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SOMETHING ABOUT YOU by Julie James

June 13, 2015

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So as regular readers know, for some reason I rarely start a romance series at the beginning. And Julie James’ FBI/US Attorney series was no exception. I read book 3, About that Night, and loved it. Here’s my review.

Now I’m going back to the beginning and read book 1, Something About You. Actually, I listened to the audiobook, couldn’t find the printed book. Karen White is the reader and she did a great job and I really enjoyed it.

U.S. Attorney Cameron Lynde lives in a big old house that she inherited. The floors need to be redone, so she gives herself a little mini-staycation and checks into a swanky hotel. Much to her surprise, the paper thin walls brings amorous sounds into her bedroom for most of the night, keeping her awake and making her cranky. Things finally calm down, she falls asleep and then it starts over again. Exhausted, she complains to the front desk then watches out the peephole to see what happens.

What she doesn’t expect is that the woman next door has been murdered, and she saw the murderer, or at least his back, as he left the room before the hotel staff arrives – quickly followed by Chicago’s finest and then the FBI. And sadly, the one FBI agent with whom she has history – he thinks she dumped years of his hard work when she wouldn’t take a crime lord to trial, and that she got him transferred out of state for a few years. She thinks he’s an arrogant jerk, albeit a really good looking man. They are not on the best of terms but they are about to become very close – as the only witness, her life is in danger and it is his job to protect her.

This is a great romantic suspense novel. Frankly, the murder mystery is quite secondary to the romance, but it all works brilliantly. A fun and sexy read by one of my new favorite authors.

6/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

SOMETHING ABOUT YOU by Julie James. Berkley; First Printing edition (March 2, 2010). ISBN 978-0425233382. 336p.
Audible Audio Edition. Listening Length: 10 hours and 3 minutes. Tantor Audio. Audible.com Release Date: June 29, 2012

3 Comments | Book Reviews, Fiction, Romance | Tagged: Romantic Suspense | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

BEACH TOWN by Mary Kay Andrews

May 28, 2015

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Once again I am kicking off my summer reading with Mary Kay Andrews and she is setting the bar high!

Greer Hennessy is a movie location scout looking for an old time Florida beach, which is getting real hard to find. But when she stumbles into Cypress Key in the Florida Panhandle, she knows she’s earned her paycheck. It’s lovely, with a pristine beach, one motel, and an old boarded up casino that is the perfect spot for the producer’s dream explosion.

But Greer runs into a problem her first night there, and his name is Eben Thibadeaux. He is the town mayor, engineer, hotel towel boy and more – and he is not about to let some Hollywood movie people destroy his town. Cypress Key already had a run of bad luck when the local paper mill polluted the area then left town, laying off everyone. The town is struggling and Eben is determined to bring it back from the brink without blowing anything up, especially an historic landmark like the casino.

But Greer is determined and sweet talks her way into almost everything she needs, with bribes taking care of what the sweet talk won’t. But blowing up the casino is becoming a real issue on both sides when the movie bigwigs find out how far over the budget has gone.

Greer and Eben are meeting and fighting regularly, but also fighting a strong attraction to each other and they lose that fight for sure. Andrews excels at creating characters that are full realized and believable, and their story just draws you in, making this a true page turner.

The romance builds and things get really hot in this sweet, sexy beach read that is the perfect way to kick off summer. I loved it!

5/15 Stacy Alesi AKA the BookBitch

BEACH TOWN by Mary Kay Andrews. St. Martin’s Press (May 19, 2015). ISBN: 978-1250065933. 448p.

2 Comments | Book Reviews, Fiction, Romance, Women's Fiction | Permalink
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RULES TO CATCH A DEVILISH DUKE by Suzanne Enoch

May 7, 2015

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Scandalous Brides Series (Book 3)

As usual, I’m starting a series somewhere in the middle of it and I don’t mind a bit. Suzanne Enoch is a new writer to me, and one that I will be reading again.

Sophia White is a heroine that can win anyone over, even the Duke of Greaves. One of his closest friends married one of her closest friends, so the Duke invites Sophia to spend Christmas with her friends, and many others, at his estate.

