Book Review: Unexpected Gifts by Elena Aitken

Title: Unexpected Gifts

Series: Castle Mountain Lodge #1

Author: Elena Aitken

Published November 11th 2011 by Ink Blot Communications

Christmas represents everything Andi Williams is supposed to have, and doesn't. Running away to a remote mountain lodge in the Canadian Rockies, sounds like the perfect way to escape, until a mix-up finds her sharing a villa with sexy, rough around the edges, Colin Hartford.

Colin's determination to enjoy the holiday he’s missed for the last five years, sweeps Andi into a season of joy that she’s not sure she’s ready for. Can Andi open herself up to everything the holidays have to offer...including love?

Unexpected Gifts is the short story of Andi, who is trying to run away from Christmas and her past, and Colin, who wants the typical Christmas. By chance they end up sharing a room at the Castle Mountain Lodge, and it was a matter of time until they were together enjoying the holidays.

It was a cute story, but I wasn't expecting Andi's past with her ex to be so sad. I thought it was going to be just a fun and sweet romance, but it was a bit more serious. Also, I got exasperated when her ex showed up and Andi's reaction, but after all Andi and Colin, who was a great guy, had their happy ending.

More about this book at Goodeads, Amazon.

Book Review: Naughty or Nice by Kari Lee Harmon

Title: Naughty or Nice

Author: Kari Lee Harmon

Published October 31st 2012 by The Story Vault

Age: Adult

Being nice is safe, and being naughty is overrated, but getting McScroogy to find the joy in Christmas is beginning to sound oh so merry.

Samantha Darling, Boston advertising executive, has spent her life making a list and checking it twice, but she’s through being nice. All being nice got her was a broken heart when her fiancé cheated on her last Christmas Eve, ruining her favorite holiday, and then ran off with the small town boutique owner. After one too many All Powerful Peppermintinis, Samantha decides to give naughty a try. She breaks into the shop in Redemption Massachusetts and puts her spin on the Christmas display in the front window.

Only, the window doesn’t belong to Stowe’s Boutiques, it belongs to Snow’s Antiques, and Nathan Snow is none too pleased. This was his year to win the Best Christmas Window display contest against his rival, but Samantha ruined it. While he might not like Christmas, he knows winning this contest will bring in business. He makes Samantha a deal. Create a winning display by Christmas Eve, and he won’t press charges.

Samantha has no choice but to agree and has learned her lesson, but finds a bonus in her punishment. The challenge of getting the scrooge to find the joy in Christmas. Except losing her heart wasn’t part of the deal.

I laughed a lot with this book. Samantha is a good girl, but after to many drinks she decides to by a little naughty and do something bad to her ex fiance. Of course, nothing goods happens from that and she ends up spending Christmas with Nathan Snow, a very famous millionaire who seems to hate the holidays and is going to make her pay.

It was a fun short story, in a few days the characters fell in love and tried not to hurt each other, failed, but got their happy ending. The ending felt a little bit rushed, but it fulfilled my expectations. I couldn't stop laughing when Samantha was drunk and re-decorating Nathan's shop, so I recommend Naughty or Nice if you want to read a fun holiday romance!

More about this book at Goodreads, Amazon.

Book Review: Perfect by Autumn Jordon

Title: Perfect

Author: Autumn Jordon

Published November 7th 2012 by Nobal Oak Publications

Dylan Kincaid totally screwed up Thanksgiving and now he’s faced with Christmas. Thrown into the frightening role of both mother and father while his brother and sister-in-law are off serving their country, all Dylan wants is to make Christmas perfect for his two nieces. But time is running out.

Down on her luck Charleston, S.C. restaurateur, Darcy Witherspoon is licking a wounded ego when she arrives in Black Moose, VT and meets the handsome Maple tree farmer. Wanting a happy holiday herself, she teams up with Dylan to make a perfect Christmas.

Neither is interested in a holiday affair, but the magic of Christmas has something more everlasting in store for the couple. An absolutely perfect love!

