventeen by Janet Evanovich

Where there’s smoke there’s fire, and no one knows this better than New Jersey bounty hunter, Stephanie Plum. The bail bonds office has burned to the ground, and bodies are turning up in the empty construction lot. To make matters worse, Stephanie is working out of a motor home she shares with a dancing bear, and Joe Morelli’s old world grandmother has declared a vendetta against her. And just when Stephanie decides it might be time to choose between the two men in her life, Morelli and Ranger, a third man from Stephanie’s past moves back to Trenton…

Okay, I read this one straight through and I am already wanting Explosive Eighteen which will be released in November. Of course, that is nothing new. I always want the next book right away.

Stephanie’s relationships with Ranger AND Joe are heating up and I have no idea where this is going. For the longest time, Stephanie was in love with Joe and in lust with Ranger. Now, she is in love with both of them. It was obvious this was the way things were going in the last book, but it is a major plot point now.

There are interweaving storylines and people trying to kill Stephanie . . . or is she just in the wrong place at the wrong time? This is Stephanie after all.

I am really glad we don’t have to wait the normal year for the next book!

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Filed under Contemporary, Humor, Mystery, Realistic, Romance

June 21, 2011 · 3:40 am

Dangerous Desire by Diane Escalera

Dangerous Desire by Diane Escalera
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When I first started this book, I was concerned I would not be able to finish it. I am an animal lover and dog fighting is part of the plot line. Fortunately, it is not too graphic in that area and definitely represents the evils of the “sport.”

The sex, however, is graphic . . . and hot. There is a plot to the story, so it is not just one sex scene after another. I particularly enjoyed the scenes where Sienna tries to check Cruz out without him noticing. It never seemed to work. Whenever, she looked at him, she caught him looking at her. He was most definitely an ass man while she drooled over his chest and abs. I have to say, they way they were described, I would be drooling too.

What I did not like is the fact that they immediately fell in bed with each other. Sienna has just lost her dog that she considers her child. She is distraught and heartbroken. There are several scenes where she breaks down in tears. I completely understand her emotions. Then a few scenes later, she is laughing and partying with her friends or making out with Cruz. I just didn’t find it believable.

I liked the book well enough that I would probably read a sequel. The ending of the book hinted at one. I did not like it enough to add this author to my autobuy list.

(CROSSPOSTED FROM http://seductivemusings.blogspot.com/…)

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Filed under Contemporary, Realistic, Romance

June 20, 2011 · 1:58 pm

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

In Caitlin’s world, everything is black or white. Things are good or bad. Anything in between is confusing. That’s the stuff Caitlin’s older brother, Devon, has always explained. But now Devon’s dead and Dad is no help at all. Caitlin wants to get over it, but as an eleven-year-old girl with Asperger’s, she doesn’t know how. When she reads the definition of closure, she realizes that is what she needs. In her search for it, Caitlin discovers that not everything is black and white—the world is full of colors—messy and beautiful.

I did not mean to like this book. It is a National Book Award Winner and nominated for the Georgia Book Award and therefore, to me, it is important literature. Which must mean, I will not like it. I rarely like things that win awards.

However, this book is an exception. It is written in first person by an eleven years old girl with Aspergers syndrome. She is trying to make sense of a world in which her beloved older brother has just died and her father is falling apart. Fortunately, she has a wonderful counselor in her school to work with her.

Although there are no laugh out loud moments, there are scenes that make you smile . . . and there are scenes that bring tears to your eyes.

I cannot say why, but I really did like this book . . . even if I didn’t mean to.

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Filed under Contemporary, Realistic, Young Adult

June 20, 2011 · 6:33 am

Dangerous Desire by Diane Escalera

Title: Dangerous Desire*
Author: Diane Escalera
Series: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary Romace
Publisher: Lyrical Press, Inc.
Format: ebook
Date/Year: July 2011

*This book was (provided to me by the publisher for review)

Summary from the publisher:

Sometimes you have to lose one thing to find another.

