Book Review: A Family for Christmas by Mona Ingram

Title: A Family for Christmas

Author: Mona Ingram

Published September 19th 2012

Unlucky in love, Maddie LaRocque moves to Calgary at the urging of her former college roommate. Maddie's luck goes from bad to worse when she's laid off from her job two months before Christmas. Undeterred, she sets up a gift wrapping business in the lobby of the Drummond Building in downtown Calgary where she meets Annie, a ten-year-old who has recently lost her parents.

When Maddie falls into the arms of the building's maintenance man it looks as though her luck is changing, but she soon learns that Brent isn't who she thought he was.

Maddie's roommate Lily hasn't fared too well in the romance department either, having been used for her beauty and Asian heritage by a man in Calgary.

The moment Chase Drummond spots Lily, he's stunned by her beauty, but Lily resists his advances, unwilling to have her heart broken by the most eligible bachelor in town.

Will a young orphan girl be able to convince the two women that love is the best gift of all this Christmas?

A Family for Christmas has two romances in one. Maddie was fired but she's happy with the decision and starts a gift wrapping business, where she met Chase Drummond and his niece Annie. They turn into friends and when Chase spots Lily, Maddie's roommate, it's love at first sight. I was kind of confused, but it wasn't long until Maddie is also falling in love but with Chase's brother, Brent. There was lots of confusions and no-communication issues, a mean fiance, and ice skating; but after all they managed to have their HEA ending. Annie, the ten-year-old, was a cute addition to this story and the main piece for all of them to meet. It was a enjoyable read, but I think each couple needed their own book to explore more the characters and their issues.

BTW, ice skating sounds fun!!

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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!

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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!

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Book Review: Home for Christmas by Patricia Kay

Title: Home for Christmas

Author: Patricia Kay

Published December 12th 2012 by Patricia Kay

Age: Adult

Quinn Riordan hasn't been home for Christmas in more than ten years -- ten long years since she's seen her family and Chagrin Falls, the town where she grew up. It's been that long since the sister she once adored had stolen the man Quinn loved. But when Quinn's beloved Aunt Fiona has a bad fall and breaks her leg, Quinn can't stay away any longer. In order to help her aunt, she has to go home and face her past. But along with her past, the trip home brings her an even more difficult challenge in the form of her aunt's boarder, Peter Kimball.

Peter has been curious about Fiona's niece ever since he first saw her framed photo in Fiona's living room. He hasn't been able to understand how someone Fiona speaks of so glowingly could so selfishly stay away for so long. He's prepared to dislike Quinn and is stunned to very quickly realize he doesn't. On the contrary, he's attracted to Quinn and wants nothing more than to get to know her better. But Quinn isn't the only one who has been running from her past. Peter has avoided confronting his demons by staying away from the place where he lost everything he held most dear.

Can these two troubled people overcome the problems that have haunted them for so long? Will they be brave enough to forget and forgive and move forward into a future that promises to be filled with more happiness and love than they ever imagined? In the capable hands of best-selling author Patricia Kay, this heartwarming story will be the perfect accompaniment to your own holiday season.

Quinn is returning home after being more than ten years away. She isn't prepared to confront her sister, but her aunt broke her leg and she is going to take care of her. I'd say by the cover that it's a cute and a fun book, but it's actually very charged with family issues. Quinn can't forgive her sister, her sister isn't nice to be around, and Peter is always judging her. Peter also have a dark and sad past, so they had to forgive and move on before loving each other. There was a moment it turned too slow for me, and then I felt the ending was a bit rushed but at last they got their happily ever after. If you are looking for a serious holiday romance, Home for Christmas is for you.

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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!

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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.

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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: Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork

Title: Marcelo in the Real World

Author: Francisco X. Stork

Published March 1st 2009 by Arthur A. Levine Books

Age: Young Adult

Marcelo Sandoval hears music no one else can hear--part of the autism-like impairment no doctor has been able to identify--and he's always attended a special school where his differences have been protected. But the summer after his junior year, his father demands that Marcelo work in his law firm's mailroom in order to experience "the real world." There Marcelo meets Jasmine, his beautiful and surprising coworker, and Wendell, the son of another partner in the firm.

He learns about competition and jealousy, anger and desire. But it's a picture he finds in a file -- a picture of a girl with half a face -- that truly connects him with the real world: its suffering, its injustice, and what he can do to fight.