Charleston lost her restaurant but getting to know Dylan might change the holidays for her. Her restaurant was her baby, and now her future is unsure and it really isn't the time to fall in love. Dylan is taking care of his nieces while their parents are off serving their country, but he has no idea of what he is doing and is perfectly aware a distraction like Charleston isn't welcome right now, but their attraction was immediate and after all, he wants the perfect Christmas for his nieces.

Although the romance started very quick, I thought Dylan and Charleston were credible characters and I liked their chemistry. I wanted a little bit more about Charleston's past and her friendship with Tom, but it wasn't a long story. The 'girls' were cute and the book got the feeling of Christmas! Lights, tree, gifts and even the family hehe. It's heart warming and I think it's great to read for the holidays!

More about this book at Goodreads, Amazon.

Book Review: Pastels and Jingle Bells by Christine S. Feldman

Title: Pastels and Jingle Bells

Series: Heavenly Bites #1

Author: Christine S. Feldman

Published November 1st 2013

Trish Ackerly never expected to cross paths with Ian Rafferty again, but when she spots the former bully of her childhood years through her bakery window, she thinks she may just have been given the best Christmas gift ever: the opportunity to finally give Ian the comeuppance he deserves.

But clearly she does not have a knack for this whole revenge thing, because before she can make good on her plans, Trish gets inadvertently drawn into Ian’s life in an unexpected way that lets her see just how different the man is from the boy he used to be. In fact, much to her astonishment, she actually starts to like the guy.

A lot.

Trouble is, Ian doesn’t know who she really is, and explaining it to him is going to be a little difficult now—which is bad news, because Trish is starting to realize that all she really wants for Christmas this year…is Ian.

I loved this short novel! It's the story of Trish and Ian. Ian used to bully her in school but suddenly disappeared and now he's back. She is ready for revenge but wasn't expecting to find him as a sweet father who is dealing with his daughter's bullying. So by mistake she ends up hiding her identity and painting his windows for Christmas.

I liked Trish and Ian. Trish is a fun girl who was all about revenge until saw him with his daughter, it warms her heart and really she's not a bad person. Ian is actually a sweet guy and I liked his caring personality. It's a short novel so I wasn't expecting a slow romance, but I was surprised to get hooked so fast and being satisfied with the writing, realistic characters and their attraction. I totally recommend Pastels and Jingle Bells for a quick holiday reading, and I definitely want to read more of the Heavenly Bites series. It has a fun and happy feeling perfect for this season!

More about this book at Goodreads, Amazon.

Book Review: Christmas on 4th Street by Susan Mallery

Title: Christmas on 4th Street

Author: Susan Mallery

Series: Fool's Gold #12.5

Published September 24th 2013 by Harlequin HQN

There's nowhere better to spend the holidays than with New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery in the town of Fool's Gold, where love is always waiting to be unwrapped... Noelle Perkins just got a second chance at life, and she intends to make the most of every minute. That's why she ditched a frustrating legal career to open her own store in Fool's Gold, California. The Christmas Attic celebrates everything that's magical about her favorite season. Business is booming, and as a bonus, gorgeous army doctor Gabriel Boylan has offered to help out during the holiday rush.

Gabriel's memories of Christmas past contain more sour grapes than sugar plums, thanks to a drill sergeant father who ran his home like a boot camp. Spending the holidays with his family while he recuperates from injury sounds as appetizing as last year's eggnog. Still, there are some enjoyable distractions in town, including sunny, sexy Noelle...and the red-hot mistletoe kisses they can't stop sharing.

Gabriel didn't think he was made for happily-ever-afters. But when fate hands you a love as sweet and surprising as this, only a fool could refuse....

Christmas on 4th Street is a very sweet romance filled with realistic characters with dark pasts but a bright future! Gabriel doesn't have good memories from his past Christmas and he isn't a family guy, but he needs to recover from an injury and that means spending the holidays with his parents and brother's family. It's not going to be a fun time except for Noelle, the pretty and happy owner of a Christmas shop in town.

Noelle is all about Christmas, and she is a sweet girl. I was surprised when I found out about her rough past, but she definitely is optimistic and falls easily in love with Gabriel even when knowing he wasn't the right guy. Gabriel doesn't believe in marriage and still have the same problems with his father. But between kisses everything starts to change and soon it's difficult for him to stay away from Noelle.