Sophia is the offspring of a Duke and his maid, and society turns up their noses at her. Her father paid for her education but never really acknowledged her, forcing her to make her own way in the world. She gets a job as a card dealer at a gentlemen’s club called the Tantalus Club, which has a bit of a reputation. When her father finds out, he is determined to get her out of his way before she can embarrass him. He arranges a marriage with a vicar far outside of London society, and the vicar is delighted – he considers her his project, reforming a Jezebel.

So when Sophia receives an invitation to the Duke’s home for the holidays, she decides to have some fun before she has to marry the vicar. On the way there, the bridge collapses and the Duke saves her. None of his other guests can get to his estate until the bridge is fixed, and that takes weeks, leaving the two of them, plus the Duke’s snob of a sister, to pass the time.

The Duke is entranced with Sophia, and she with him. Among the other expected guests, however, are several marriageable women. According to the Duke’s father’s will, he will lose his estates, money & title to his sister’s young son unless he marries very quickly and produces an heir so he invites this group in hopes of finding a bride. Sophia knows she is not in the running but nonetheless wants to have some fun. And they do, but they also fall in love. Can the Duke marry an illegitimate bride?

I loved the humor in this book, and there was a lot of hot sex, but it was the characters that really won me over. I am looking forward to reading more of Suzanne Enoch.

5/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

RULES TO CATCH A DEVILISH DUKE by Suzanne Enoch. St. Martin’s Paperbacks (September 25, 2012). ISBN 978-0312534530. 352p.

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ABOUT THAT NIGHT by Julie James

April 26, 2015

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FBI/US Attorney Book 3

As per my usual, I started this series out of order with book 5 because it was on so many best romances of the year lists for 2014, and I loved it. So I scoured the library shelves and all I could find was this one, book 3, so I went for it.

This is one of those series that I don’t really think needs to be read in order. Each book stands alone and I’m sure they are all related somehow but I haven’t tried to figure it out yet but I’m guessing it has something to do with the name of the series. Once I get my hands on the rest (I begged my library to purchase them) I’m sure it will all make perfect sense.

Rylann Pierce is in college when she meets a billionaire’s son, Kyle Rhodes, at a bar. They have a great time and make plans for the next night, but he never shows. Rylann soon learns his mother had been killed but they never do get together again.

Rylann becomes a tiger in the US Attorney’s office in San Francisco, but when her boyfriend asks her to move to Rome with him with no marriage proposal, she realizes they want different things and she dumps him and moves back home to Chicago. She lands a job in the US Attorney’s office there and her first case involves the “Twitter terrorist,” a hacker who brought Twitter down for two days when his girlfriend dumped him via a tweet. The terrorist is none other than Kyle Rhodes.

Off to an inauspicious start, they both quickly realize that the feelings they had that long ago night were still there. Can a US attorney fall in love with an ex-con and make it work? Can a cyber hacker fall in love with the an attorney who works with the lawyers that convicted him? Of course! But not without a lot of bumps along the way and of course, some hot sex.

Another winner from Julie James.

4/15 Stacy Alesi AKA the BookBitch

IT HAPPENED ONE WEDDING by Julie James. Jove (May 6, 2014). ISBN 978-0425251270. 304p. Kindle

3 Comments | Book Reviews, Fiction, Romance | Permalink
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THE ROYAL WE by Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan

April 24, 2015

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This is a clever contemporary romance that is very loosely based on the British royals, Prince William & Kate. In this story, the heir to the British throne is Prince Nick, and the commoner is Bex Porter, an American doing a year at Oxford. She rooms on the same floor as the Prince and is soon dating one of his closest friends. When that doesn’t work out, her friendship with the Prince turns into something more.

In this fairy tale, Bex has an identical twin sister Lacey, and she is the one who wants fame and fortune. But Bex ends up with more than she can handle, hounded by the paparazzi, trying to deal with Prince Nick’s cold asshole of a father, and an even colder grandmother who happens to be Queen.

I learned some stuff like you should always apply your hair extensions gradually, so you don’t go from skanky hair one day to full head of gorgeous locks the next. And if you sew weights into your hem, you’ll never have to worry about a wind blowing up your dress. I learned how the upper crust shops and parties, and how the spare to the heir has his own set of problems.