Reminiscent of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" in the intensity and purity of its voice, this extraordinary novel is a love story, a legal drama, and a celebration of the music each of us hears inside.

I wanted to read this book after reading 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time'. I now understand why it won so many prizes, it's not easy to write Marcelo. After reading the first pages I wanted to protect him from the 'real world', especially from his lawyer father who expects him to be normal.

Marcelo has been on a special school all his life, where he can go at his own rhythm and do what he loves, working with horses. But his father thinks Marcelo would be better if he works at his office for the summer and prepare for the real world so he could go to a normal school next year.

Obviously Marcelo refuses, but after all his father is stronger than him and that's how Marcelo starts this journey where he will learn how to interact with people, understand what is right and wrong, and take charge of his life.

Marcelo has something like Asperger, but that didn't make it difficult to relate with him. I think most teenager live similar situations, after being protected by your family, you have to go to the 'real world' where there is a lot of bad people, some good, and doing the right thing is not easy.

Although it took me some time to finish it, I really liked Marcelo in the Real World. It's one of those books that leaves you thinking and with feeling, sometimes sad about how Marcelo was treated, other times just thinking....Marcelo is one of those guys who ask big questions. I feel like some things were left unresolved, but I still recommend it. It's not the typical young adult book.

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

Book Review: The Hero by Robyn Carr

Title: The Hero

Series: Thunder Point #3

Author: Robyn Carr

August 27th 2013 by Harlequin MIRA

Age: Adult

In a moment of desperation, Devon McAllister takes her daughter and flees a place where they should have been safe and secure. She has no idea what is around the next bend, but she is pretty certain it can't be worse than what they've left behind. Her plan is to escape to somewhere she can be invisible. Instead, an unexpected offer of assistance leads her to Thunder Point, a tiny Oregon town with a willingness to help someone in need.

As the widowed father of a vulnerable young boy, Spencer Lawson knows something about needing friendship. But he's not looking for anything else. Instead, he's thrown his energy into his new role as Thunder Point's high school football coach. Tough and demanding to his team, off the field he's gentle and kind...just the kind of man who could heal Devon's wounded heart.

Devon thought she wanted to hide from the world. But in Thunder Point, you find bravery where you least expect it...and sometimes, you find a hero.

The Hero is the story of Devon, a young mother who is escaping from her 'safe' home, The Fellowship, and is found by Rawley, an old man who works at Thunder Point town and is willing to help her and her daughter with everything they need.

Devon was a very interesting character. Not only she's escaping from The Fellowship, but also from her ex lover and father of their daughter, who is the one in charge of The Fellowship and also father of the other children from the group. She has absolutely nothing, and is scared. But with the help of the people in Thunder Point, she starts to live her life as it's supposed to be. She also finds love with Spencer, the recently widowed father. Maybe it's too soon for both of them to have a relationship, but something is calling them and in a few weeks they are in love.

I liked this book mostly because of Devon. She's one of the strongest characters I've read. Obviously is wasn't a smart choice to enter The Fellowship, but she is brave to escape and try to rebuild her life. I already knew Spencer's story from the previous book, but I didn't click with him. I thought their romance was super fast, it wasn't the most important thing in this book, and also didn't like that he was scared after trying so hard to convince her to be together...he was even a little bit mean.

But it was nice to read a little bit more about Rawley, always lonely and silent. I think he was the real hero is this story!

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Book Review: Double Crossed by Ally Carter

Title: Double Crossed: A Spies and Thieves Story

Author: Ally Carter

Series: Heist Society #2.5, Gallagher Girls #5.5

Published January 22nd 2013 by Disney Hyperion

Age: Young Adult

Macey McHenry—Glamorous society girl or spy-in-training?

W.W. Hale V—Heir to an American dynasty or master thief?

There are two sides to every coin. Whether these two can work together is a tossup.

Born into privilege, Macey and Hale are experts at mingling with the upper class. But even if they’ve never raised an eyebrow at the glitz, neither teenager has ever felt at home with the glamour.

When Macey and Hale meet at a society gala, the party takes a dangerous turn. Suddenly they’re at the center of a hostage situation, and it’s up to them to stop the thugs from becoming hostile. Will Macey’s spy skills and Hale’s con-man ways be enough to outsmart a ruthless gang? Or will they have to seek out the ultimate inside girl to help?