Sienna Diaz is desperate to find her missing Beagle, no matter what it costs. She hires Cruz
Santino, the best—and hottest—in the business. He’s an ex cop, dangerous on many levels, which comes in handy when all evidence indicates her beloved pet was snatched to use in a dogfighting ring.

Cruz will do whatever it takes to find Sienna’s lost pet, but he also wants results from the
smokin’ hot attraction between them—and he isn’t above breaking his own hands-off-clients rule
to get there. However, until he brings her beloved Beagle home safely, he won’t have Sienna’s
undivided attention…and affection.

Content Warning: Strong language, caliente sex, violence, and a dangerously hot rescue.

My Musings:

I liked the book well enough that I would probably read a sequel. The ending of the book hinted at one. I did not like it enough to add this author to my autobuy list.

Ratings:

Overall: 3

Sensuality level: 4

For a complete understanding and definition of the ratings at Seductive Musings, click here

CROSSPOSTED FROM SEDUCTIVE MUSINGS

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Filed under Contemporary, Mystery, Realistic, Romance

June 12, 2011 · 6:25 am

Exclusively Yours (Kowalski Family, #1) by Shannon Stacey

When Keri Daniels’ editor finds out she has previous carnal knowledge of reclusive bestselling author Joe Kowalski, she gives Keri a choice: get an interview or get a new job.
Joe’s never forgotten the first girl to break his heart, so he’s intrigued to hear Keri’s back in town—and looking for him. Despite his intense need for privacy, he’ll grant Keri an interview if it means a chance to finish what they started in high school.

He proposes an outrageous plan—for every day she survives with his family on their annual camping and four-wheeling trip, Keri can ask one question. Keri agrees; she’s worked too hard to walk away from her career.

But the chemistry between them is still as potent as the bug spray, Joe’s sister is out to avenge his broken heart and Keri hasn’t ridden an ATV since she was ten. Who knew a little blackmail, a whole lot of family and some sizzling romantic interludes could make Keri reconsider the old dream of Keri and Joe 2gether 4ever.

I keep telling myself I am not a straight contemporary romance reader AND I keep proving myself wrong. There are no murders, vampires, mysteries, etc. in this book. There is just a wonderful group of people that really love each other and need to remember/discover that.

I loved them all and have already downloaded the next two books in the series.

Thank you Smart Bitches, Trashy Books for telling me about them.

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Filed under Contemporary, Humor, Realistic, Romance

June 8, 2011 · 10:37 am

Sizzling Sixteen (Stephanie Plum, #16) by Janet Evanovich

Trenton, New Jersey, bounty hunter Stephanie Plum has inherited a “lucky” bottle from her Uncle Pip. Problem is, Uncle Pip didn’t specify if the bottle brought good luck or bad luck. . . .

BAD LUCK:

Vinnie, of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds, has run up a gambling debt of $786,000 with mobster Bobby Sunflower and is being held until the cash can be produced. Nobody else will pay to get Vinnie back, leaving it up to Stephanie, office manager Connie, and file clerk Lula to raise the money if they want to save their jobs.

GOOD LUCK:

Being in the business of tracking down people, Stephanie, Lula, and Connie have an advantage in finding Vinnie. If they can rescue him, it will buy them some time to raise the cash.

BAD LUCK:

Finding a safe place to hide Vinnie turns out to be harder than raising $786,000. Vinnie’s messing up Mooner’s vibe, running up pay-per-view porn charges in Ranger’s apartment, and making Stephanie question genetics.

GOOD LUCK:

Between a bonds office yard sale that has the entire Burg turning out, Mooner’s Hobbit-Con charity event, and Uncle Pip’s lucky bottle, they just might raise enough money to save the business, and Vinnie, from ruin.

BAD LUCK:

Saving Vincent Plum Bail Bonds means Stephanie can keep being a bounty hunter. In Trenton, this involves hunting down a man wanted for polygamy, a turnpike toilet paper bandit, and a drug dealer with a pet alligator named Mr. Jingles.