I thought Gabriel and Noelle were a cute couple. I liked their chemistry, and as always with Susan Mallery books, it was a well written romance and enjoyed the addition of family issues. Gabriel was a little too difficult to convince, and he ending was a too fast and cheesy for me, but still liked the HEA and enjoyed their story.

Overall, Christmas on 4th Street is totally recommended for this season when you need to read about cute couple with lots of snow and love. It can be read as a stand alone, actually I've only read another holiday novella from this series called Only Us.

More about this book at Goodreads, Amazon.

Book Review: All I'm Asking For #ChristmasAnthology

Book Title: All I'm Asking For: A Contemporary Christmas Anthology

Authors: Brighton Walsh, Kat Latham, Christi Barth.

Publication date: December 2013

Age: Adult

Put love on your wish list with the romance anthology "All I'm Asking For." Included in this holiday anthology are three romantic holiday novellas: Tinsel My Heart, Season of Second Chances and Mine Under the Mistletoe.

Tinsel My Heart by Christi Barth: This Christmas, the producer of a small town holiday spectacular is swept away by a handsome Hollywood director.

Season of Second Chances by Brighton Walsh: Being stranded in a snowstorm offers a couple a second chance at a future together.

Mine Under the Mistletoe by Kat Latham: An American in London helps a brooding Brit put the ghosts of Christmas past behind him.

Wherever you are, however you celebrate, this collection of three festive novellas will bring warmth to your holiday season.

I LOVED this anthology!! I'm usually very easy to please when it comes to Holiday novellas, but All I'm Asking For has three very well written novellas that will warm your heart and feel like it's already Christmas!

Tinsel My Heart is a story about two kids who liked each other but never saw again. Now one of them is famous and comes back to their little town, to find he still likes the girl of his dreams and maybe he can have her now. I liked this couple, they were fun and loved their HEA.

Season of Second Chances was a story about a couple who break up two years ago but now will have to spend a night together again, and it's impossible to turn off their attraction and love for each other. But if nothing have change, they can't have a future. I liked it because it was not only about second chances, but also about changing and understanding the importance of family.

Mine Under the Mistletoe is a story of a couple who is supposed to do a house swap but the weather leave them both stuck at London. Christmas is a difficult time for them, the plan was to spend it alone, but getting to know each other and enjoying the holidays together is the recipe to fall in love.... I really liked this story because the characters miss someone and it's really difficult to enjoy Christmas when you miss someone you were close too. :(

Overall, All I'm Asking For is one of my favorite holiday anthologies. The stories are so cute, but with the right sexy spark. They are short novellas, but I promise they will keep you reading until the end and satisfied with the characters and their development.

More about this book at Amazon, Goodreads, Book Tour.

Book Review: His for Christmas by Jennifer Haymore

Title: His for Christmas

Series: House of Trent #0.5

Author: Jennifer Haymore

Published October 1st 2013 by Forever Yours

Jennifer Haymore introduced sweet, but shy Lady Esme in The Duchess Hunt, the first novel in her House of Trent Series. But what readers may not know is that proper young Lady Esme has a secret: the youngest sister of the Duke of Trent privately pens erotic stories!

Society would never allow Lady Esme to share her own work, so her friend Jennifer Haymore is here to help—and just in time for Christmas!

His for Christmas is the steamy story of two travelers who find themselves stranded in an inn when an unexpected snowstorm blankets the English countryside. As the temperature drops, desire rises and the two strangers share a night of passion unlike anything either has ever experienced. When dawn breaks and the storm clears, will they continue on their seperate journeys, or will they begin a new path together?

Christmas is here! LOL I know some of you are still celebrating Halloween or preparing for Thanksgiving, but over here it's already Christmas!. I love Christmas so I don't mind, my family and I are already decorating our home and preparing for our vacations :P

Anyway, I love holidays stories and this year I started the season reading His for Christmas. It's a sweet story about two childhood friends who fell in love a long time ago but moved on with their lives. Amelia is young but already a widow, and while traveling to meet with her family has an accident in the road. It's Evan, her childhood friend-crush and neighbor, who found her and help her even against her wishes...