The worlds of Heist Society and the Gallagher Girls collide in Ally Carter’s fast-paced, high-stakes and tantalizing new story. Get a behind the scenes glimpse as Ally delivers an irresistible thriller that is full of her signature style and savvy twists.

I love the Gallagher Girls and Heist Society series, so a story that combines those two worlds sounded amazing! It didn't disappointed me. It's short but exciting and fun, event when it was a little weird to see Macey and Hale interacting, but they make a good team. I can see them working together in the future :)

Definitely recommended to fans of these series, or if you want to try and see spies and thieves are for you!

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: 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.

Book Review: Stranded with a Billionaire (Billionaire Boys Club #1) by Jessica Clare

Title: Stranded with a Billionaire

Series: Billionaire Boys Club #1

Author: Jessica Clare

Published April 16th 2013 by Penguin Group

Age: Adult

The Billionaire Boys Club is a secret society of six men who have vowed success – at any cost. Not all of them are old money, but all of them are incredibly wealthy. They’re just not always as successful when it comes to love…

Billionaire Logan Hawkings needs a vacation.

He’s had a rough time after the death of his father and the betrayal of his fiancée. But with a visit to a recent business acquisition—a private island resort in the Bahamas—he has a chance to mend his broken heart.

When a hurricane blows in, a misplaced passport and a stalled elevator bring Logan together with an unusual woman named Bronte. She’s unlike anyone he’s ever met—down to earth, incredibly sensual, and even quotes Plato.

She also has no clue that he’s rich…

Bronte Dawson, a waitress from the Midwest, is stranded with the hotel’s domineering yet sexy manager Logan. What’s the harm in a little fling when it’s just the two of them, alone in paradise? But after several steamy island nights in Logan’s arms, Bronte’s ready to give her heart—and her body—to the man in charge.

But she soon discovers there’s more to Logan than he’s told her…a billion times more. Now, Bronte’s caught in a whirlwind affair with one of the world’s most powerful men. But can their love endure their differences or will it all just blow over?

Logan is a billionaire alpha male. He's checking his new hotel when a hurricane blows in and traps him with Bronte in the elevator. At first it's just about surviving, but then attraction hits and it's difficult to maintain their hands off while being totally alone at the wrecked hotel.

Bronte was fun, I loved her quotes. She's young and kind of a geek, so you wouldn't think she would be a good match for Logan, the sexy billionaire who is used to get everything he wants.

It's a romance full of twists, it's more difficult than you would thought for an independent woman like Bronte to have a billionaire boyfriend, and for Logan to trust a woman. But it was fun to see them together, and I even loved the secondary characters (I'm talking about a certain redhead).

It started good but at the end it was a little weak (too many things going on), but I really enjoyed Bronte and Logan's romance (I couldn't stop reading), and I'll keep an eye for next book of the series, Beauty and the Billionaire.

More about this book at Goodreads, Amazon.

Book Review: Princess in the Iron Mask by Victoria Parker

Title: Princess in the Iron Mask

Author: Victoria Parker

Published May 21st 2013 by Harlequin

Age: Adult

A princess in hiding...

Dispatched by the king to retrieve his headstrong, errant daughter, Lucas Garcia thought this was just another day at the office. That's before he meets Princess Claudine Verbault, who's adamant that returning to the kingdom that banished her as a child is never going to happen.

A barely concealed attraction!

Hidden from the spotlight, the now-independent Claudia has learned the art of being the anti-perfect princess. But Lucas does not look like the kind of man to accept insubordination! If only she could bargain with this frustratingly immovable man…and give him something to distract him from his duty!

Claudia's life is not exactly a princess life, even when she's one. But she's happy that way, she doesn't want anything to do with the kingdom and the parents that abandoned her when she was a child. So that's why, when alpha male Lucas Garcia appeared to take her back and forget all her life, she refuses at first. But he might give her the money to continue her investigations...

Lucas is an alpha male-hero, very protective and with a rough past. He's very loyal to his kingdom so he can't understand why Claudia doesn't want to take her role as the princess she is. Claudia is very intelligent but too shy, she was sick as a child and abandoned by her parents, and she isn't going to forgive them soon.

