Review: Hope Flames by Jaci Burton

Hope Flames by Jaci Burton
published by Berkley in January 2014

Thirty-two and finally setting up her veterinary practice in the town she once called home, Emma Burnett is on her own and loving it. Independent and driven, she's not letting any man get in the way of her dreams. Not again.

That's fine with Luke McCormack. Divorced and hardly lacking in female company when he needs it, he's devoted to the only faithful companion in his life--his police dog. Still, there's something about Emma he can't shake.

When a series of local break-ins leaves Emma vulnerable, she seeks help from the first man to spark her desire in years. And now they're giving each other something they thought they'd lost forever...hope

Genre: Contemporary romance
Series: Hope, Book #1

The Story: When Emma Burnett was in college, she met a man and put aside her dreams... never imagining that she was embarking in an abusive relationship. However, she was strong enough to get out and put her life back together. At thirty-two, Emma is now realizing her dreams of setting up her own veterinary practice in her hometown of Hope. For the past few years, Emma's focus has been on her studies, her work and had no time for a man. And she's not looking for one, especially not when her booming business is keeping her so busy. If only she didn't find Luke McCormack so attractive...

Luke McCormack comes from a rancher family, but decided to pursue a career in law enforcement. He's currently working for Hope police department with his K9 dog, Boomer, while waiting for an opportunity in a bigger city. He's been burned once by marriage and is therefore determined to keep his interactions with women restricted to sex, ideally one-night stands... that is until he meets Emma.

Neither is looking for a relationship, but they are both attracted to each other. What to do?

My Opinion: I'm going to start this review by stating right away that it was me and not the book. Just keep that in mind.

In the past few years, I feel that Ms Burton has really made a name for herself in contemporary romance, especially with her Play by Play series. Hope Flames is pretty much what you would expect from Ms Burton: nice characters and development, good writing and some steamy scenes :) The problem is I found Hope Flames to be boring ^_^; There was nothing refreshing or different in Hope Flames to set it apart from all the other contemporary romances out there, especially not the romance storyline. Once again, it was about two characters not looking for a relationship, who had sex and somehow embarked in a fling which became more and eventually ended with "I love you." Sounds familiar? Even the addition of cute pets couldn't chase away the feeling of deja-vu and ennui :(

To Ms Burton's credit, she did try to inject a bit of content to the book by adding a series of break-ins. The problem is that she never really developed this part of the story. They happened and Luke as a cop had to work on it, but that's pretty much it. The arrest of the perp was totally anti-climatic. As for Emma's ex suddenly coming back in the picture, to me, it was superfluous. It was just too convenient a way to create conflict in the romance and I really wasn't impressed with Emma's attitude afterwards.

Seriously, have I not known Hope Flames was written by Ms Burton and the start of a new series, I would have sworn it was part of Ms Shalvis' Animal Magnetism series. The characters, the pets and the small town feel were exactly the same... While both authors are good, one such series is enough in my opinion. I think it's time that Berkley and authors shake things up and take some risk instead of playing it safe.

My Grade: C. There was nothing wrong Hope Flames. I'm sure that it will be a comfort read for some. For me though, it was just one more contemporary romance following a pattern I've grown tired of ^_^;;

Monthly Reads - March 2013

So, I finally managed to write-up this Monthly Reads post... Yay me! LOL. I'm so behind, it's not even funny ^_^;

Seriously, I don't really remember the month of March ^_^; There was curling, that much I know... and tubing, I think? Sigh, time just flies by so quickly. But at least, I remembered what the books I read were about... well almost all :) Take a look!

***

1) Wild Invitation by Nalini Singh

Wild Invitation is a compilation of novellas that Ms Singh has written for the Psy-Changelings series over the years. It includes Beat of Temptation, Stroke of Enticement and two new novellas: Declaration of Courtship and Texture of Intimacy. As I've already read Beat of Temptation and Stroke of Enticement, I only focused on the two new novellas.