Their story had the perfect balance between sweet and steamy. Amelia and Evan are definitely still attracted to each other but Amelia still carries the scar of what Evan did to her when they were teenagers... and Evan still thinks he isn't good enough for her. Stranded in an inn waiting for the snowstorm to stop, they found passion and leave their past behind, to finally have their happily ever after (after some scandal of course hehe).

His for Christmas is a sweet short historical romance, perfect to start the season. It was a little bit predictable and too short to really explore the characters, but I still liked it.

More about this book at Goodreads.

Book Review: One Night with the Laird by Nicola Cornick

Title: One Night with the Laird

Series: Scottish Brides #2

Author: Nicola Cornick

October 29th 2013 by Harlequin HQN

Age: Adult

A wicked attraction!

Fashionable society widow Lady Mairi MacLeod cannot understand the dark passion that binds her to Jack Rutherford. He is everything she dislikes in a man, rakish, arrogant and charming, and she would prefer to forget the night of wicked passion that she spent in his arms.

But when Mairi is threatened by a blackmailer, Jack is the only man who can protect her. As they work together to uncover where the danger lies, their passion reignites. Little by little, the masks they wear burn away, and their most private secrets come to light...

The second book from the Scottish Brides, One Night with the Laird, follows the story of Lady Mairi MacLeod and Jack Rutherford. Mairi is beautiful and a widow, and Jack is a charming rake. They don't get along at first, but after a wicked and very passionate night they spent together (without knowing they were each other), it's difficult to ignore their desire.

But Mairi has other problems beside her desire. She's being threatened by a blackmailer, who is going to divulge secrets of her husband to get what he wants. Jack is protecting her, and if that means having a fake engagement and spending more time together in the bedroom, better! But of course nothing is so easy when desire turns into love and both of them have to make peace with their troubled pasts before giving their hearts.

I enjoyed One Night with the Laird. It surprised me a little because it was much more wicked and sensual than the first book, The Lady and The Laird. But I still devoured it in one night. Sometimes it turned a little bit slow, with Mairi and Jack trying to overcome their pasts and hurting each other in the process, but I'm happy the characters got their happy ending.

More about this book at Goodreads, Amazon.

Book Review: Love Overdue by Pamela Morsi

Title: Love Overdue

Author: Pamela Morsi

Published September 1st 2013 by Harlequin MIRA

Age: Adult

Meet Dorothy Jarrow: devotedly unsexy librarian

Buttoned-up book lover DJ is all sensible shoes, drab skirts and studious glasses. After an ill-advised spring-break-fueled fling left her mortified, she's committed to her prim and proper look. When she's hired by a rural library in middle-of-nowhere Kansas, she finally has the lifestyle to match-and she can't wait to get her admin on.

But it's clear from day one that the small-town library is more interested in circulating rumors than books. DJ has to organize her unloved library, win over oddball employees and avoid her flamboyant landlady's attempts to set her up with the town pharmacist. Especially that last part-because it turns out handsome Scott Sanderson is her old vacation fling! She is not sure whether to be relieved or offended when he doesn't seem to recognize her. But with every meeting, DJ finds herself secretly wondering what it would be like to take off her glasses, unpin her bun and reveal the inner vixen she's been hiding from everyone-including herself.

Isn't that cover cute!? I requested this book at NetGalley after falling in love with the cover, but also because I couldn't resist a romance with a book lover :)

I loved this book! Dorothy Jarrow, or DJ as her friends call her, is hired to run a library in a little town in Kansas. She loves books and she's ready to settle down in this quiet and sensible life, the type of life she's expected to live. But of course finding Scott Sanderson, her old fling and the guy who may have changed his life, is a problem. It would be easy to just ignore him, after all he doesn't remember her. But his mother is her landlady, and she's decided to make them fall in love with each other.

