He's the Man is a real-life look at a couple’s courtship (between two outlandishly sexy, witty, gorgeous, although not perfect, people of course) and I found it quite refreshing. There wasn’t anything fabricated to make them struggle – just real-life issues for two characters that could be as real as you and me.

In He’s The Man, Malone gives her reader a story full of smart dialogue, compelling characters, and a strong story-line. The Alexanders and their friends will draw you in and keep you coming back for more.

Full review available at http://romanticreadsandsuch.wordpress.com/2014/02/06/book-review-hes-the-man/

I wish I could give this one 3 1/2 stars. I don’t know that I would consider this to be the best example of a historical romance, so I probably wouldn’t recommend it to someone that has not tried the genre before. However, if you are already a fan, you’ll find Her Perfect Earl to be sweet and funny, and I dare you to not be in love with the Ashforth children by the time you are done.

Full review available at http://romanticreadsandsuch.wordpress.com/2014/02/11/book-review-her-perfect-earl/

I was pleasantly surprised by Lost in New Falls. It uses some familiar plotlines – girl in love with brother’s best friend, best friend can’t go after girl because of brother, grown up girl has self-esteem issues from childhood but still has hots for the best friend, best friend is commitment shy but still has hots for girl too. Somehow, though, Marks manages to keep her story fresh and entertaining. The interactions are funny and charming, the cast of characters is quirky but believable, and the plot flows smoothly and quickly. She manages to infuse the mystery over the thefts with just the right amount of intrigue to keep it interesting while not short-changing the love story.

Full review available at http://romanticreadsandsuch.wordpress.com/2014/02/12/book-review-lost-in-new-falls/

A Midsummer Bride is part of Forester’s “Marriage Mart” series and I think that there is definitely some benefit to be had in reading them in order. It wasn’t enough to keep me from enjoying this one but there were a lot of things that I didn’t quite understand. Forester does have an effortless and addictive writing style, though, so the idea of having to read more stories has a lot of appeal. I’m definitely adding her stories to my To Be Read pile and I think she could quickly become a historical romance favorite of mine.

The characters, both main and supporting, are well developed and interesting. There is also a decent mystery over who the spy is and I felt that the resolution was very satisfying, with just the right amount of political intrigue without the book becoming too immersed in it.

A well-balanced mix of love and intrigue, A Midsummer Bride is a perfect story about finding that special someone to complete you and daring to take a chance.

Full review available at http://romanticreadsandsuch.wordpress.com/2014/02/13/book-review-a-midsummer-bride/

Starting From Scratch pulled me in immediately and I absolutely couldn’t put it down. Luckily it was a novella, so at less than 100 pages it didn’t take me long to read it, but since I wasn’t stopping until I was done that’s definitely a good thing. I felt for both Sully and Lucy, and it was so hard to watch them have to battle their feelings, their fears and their hurts, and figure out how to deal with each other. Each has such a unique and heartbreaking problem and it’s so hard to watch them have to battle themselves and one another as they try to find a way to live in the same town now that their life together is gone. It’s a devastating thing but one that Gail handles in a very intriguing way. It’s an emotionally difficult book, one that made me both happy and weepy, but when it was over I definitely was glad I’d gone on the journey with them.

Full review available at http://romanticreadsandsuch.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/book-review-starting-from-scratch/.

In The Hero, we get to continue with Spencer who we met in The Newcomer. For a man who has had quite a few blows over the recent months, he’s quite well-adjusted and handles the curveballs with maturity. Of course he’s going to have a few man moments, but he’s sweet, caring, and generous. He’s not perfect, but he’s pretty darn close.

We also meet Devon for the first time. On the run from a cult, she lucks into Thunder Point and is welcomed with open arms (as is expected for these people). She’s had a rough few years too but she’s ready to start fresh and the little town is the perfect place to be. And meeting Spencer might be the best thing for both of them. I loved these two together and their growing relationship kept me quickly turning pages.


Full review available at http://romanticreadsandsuch.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/book-review-the-hero/

With the final Blackberry Island book, Evening Stars, we’re given a beautifully compelling exploration of the family dynamic between Nina, her mother and her sister. All of them are forced to take a look at themselves and how they deal with those around them – their past, their present and what they want for their future. It’s vivid, compelling, heartfelt and complex. Another beautifully crafted and genuine look at people’s faults and strengths, real in its difficulties but uplifting too.

Full review available at http://romanticreadsandsuch.wordpress.com/2014/02/25/book-review-evening-stars/

I definitely recommend the “Black Knights Inc” series to those looking for something fast-paced, with hot Alphas, nail-biting danger and hot hot moments between the sheets. This was my first in the series, but it definitely won’t be my last. If you’ve not read one before either, feel free to start here. I think you’ll find yourself quickly hooked.

Full review avilable at http://romanticreadsandsuch.wordpress.com/2014/02/25/book-review-born-wild/

Some are going to have a problem with the fact that the hero of the story is getting ready to marry someone else. And some are going to have a problem with the fact that Dana and Ben only know each other for a couple of days. But for me it worked. You can tell from the beginning that Ben isn’t happy and isn’t in his relationship for the right reason. Maybe he should have done something about before the weekend of his wedding, but sometimes you get caught up in a situation and you don’t know how to get yourself out of it. Yes, a marriage is pretty drastic but once he explains himself it all makes sense.

Full review available at http://romanticreadsandsuch.wordpress.com/2014/02/26/book-review-something-borrowed/.

The Chance is about two people with normal, complicated lives who fall in love and have to figure out how to make it work regardless of their other obligations. I think that is my favorite part of Robyn Carr’s characters – they are just like you and me, with normal problems and normal feelings and normal issues. They have to figure out how (or even if) they can make one life together with all the associated complications from two individual ones. It’s sweet and honest and straight-forward and I loved every minute of it.

Laine has some family complications she has to figure out, as well as trying to decide what she wants to do with her job going forward. Considering she’s on a year-long hiatus from her East Coast job, it isn’t surprising that Eric is a little hesitant about what that means for a future together. He’s got a job, friends and family in Thunder Point and he wants to be there at least a little longer. It doesn’t lead to a lot of large scale drama, instead it’s a very real one that could happen to anyone you know. If you like home-grown, real-life, small-town romances, you can’t miss with Robin Carr.

Full review available at http://romanticreadsandsuch.wordpress.com/2014/03/08/book-review-the-chance/.