GOOD LUCK:

The job of bounty hunter comes with perks in the guise of Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, and the dark and dangerous security expert, Ranger. With any luck at all, Uncle Pip’s lucky bottle will have Stephanie getting lucky—the only question is . . . with whom?

I read this the first time when it was released last year. Since the new book is coming out this month, I decided it was time for a re-read.

All of the great characters are here: Grandma Mazur, Joe, Ranger, Lula, and even Mooner. Mooner makes some great cookies.

I think my favorite quote is “You know what your problem is? You got too many scruples. One or two scruples is okay, but you get too many of them, and it clogs everything up.” (Lula, p. 157)

This book ends not with a cliffhanger, but definitely so that you know it is about to go in a different direction. I can’t wait for #17.

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Filed under Contemporary, Humor, Mystery, Realistic, Romance

May 29, 2011 · 10:15 am

The Morgue and Me by John C. Ford

Library

Christopher just needed a job to kill time the summer after high school graduation. He didn’t expect it to be in the morgue. Or that he would accidentally discover a murder cover-up. Or that his discovery would lead him to a full-blown investigation involving bribery, kidnappings, more murders . . . and his best friend. And he certainly could never have predicted that Tina—loud, insanely hot, ambitious newspaper reporter Tina—would be his partner. But all of that did happen. And Christopher’s life will never be the same.

With plenty of plot twists, red herrings, and dry wit, The Morgue and Me is a page-turning modern take on the classic detective genre. (from Goodreads)

This is the first of the YA books I have read for the summer. It is a nominee for this year’s Georgia Peach Award and definitely a good start.

Christopher (not Chris) is a classic example of “curiosity killed the cat” and “being in the wrong place at the wrong time.” He took the job in the morgue because he wanted to be a spy when he grew up. He figured he could learn something about forensic pathology while he was there.

When the first dead body arrives, he sneaks a look at the corpse after everyone has left and discovers that there is no way the guy died by suicide. So why did the coroner write up the death certificate that way . . . and where did all the money come from?

There are numerous possible suspects and I did not figure out all the twists and turns until the end. To me, that makes a good mystery.

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Filed under Contemporary, Mystery, Realistic, Young Adult

May 21, 2011 · 3:50 am

Two Out of Three by Dana Michelle Burnett

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

He said he needed her in his life…He swore that he wanted her more than he ever wanted any other woman…But love?

That was never part of the bargain.

Sarah Deardon loved two things: Dancing and Vincent Allen. She struggled for years to become the best at the studio while nursing her crush.

When a tragic accident destroys her dreams of dancing, Sarah turns her full attention to Mr. Allen and pursues him with the same relentless determination that she had used dancing.

Vincent keeps her at bay, trying to let her get through high school and college, even putting an ocean between them. His absence opens the door for the sexy rebel Robert Stewart.

With Robert in the picture, Sarah’s life takes a dramatic turn leading her across the country and back again. She seals her fate with a bargain and she finds herself torn between a life of stability and a passion that refuses to be denied.

The only reason I finished this book is because I had promised to review it. I knew within the first few pages I was not going to like it. The writing is stilted and the characterization is poor.

I expected the book to be about adults. However, the main characters are in their late teens at the beginning of the book, but the situations and reactions seem more appropriate for adults. It was difficult to tell, but I do not believe they are older than their mid-twenties by the end.

None of the three characters are likable. Vincent, Sarah’s true love, has no backbone. Robert is a violent jerk, and Sarah is a bitch with a capital B. I have no objections to bitchiness in general. One of my favorite quotes is “you call me a bitch like that’s a bad thing.” However, Sarah takes it to the extreme. She is hurtful and controlling and proud of it.

All three characters cheat on their partners. In Sarah’s and Robert’s case, it is not because they are in love, but simply a series of one night stands.

As I said, there is no one to like in this book. My reaction at finishing it was simply relief. I was so glad to be done.

(cross posted from http://seductivemusings.blogspot.com/…)

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Filed under Contemporary, Realistic, Romance