DJ was great. Not only she's a fellow book lover, but also intelligent and nice. It was easy to like her and relate to her, and I specially liked her bad temper hehe. Scott was also a great guy to fall in love, he's a good guy but with an unlucky past, which was a nice change over the usual bad boy. They worked great together, they have that spark that makes you continue reading about them. They shared some hot kisses, and in their past they shared a very passionate night, but I wanted more!.

I loved that the story also shared bits of information from other characters. Viv, Scott's mother, was an interesting character and I wanted someone to help her, but luckily she had the company of cute little Dewey, who is actually DJ's dog but somehow knew Viv needed him.

Overall, I absolutely loved Love Overdue. It was the perfect sweet contemporary romance, a little town, good people, family and a cute couple made for each other.

More about this book at Goodreads, Amazon, The Book Depository.

Book Review + Giveaways: Kinetic by S.K. Anthony

Title: Kinetic

Series: The Luminaries #1

Author: S.K. Anthony

Age: Adult

Being strong is one thing. Being an unlimited source of power is quite another.

Genetically altered by the Organization, Annie Fox takes down criminals CIA-style with her luminary strength. With nothing to mend but her broken heart, she is relentlessly pursued by her boss Derek Lake. Just when Annie is about to give him a chance, her ex-husband unexpectedly comes out of hiding.

A wanted man, Nick Logan is a cold-hearted murderer who is considered enemy number one, and orders are clear: kill on contact. He is more powerful than ever and threatens the lives of those she holds most dear. His plan? Get his hands on Annie and use her Kinetic energy to destroy them all. When Annie finds herself with an opportunity to end him, she pauses, horrified by the scars covering the face she once loved. A split second that will cost her everything…

** Kinetic is a stand-alone novel. All books in series are part of the same world with the characters intertwined. **

Welcome to my stop for the Kinetic blog tour, organized by Grapevine Book Tours.

Isn't the cover beautiful? I'll admit I saw it and immediately wanted to know more about this book! :) I was invited to write a review as part of the tour, so here it is:

Annie Fox is genetically altered. That means she is super strong, but still got hurt from her ex husband, Nick. He just left her and turned to be a murderer, who is now after her to use her Kinetic energy. Annie is being protected by the Organization, her friends who all have been genetically altered too and have different powers. Derek, her boss, is specially worried about her since he likes her. When she finally give him an opportunity to date, her ex husband Nick shows up full of scars.

The story was great. Annie is actually younger than me, just 24, but after the divorce she have been healing her heart. She isn't ready to start a new relationship, she's still in the hate zone. When she sees Nick again, all hurt but acting mean, she still can't kill him. Her friends are not helping, since they think Nick may not be the bad guy. But Annie doesn't want to believe that, because then what other reason he had to leave her?

This book is full of twists. Not only Annie is confused and hurt, but she's also trying to find out who is the real bad guy. Maybe Nick is not bad, only misunderstood. Maybe he just want to protect her. But that doesn't stop her from dating Derek, as a disguised of course, until she knows who she can trust.

I liked their powers. Each character have special abilities but they discover that with training they can learn to use each other abilities. Annie is extra special because her energy doesn't seem to end, and that's why someone wants her, to use her unlimited energy. Between learning to use her new powers and discovering who is really after her, she most decide if Nick is guilty or if he's really telling the truth and still loves her.

It's a fast book to read. It's original and has lots of action and twists, but it's mostly conversations and I like more descriptions when I read. I want to know more about the characters, I don't even know how some of them look. Also, I didn't really enjoyed the love triangle because I didn't fall in love Nick or Derek. I think Nick did things without any reason and didn't think twice before hurting Annie, but later said if was for her protection...And Derek is too intense, he didn't take no for an answer. I also think the ending was too abrupt....I don't want to give you spoilers but there is a fight and suddenly everyone is having their HEA. Wait, how did they get there?

Overall, Kinetic is an enjoyable read, fast paced, interesting, full of action and with a very strong protagonist. If you enjoy that in your urban fantasy / paranormal books, then Kinetic is for you!

PS: Don't forget to enter the giveaways below!

More about this book at Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Smashwords, iTunes.

