Just the Sexiest Man Alive (Berkley Sensation) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been a little leery of reading debut authors lately after one too many bad experiences, so I admit I did hesitate in picking up this book (even though I loved the cover and it kept drawing me back to it). Definitely a mistake on my part. Just the Sexiest Man Alive is one of the best debut novels I've read in a very long time! As a fan of virtually every sub-genre in romance, I found it surprisingly refreshing to have a light-hearted, sweet, romantic storyline without a vampire or serial killer in sight. Contemporary romance seems to be on a downward shift lately and authors are more frequently jumping onto the paranormal bandwagon (which I am a fan of, but every now and then you just want to pick up a nice boy-meets-girl story without a lot of subplots and angst involved).
This book follows a somewhat simple premise, but puts a unique spin on it. Yes, boy-meets-girl, boy-ticks-off-girl, hate at first sight ensues, but the difference being that girl is a very successful lawyer and boy is "The Sexiest Man Alive" (three times over) and the biggest name in Hollywood. An unbelievable plot told in a very believable way. When Taylor Donovan finds out she is supposed to "coach" Hollywood playboy Jason Andrews for his new upcoming legal thriller that he's scheduled to film, she's initially star struck. But after a no-show (twice) on his part, she's not impressed when he saunters into the courtroom two days late and a dollar short.
These two characters start their first scene off with a bang and the witty banter (especially during their first meeting) kept me turning the pages. There is sexual tension in nearly every scene - although actual consummation of said tension is very limited. I finished it in less than a day and actually found it hard to put down.
If you're looking for a light contemporary romance, this is definitely a book I would recommend. If her next book is as good as this one, I've found a new autobuy author!

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Entwined Review

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(More customer reviews)Entwined is a delightful retelling of the Grimm's fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses. While my taste in fairy tales typically runs more to the evil witch or flesh eating ogre variety, I was quick to recognize all the basic story elements from the original. The book takes place during the year of mourning following the death of the Queen, mother to twelve daughters all named after flowers. The eldest daughter (Azalea), is the primary focus of the tale which details her efforts to take care of her sisters after their mother's death.
Azalea is a wonderful character. First seen at what is essentially her "coming out" ball, we follow her growth from a girl most concerned with balls and dancing to a girl with a strong sense of family and loyalty. All of her sisters are also well portrayed, each having characteristics that will endear them to readers and easily enable them to differentiate between each girl. Clover and Bramble, the two who are next in line following Azalea are each as well developed and eventually have their own roles to play in the story.
There are so many things going on with this story that readers will be entranced from the beginning. The dancing, balls, gentlemen suitors, and gowns will appeal to any young girl who ever fancied herself a princess. There are also elements of magic and adventure, and a villain who provides some genuinely creepy moments. The author does an excellent job creating a believable environment, and while there's not a lot of world building going on, it doesn't detract from a story that is expertly plotted and paced.
This is a great fantasy that transitions well from light moments to chilly moments of genuine peril that will keep the pages turning. There are romantic elements that are not overdone and left me with a big smile on my face, and sinister moments that made me stay up late so I could finish. The entire book has a cinematic quality to it that guarantees a great flow and makes this one a perfect recommend for young fantasy lovers. This is a fantastic choice for grades six and up, or any adult who wishes to remember what reading a great fairy tale feels like. Don't pass this one up. Recommended.

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Dream a Little Dream Review

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(More customer reviews)Susan Elizabeth Phillips is one of the best writers of contemporary romance as is amply proven by "Dream a Little Dream" . This is the story of Rachel Stone, the widow of a TV evangelist whose greed and hypocrisy continue to haunt their former home, Salvation, North Carolina. Rachel and her son Edward are truly destitute, and she returns to Salvation in search of some of her husband's ill-gotten gains. In order to conduct her search, she must outwit the current occupant of her former home, the widower Gabe Bonner. Gabe is still in such deep mourning for his lost wife and son, that he has completely closed down emotionally. Circumstances bring Rachel and Gabe together, and much to their mutual surprise, their initial antipathy and wariness begins to awaken emotional feelings neither anticipated. Their sparing matches are hysterical and Phillips does a wonderful job building the sexual tension between the two.
This is actually a two-for-one romance. In addition to Rachel and Gabe's story, the book includes the romance of Gabe's brother Ethan and his secretary Kristy. Ethan is a reformed sinner who became a pastor, the kind that sharply contrasts with Rachel's flamboyant dead husband. Kristy has been a part of his life forever and clearly always had a crush on Ethan. When Rachel comes to town, she inspires Kristy to make some changes in her life which completely throw Ethan's world into a tailspin,
This novel has a unique plot, wonderfully developed characters, and extremely amusing dialouge. Even if you aren't a fan of contemporary romance, this is such a sweet and funny novel that you are bound to enjoy it.