Even with their differences, their attraction starts the moment they met and followed all the way to the kingdom. At first, Lucas didn't understand her aversion to her parents, specially since he has such a good relationship with her father, but in the end it worked out for both of them. I liked their romance, difficult because they were both afraid of their past, and I liked both of the protagonists had flaws.

I would have enjoyed it a little bit more if Claudia's drama with her parents would have been fixed. I feel it was left the same way, she just had to accept they didn't took care of her as a child because they were busy. It wasn't fair to her, specially since she suffered so much.

Overall, Princess in the Iron Mask was a enjoyable romance story, filled with an alpha male, shy protagonist and lots of drama!

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

Book Review: Paper Towns by John Green

Title: Paper Towns

Author: John Green

Published May 3rd 2010 by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs back into his life—dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge—he follows.

After their all-nighter ends and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues—and they’re for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer he gets, the less Q sees of the girl he thought he knew.

I'v heard so many great things about John Green, he's like the King of YA. When I had the chance to read one of his books, I choose Paper Towns mainly because I thought the cover was interesting.

I now understand why everyone seems to love his books. He has a way to create realistic characters and tell a story without boring you once. In Paper Towns, Quentin is just a normal boy living his normal life until Margo, the girl he has been always in love, open his window and ask him to help her with her revenge.

Quentin is exactly like a teenage boy, I really liked him and enjoyed reading about him growing up and daring to do more with his life. But Margo is a mystery, she's an intelligent girl, popular but bored with her life. I understand why she decided to just go away, but I don't really think it was an intelligent. Disappearing and leaving everyone was not only selfish but even dangerous. Also, I think I missed something in the ending. After all that went through, is it going to end that way?

But it was fun to read about Orlando, specially since I have been there and remembered a lot about the streets, parks, etc. (BTW, I don't think everything the stores sell there is junk, maybe because we don't have that kind of junk here!)

Overall, Paper Towns is definitely worth reading and I want to read more books from John Green. Not only I learned about paper towns, but Quentin is one of my favorite male characters in YA, and even when Margo wasn't my favorite, I can relate to her adventures heart.

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

Book Review: The Wanderer by Robyn Carr

Title: The Wanderer

Series: Thunder Point #1

Author: Robyn Carr

Published March 26th 2013 by Harlequin MIRA

Age: Adult

From Robyn Carr, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the popular Virgin River novels, comes THUNDER POINT—the highly anticipated new series that will make you laugh, make you sigh, and make you fall in love with a small town filled with people you'll never forget.

Nestled on the Oregon Coast is a small town of rocky beaches and rugged charm. Locals love the land's unspoiled beauty. Developers see it as a potential gold mine. When newcomer Hank Cooper learns he's been left an old friend's entire beachfront property, he finds himself with a community's destiny in his hands.

Cooper has never been a man to settle in one place, and Thunder Point was supposed to be just another quick stop. But Cooper finds himself getting involved with the town. And with Sarah Dupre, a woman as complicated as she is beautiful.

With the whole town watching for his next move, Cooper has to choose between his old life and a place full of new possibilities. A place that just might be home.

This review was meant to be published yesterday, but I think I schedule it wrong and couldn't check the blog. I have been MIA lately, too much work and haven't been reading a lot, but I think reading The Wanderer helped me get my rhythm again.

It started a little bit slow, just introducing the town and the people. But after a few pages I couldn't get more of Cooper, Sarah and Landon, and the rest of the town!

It's the second book I read of Robyn Carr. I read Redwood Bend a while ago and enjoyed it, and The Wanderer also shares the kind of characters that are making decisions, commitments, and taking second chances. It definitely has that family-romance thing going on, but I really enjoyed reading about teenager Landon falling in love, his sister Sarah trying not to fall in love with Cooper, and even the police officer Mac giving himself a second chance.

It was a very sweet story, and I loved the characters, even the dogs (of course!). But it also had a little bit of mystery, which was a good way to connect the characters. Thunder Point is a lovely town, sounds like the perfect place to have a family, small and beautiful and full of interesting people.

Overall, The Thunder Point series is definitely on my to be read list now. The Wanderer left me with a happy smile on my face and I can't wait to read the second book, The Newcomer, and learn more of Mac the police officer and Gina!

More about this book at Goodreads, Amazon.