About the Author

S.K. Anthony is a writer, a reader and a make-stuff-up-er who lives in New York with her husband and toddler twins. She is a wine connoisseur, which just really means she knows she loves it, and a caffeine addict. When she isn’t busy with her family she finds herself being transported into the world of imagination. Well, either that or running away from spiders…she is convinced they are out to get her!

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Book Review: The Lady and the Laird by Nicola Cornick

Title: The Lady and the Laird

Series: Scottish Brides #1

Author: Nicola Cornick
Published: July 30th 2013 by Harlequin HQN
Age: Adult

An Indecent Proposal!

Lady Lucy MacMorlan may have forsworn men and marriage, but that doesn't mean she won't agree to profit from writing love letters for her brother's friends - letters that become increasingly racy as her fame grows. That is, until she deliberately ruins the betrothal of a notorious laird, Robert, Marquis of Methven.

Past centuries of bloodshed have left the Methven and MacMorlan families bitter enemies and Robert is furious that Lady Lucy's letters have cost him the bride he needs so urgently to save his ancestral clan lands. Now he makes Lucy a shocking proposal; in return for his silence she must become his wife and provide him with the heir he needs. It is an inconvenient marriage of convenience but can the rugged laird and the bluestocking beauty fight against the power of love?

Scottish Brides - Where Regency elegance meets Highland passion!

I didn't know what to expect from The Lady and the Laird, but definitely was a nice surprise! Lady Lucy MacMorlan may seem like the perfect lady, but she isn't the typical lady. She is afraid of love, but write love letters that make men blush. And it's one of those letters that ruins the wedding of the Laird, Marquis of Methven.

It's a surprise for Robert, Marquis of Methven, to find himself planted on his wedding, and it's Lady Lucy MacMorlan's fault. But as soon as he starts to get close to her, he knows she isn't the typical Lady. Not only about her letters, but also her classes and everything about her makes him want to undress her. But she'll pay, of course, accepting his proposal for marriage by convenience.

It's a fast paced plot with a couple of twists that helped Lucy and Robert to slowly fall in love. They have passion in their blood but have to overcome Lucy's fears (and that meant some slow but delicious nights) and defeat the villain before having their happily ever after.

I really liked The Lady and the Laird. It was more than I was expecting, a page turner, and if left me wanting more about Lucy and Robert. I definitely will be keeping an eye for One Night with the Laird, the next book of the Scottish Brides series.

More about this book at Goodreads, Amazon.

Book Review: The Newcomer (Thunder Point #2) by Robyn Carr

Title: The Newcomer

Series: Thunder Point #2

Author: Robyn Carr

Published June 25th 2013 by Harlequin MIRA

Age: Adult

With humor and insight, #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr looks at letting go of the past-and knowing when you've found something worth building your future on

Single dad and Thunder Point's deputy sheriff "Mac" McCain has worked hard to keep everyone safe and happy. Now he's found his own happiness with Gina James. The longtime friends have always shared the challenges and rewards of raising their adolescent daughters. With an unexpected romance growing between them, they're feeling like teenagers themselves-suddenly they can't get enough of one another.

And just when things are really taking off, their lives are suddenly thrown into chaos. When Mac's long-lost-and not missed-ex-wife shows up in town, drama takes on a whole new meaning. They're wondering if their new feelings for each other can withstand the pressure...but they are not going down without a fight.

Step into the world of Thunder Point, a little town on the Oregon coast where newcomers are welcomed, hearts are broken and mended, and the dramas of everyday life keep the locals laughing, crying and falling in love.

Thunder Point is one of that series I know I'm going to love. I read the first book, The Wanderer, a couple of weeks ago and really liked it, but now I read The Newcomer and love it!

It follows the characters from the first book. Mac, the sheriff, is enjoying his romance with Gina, until his ex-wife shows up and wants to see the children she abandoned. But that's not the only drama, Gina's daughter is having a very rough year (I cried a lot!), and Sarah needs to make a choice that it's going to affect her brother and Cooper.

I love this series because it's all about family, friendship and romance  Also, it's very realistic, with normal characters trying to live with their mistakes, not enough money, sickness, sometimes mean people, but a lot of love. In the end that's the only thing that matters.