It’s the characters that shine here, from the Prince, his family and his friends to Bex and her family. This book is filled with lots of dish, lots of dirt and lots of fun. I loved it.

4/15 Stacy Alesi AKA the BookBitch

THE ROYAL WE by Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan. Grand Central Publishing (April 7, 2015). ISBN 978-1455557103. 464p.

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IT HAPPENED ONE WEDDING by Julie James

April 17, 2015

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FBI/US Attorney Book 5

After I recently read a contemporary romance that didn’t thrill me, I was determined to find one that did. A friend recommended this Julie James book so I did a little research. This book was on so many best romances of the year lists for 2014 I quickly got on board. And am I glad I did – I found a new author that I will continue reading. Plus this is book 5 of a series which means there at least 4 more I can get my hands on.

Sidney Sinclair has just moved home to Chicago from New York when she lands the career move of a lifetime – director of a huge investment fund. It’s good timing too, she recently dumped her fiance after she found out he was cheating on her and was ready to get back in the dating game.

Sidney’s younger sister Isabelle is thrilled her big sister is home, especially after she finds herself pregnant and engaged with a quick wedding on the horizon. Isabelle and Simon may not have known each other long, but they were both sure they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. The happy couple invites their siblings to dinner so they can all meet.

Simon’s big brother Vaughn is a bad ass FBI agent who is gorgeous and knows it. He is a player, and Sidney can spot his type a mile off. They butt heads right from the get go but will annoyance turn to love? You bet, this is a romance and it is hot, hot, hot!

I loved this fast paced romance. The characters were believable, their stumbling blocks realistic, and having a wedding as a backdrop just added to the charm of this book. I’m looking forward to reading more of this author.

4/15 Stacy Alesi AKA the BookBitch

IT HAPPENED ONE WEDDING by Julie James. Jove (May 6, 2014). ISBN 978-0425251270. 304p. Kindle

3 Comments | Book Reviews, Fiction, Romance | Permalink
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STILL THE ONE by Jill Shalvis

April 12, 2015

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An Animal Magnetism Novel (Book 6)

I don’t read a lot of contemporary romance. There are a couple of authors that I like – Susan Wiggs and JoJo Moyes, one that I love, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and that’s about it so far. But I am big fan of the Library Reads list, and this book made the April list so I read it.

The main characters were interesting. Darcy had an unusual childhood. Her parents travelled the world, often abandoning her in schools. Then she was in a horrible car accident that left her in a wheelchair, and they never even came to visit. Luckily, physical therapist AJ got her walking again. She made a pass at him which he turned down, leaving her bitter.

AJ has applied for a grant to be able to continue physical therapy for people whose insurance has run out. He needs to bring Darcy along as an example, except she doesn’t know he did that for her, and she hasn’t recovered from his rejection. But she finally agoutlived rees when he offers to pay her. Darcy’s goal in life is to rescue service dogs that haven’t worked out so the cash will come in handy.

Getting snowed in gives their relationship a big turn but Darcy is still gun shy, and AJ is too. Will they get past all their differences? Of course, this is a romance!

I liked the characters a lot. What I didn’t like was the repetition. This seems to be a common failing in all sorts of romances and it drives me crazy. Why is it necessary to repeat ad nauseum the problems they each have in their past? Tell me once and I’ve got it. Tell me twice and I can live with that. But tell me over and over and I want to throw the book across the room. I didn’t, and I finished it, but it was a disappointing read because of that.

This is the second time I haven’t loved a “Library Reads” recommendation, but fortunately, that is a very small minority so I will continue checking out their lists every month. I don’t think I’ll read another Shalvis book though.

4/15 Stacy Alesi AKA the BookBitch

STILL THE ONE by Jill Shalvis. Berkley (April 7, 2015). ISBN 978-0425270189. 320p.

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WHAT A RECKLESS ROGUE NEEDS by Vicky Dreiling

March 21, 2015

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The Sinful Scoundrels (Book 2)

This is my second Vicky Dreiling book. Unfortunately, I didn’t remember I had read her before until I got to the end of this one and the “preview” of the next book in the series, What a Devilish Duke Desires. After reading the preview, I realized I had read that book and ended up just skimming most of it. I won’t review a book I haven’t read in its entirety, so I never reviewed it. I did read this book, although I’m pretty sure I nodded off now and again.