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How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf Review

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(More customer reviews)Mo Wenstein has moved from the south to Grundy, Alaska to get a fresh start. Most welcome her into their small town, especially the towns bachelor's. All except the constantly grumpy yet very delectable Cooper Graham who doesn't believe Mo has what it takes to live in Alaska. Things between them change when Mo finds Cooper on her porch with a bear trap on his ankle. As odd as that is, it's nothing compared to when Cooper changes into a wolf before Mo's eyes.
Cooper is Alpha of his pack but after a bloody encounter with another pack, he exiles himself to Grundy. Both him and his wolf are drawn to Mo but he uses his bad attitude to try and push her away. There have been wolf attacks around Grundy and Cooper starts to believe he is the one responsible. Though she has her doubts at times, Mo knows that Cooper isn't the one behind the attacks and is set on finding the one responsible. Not exactly what she planned on when she moved to Alaska but who said love wasn't complicated?
How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf isn't a fast paced, action packed read but is more character based with it's share of family drama and werewolf politics. Mo and Cooper both have come to Grundy to get away from their families and have a fresh start. Mo's parents are forever hippies. Everything she's done since she was a teenager was some sort of a rebellion against them. She has moved to Grundy to end that and live her life for her own reasons. Cooper didn't want to be alpha and after an encounter with another pack turned deadly, he came to Grundy to get away from it all. Mo doesn't take Cooper's attitude and Cooper challenges Mo each day. Their relationship isn't all rainbows and kisses but they still work really great together. Mo has the type of personality that very few can help but love and even when Cooper is at his most grumpy, you can't help but fall for him. It probably helps that he's easy on the eyes. I did think Mo took to what Cooper was a bit too easily, even with her parents being as opened minded as they are.
When Cooper's grandfather falls ill, he reluctantly goes home for a visit and we learn more about his pack and some of why he left to begin with. Almost no one was happy with Cooper's departure so there is family conflict where this part of the story is concerned. Back in Grundy people are being attacked around town by a wolf and since Cooper can't remember much when he is in his wolf form, he assumes it's himself. Mo understandably has her doubts but in the end knows it's not Cooper and does what she can to convince him to believe that also. I was a little thrown off by the end and liked that I wasn't able to predict everything.
Grundy has it's share of quirky characters that add funny moments to the story. How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf has the right amount of comedy, drama, paranormal and romance without any of it being too over the top. It's the first book Molly Harper's new paranormal romance werewolf series and I look forward to reading the next installment.

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Northern Exposure Even in Grundy, Alaska, it's unusual to find a naked guy with a bear trap clamped to his ankle on your porch. But when said guy turns into a wolf, recent southern transplant Mo Wenstein has no difficulty identifying the problem. Her surly neighbor Cooper Graham—who has been openly critical of Mo's ability to adapt to life in Alaska—has trouble of his own. Werewolf trouble. For Cooper, an Alpha in self-imposed exile from his dysfunctional pack, it's love at first sniff when it comes to Mo. But Cooper has an even more pressing concern on his mind. Several people around Grundy have been the victims of wolf attacks, and since Cooper has no memory of what he gets up to while in werewolf form, he's worried that he might be the violent canine in question. If a wolf cries wolf, it makes sense to listen, yet Mo is convinced that Cooper is not the culprit. Except if he's not responsible, then who is? And when a werewolf falls head over haunches in love with you, what are you supposed to do anyway? The rules of dating just got a whole lot more complicated. . . .

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