Overall, The Newcomer was a great book. There is new drama, lots of romance and friendship, I definitely recommend this series!

More about this book at Goodreads, Amazon, The Book Depository.

Book Review: Highland Song by Tanya Anne Crosby

Title: Highland Song

Series: Highland Brides #5

Author: Tanya Anne Crosby

Published by Oliver-Heber Books

Age: Adult

Gavin Mac Brodie fears the thought of becoming the man his father was. Driven into solitude by visions of what he would not be and could not have, he vows never to wed. But this last of the available Brodie men is about to encounter a wee bit of Highland magic...

Catrìona is no stranger to solitude. Driven deep into the Highland mountains, her kinsmen have become little more than legend. But no one knows better than Cat that you cannot hide from fate. Naked and painted in the woad of her ancestors, she appears to Gavin Mac Brodie ...

But is she flesh and blood--a chance for a future--or just a faerie creature who will vanish if Gavin dares to open his heart?

Highland Song is part of the Highland Brides series, and I downloaded it for free at Amazon Kindle (I think it's currently free). Gavin Mac Brodie is building his own home, now that all his brothers are married, he doesn't feel comfortable living with them. He's building it alone until Catriona, naked and beautiful, shows up. They get together pretty fast but Gavin doesn't know Catriona is escaping. When they are found together, it's already too late to separate them...

Highland Song is just a short novella. It has reference from the other characters from the series, which I haven't read. I enjoyed it, only took a while to read it, and Gavin was cute. But I had problems sometimes understanding their slang (but English isn't my native language).

More about this book at Goodreads, Amazon.

Book Review: A Knight's Temptation by Catherine Kean

Title: A Knight's Temptation

Series: Knight's #3

Author: Catherine Kean

Published May 4th 2012

Age: Adult

A ruby pendant stands at the center of this tale of disgrace, plotting, redemption, and the reunion of childhood friends.

Aldwin Treynarde is a squire who, in his youth, was banished from home for shooting Lord Geoffrey de Lanceau with a crossbow bolt and nearly killing the man. Later on, Aldwin discovered that he had been set up by the deceitful Baron Sedgewick, who fed him false stories about the lord's wrongdoings. Now, several years later, Lord Geoffrey sends out a call for volunteers to find a stolen, valuable jeweled pendant before it falls into the hands of the Baron and his wife Veronique. Aldwin accepts at once and hopes to make amends to Lord Geoffrey. If he excels in his duty, he hopes he might even be awarded knighthood.

Meanwhile, Lady Leona Ransley and her aging father, who have possession of the pendant, want only to turn it in anonymously and collect the reward money. Under an assumed name, Leona arranges for a secret meeting with Aldwin in a seedy tavern, and, making yet another rash decision, Aldwin decides to kidnap her. She fights furiously against him and finally reveals her true identity: she and he had once been great companions. In fact, Aldwin had nearly caused her death 12 years earlier when they disturbed a bees' nest during a childhood game. By this point, the feckless squire desires his warrior captive more than any woman he has ever met, and he knows he has one last chance to protect her life.

Only by settling the events of their past and fighting side by side will Aldwin and Leona be able to defeat their opponents and surrender to their greatest temptation—love.

I got A Knight's Temptation free a couple of weeks ago and the moment I started reading I was caught in this story.

Aldwin Treynarde is hoping to be awarded knighthood and be forgiven by his family and Lord Geoffrey for almost killing him. It was a mistake, and if he can find the stolen jeweled pendant before Veronique  and the Baron, he's sure he's going to be forgiven.

Finding the pendant was easy, but Lady Leona Ransley didn't make it an easy task. She has her own reasons to have the pendant and not trust Aldwin, after all, it was his fault she almost died a few years ago.

Aldwin was the typical alpha male, but Leona wasn't the typical lady. She's very independent and sometimes even spoiled. Their past was always pursuing them, but still they managed to fall in love between fights. Aldwin was an interesting male, tender and trying to make amends for his mistakes, but I didn't like he always keep Leona tied.