The premise is a fairly common one; Colin Brockhurst, Earl of Ravenshire, a rakehell, assumes his family home, where his mother is buried, will someday be his. But he receives a letter from his father informing him that the property is to be sold. He rushes home and his father tells him he can have the property if he marries within 6 weeks.

Lady Angeline grew up as Colin’s neighbor but his drunken appearance at her debut made them enemies. Lady Angeline has a problem; she broke off her engagement to the scurrilous Brentmoor, who subsequently spread lies about her, severely damaging her reputation. The only way to salvage it is to marry quickly, and to someone with a title.

I usually love this storyline but not so much here. You know from the get go they will end up together, and that’s fine. But what isn’t fine is the repetition – the thoughts, the dialogue, the dog peeing in the water closet. There is more than one way to express a thought or emotion but not in this book. Some of the actions didn’t make sense either – she’s a virgin with a sullied reputation yet doesn’t hesitate to jump into bed?

I was too invested in these characters to give it up but I really can’t recommend this book.

3/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

WHAT A RECKLESS ROGUE NEEDS by Vicky Dreiling. Forever (March 25, 2014). ISBN 978-0062334657. 384p.

1 Comment | Book Reviews, Fiction, Romance | Tagged: Historical | Permalink
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CATCH A FALLING HEIRESS by Laura Lee Guhrke

March 5, 2015

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This is my second try at a Laura Lee Guhrke book and I liked this one a lot – more than How to Lose a Duke in Ten Days.

Linnet is a wealthy New Yorker in search of a husband. Her mother is convinced that she should marry an English peer, someone with a good title and there are plenty of impoverished Earls, Barons and so forth who could use a little American money. But Linnet isn’t interested in buying a husband; she wants to marry an American and stay in New York.

Nonetheless, her mother drags her off to London for the Season, where she collects several marriage proposals but turns them all down. After arriving back home, she meets Frederick, whom she had a serious crush on as a girl. To her surprise, he declares he’s madly in love with her and begs her to elope. She’s a bit hesitant but intrigued, and she agrees to a clandestine meeting. That meeting is interrupted by the Earl of Featherstone, who manages to ruin her reputation with one kiss. He immediately proposes, but Linnet is too angry to even answer. Linnet knows she needs to marry and fast, but she doesn’t want to be bartered in a business deal.

Finding true love is never easy, but it is a lot of fun in this clever, lighthearted romance.

3/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

CATCH A FALLING HEIRESS by Laura Lee Guhrke. Avon (January 27, 2015). ISBN 978-0062334657. 384p.

2 Comments | Book Reviews, Fiction, Romance | Tagged: Historical | Permalink
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ONE GOOD EARL DESERVES A LOVER by Sarah MacLean

February 24, 2015

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Rules of Scoundrels (Book 2)

First up, I must confess I didn’t read book one of this series. That said, after reading this one I probably will.

Our heroine drew me in right away, described as “brilliant, bespectacled daughter of a double marquess [who] cares more for books than balls.” I was hooked by reading the back cover.

Lady Phillipa, better known as Pippa, is engaged to be married to a very nice Earl, but a rather simple one who doesn’t seem too interested in her. Pippa is resigned to the fact that she will spend the rest of her life living with a man she likes but does not love, but who will allow her to keep her dogs and her scientific experiments.

When she’s two weeks away from the wedding, Pippa decides she needs to learn more about sex than she can find in books, and she figures the best way is to ask a scoundrel to help her out.

Cross is a well known rogue and owner of gambling hell, but when Pippa propositions him in her scientific way, he is determined to treat her like the lady she is. But she is smart and tenacious, and she perseveres. Cross is as smart as Pippa, and just as determined not to let her get her way or learn about the skeletons in his closet.

It is a lot of fun watching the two of them spar. Pippa is so smart about some things, and very naive about others, and that really helps make her character come to life. There is a lot of heat in this romance, but a lot of tenderness too. I really enjoyed it.

2/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

ONE GOOD EARL DESERVES A LOVER by Sarah MacLean. Avon (January 29, 2013). ISBN 978-0062068538. 384p.

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