Overall, it was an enjoyable story. I haven't read the previous books of the Knight's series, but I got into the story pretty fast.

More about this book at Goodreads, Amazon.

Book Review: One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean

Title: One Good Earl Deserves a Lover

Series: The Rules of Scoundrels #2

Author: Sarah MacLean

Published January 29th 2013 by Avon

Age: Adult

Lady Philippa Marbury is...odd

The brilliant, bespectacled daughter of a double marquess cares more for books than balls, for science than the season, and for laboratories than love. She's looking forward to marrying her simple fiancé and living out her days quietly with her dogs and her scientific experiments. But before that, Pippa has two weeks to experience all the rest—fourteen days to research the exciting parts of life. It's not much time, and to do it right she needs a guide familiar with London's darker corners.

She needs...a Scoundrel

She needs Cross, the clever, controlled partner in London's most exclusive gaming hell, with a carefully crafted reputation for wickedness. But reputations often hide the darkest secrets, and when the unconventional Pippa boldly propositions him, seeking science without emotion, she threatens all he works to protect. He is tempted to give Pippa precisely what she wants . . . but the scoundrel is more than he seems, and it will take every ounce of his willpower to resist giving the lady more than she ever imagined.

Sarah MacLean is one of my favorites historical romance authors and One Good Earl Deserves a Lover  didn't disappointed me.

Lady Philippa 'Pippa' Marbury is definitely odd for her time. She likes to study, she knows things no proper lady should know. But she doesn't know anything about intimacy, and she's getting married in two weeks. So she asks Cross, the ultimate scoundrel, to answer some of her questions...all in the name of science of course.

Cross is one of the partners in London's most exclusive gaming hell, his reputation of wickedness follow him everywhere. But he never expected proper but odd bespectacled Lady Philippa, to ask him about intimacy. She should be asking her next husband, even if that makes his blood boils. Since she doesn't seem to be listening to his request to stop this nonsense, he will make her gamble with him...but of course, he doesn't believe in luck.

What can I say? This book has one of the most sensual scenes where the protagonists doesn't even touch each other. Believe me, I'll never forget it. I think I was flushed all the time I read it. But if that doesn't convince you, the characters are realistic and very unusual. Pippa is extremely intelligent and daring, and Cross, even with his strong character, is very scarred and needs to be saved.

Overall, One Good Earl Deserves a Lover was everything I wanted and expected for an historical romance written by Sarah MacLean. With realistic but original characters, and some very hot moments, I couldn't stop reading. I really can't wait for the next book of this series, No Good Duke Goes Unpunished.

More about this book at Goodreads, Amazon, The Book Depository.

Book Review: Reluctant Romance by Leighann Dobbs

Title: Reluctant Romance

Author: Leighann Dobbs

Published March 18th 2013
Age: Adult

Risa Kennedy will stop at nothing to save her company. Connor Dunn is a ruthless corporate executive who only cares about the profits. When the two are pitted against each other in a corporate buy out, sparks fly… and not just sparks of anger.

Connor has everything most women find attractive: he’s wealthy, astonishingly handsome, successful, charming and he loves his dog Picasso.

But the last thing Risa wants is to be attracted to Connor, especially since he’s trying to buy her pet-food company and shut down the low-cost vet clinic that she loves so dearly.

As their worlds collide a spark of attraction turns into a burning desire. But both of them are hiding secrets that could jeopardize everything.

Will Risa and Connor satisfy their desire or will the secrets between them extinguish their reluctant romance?

Such a cute romance. I'm a sucker for animal lovers characters, and this one satisfied my animal lover heart. Risa is a veterinary, daughter of the owner of a pet-food company and low-cost vet clinic. She loves her job so that's why she isn't going to help Connor buy the company and destroy it.

Connor needs to make a decision about the company before letting his father buy it, but Risa isn't making it easy. And their attraction is making it worse. Their dogs wants to be friends, but can he trust her?

It's a cute story, kind of short. I loved the dogs and even when I thought Connor needed to trust Risa a lot more, they made a sweet couple. It has everything to keep you interested and it's perfect for a quick read.

More about this book at Goodreads, Amazon.