Declaration of Courtship is SnowDancer's lieutenant Cooper's love story with Grace, a submissive wolf. We are actually told a few details about Cooper and Grace pairing in Kiss of Snow and Tangle of Need, but never really got the whole story. Well now, we got it :) As much as I enjoy Ms Singh's writing... I have to say this short story didn't do much for me ^_^; Part of it is because I didn't really connect with the characters. It's hard to believe, but not every character need their own story, especially a pair that we already knew were mated. Perhaps if the story had been about a mated pair instead of how they became mated, it would have been more interesting, different. Also, Declaration of Courtship was really all about the romance between Cooper and Grace. No intrigue, no suspense... not even any development to the Psy-Changelings storyline. What makes the story stands out is the fact that Grace is a submissive wolf which we haven't seen much in the series. Otherwise, not a very memorable novella for me. C-

Texture of Intimacy is the reason why I bought Wild Invitation because it's a new novella about Lara and Walker. I love this pairing and feel they deserved their own book instead of being the secondary romance in Kiss of Snow. As such, I was really excited to read more about them... but in the end, I was still left a bit dissatisfied because I expected more, wanted more. Texture of Intimacy takes place between Kiss of Snow and Tangle of Need - i.e. after they become a couple and before they are officially married. It is basically a glimpse of what Lara and Walker's life has become together... I really love Walker's character, such a strong, quiet man. His quiet strength is just so appealing and I feel he's the glue in the Laurens family. The one who takes care of Toby and Marlee, who looks out for Sierra and on whom Judd can lean. And I'm thrilled that he has found someone who makes him happy :) However, as much as I enjoy this pairing and the characters' interactions - Walker and Lara and the kids - it would have been better if the novella had be more than just a glimpse of their lives. A conflict or an intrigue would have made Texture of Intimacy more satisfying in my opinion. C+


2) Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs: B+


3) High Risk by Vivian Arend: B-


4) A Most Improper Rumor by Emma Wildes: B-
Upcoming Review.


5) Slashback by Rob Thurman: B


6) Revenge of the Girl with a Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg

After Take A Bow, I was really looking forward to Ms Eulberg's newest release... but it seems that I only really like every other book of hers ^_^;  It's not that Revenge of the Girl with a Great Personality was bad, but just not great. There was a lot of positive to the book so let's start with that first. As usual, I enjoyed Ms Eulberg's writing - she has a nice style, very easy to read and in addition, she doesn't follow a pattern in her story-telling and therefore, her stories are different from book to book :) I also found the theme - beauty pageant - to be very interesting and liked where Ms Eulberg went with it, exploring the pressure and the financial strain it puts on a family. What didn't work so well for me was the whole Lexi's make-over story. That part, I found very predictable and stereotypical :( Which is unfortunate, coming from a book titled Revenge of the Girl with a Great Personality. I was expecting Lexi to be unique, to have a personality that really stood out instead of her falling for the suddenly "getting popular with new clothes and make-up" trope and realizing that wasn't what was important. This is what took the book a few notches down for me, especially since she kept pining after a guy that didn't seem crush-worthy and as a result, lost out on a great guy. I guess it's a good life lesson for her though. I also had higher hopes about Lexi's friendships. She had two best friends, but those relationships were already established and personally, I didn't quite see the chemistry :( Overall, some mixed feelings about Revenge of the Girl with a Great Personality, but what tipped the balance is the fact that not everything has been resolved and tied up in a neat nice bow at the end and I appreciated that, made the story more realistic :) C+

7) Thrown by a Curve by Jaci Burton

Another book I have mixed feelings about. I initially wanted this book because I read the excerpt at the end of Playing to Win and liked the plot idea where the heroine is a physical therapist and finds herself in charge of the hero's - a star pitcher - rehab. On that front, I really enjoyed Thrown by a Curve. It was refreshing to actually see the jock going through physical rehab with all the work, the fear and the frustration it entails. It was more than just the "I want to get back to the game" feeling that we usually get from injured heroes. I also liked Alicia's attitude towards Garrett. She didn't coddle him like the other physical therapists :) What didn't work as well for me was the romance :( I didn't like Alicia's wishy-washy attitude... She was clearly attracted but didn't know what to do about it. There was also the fact that it made their relationship unprofessional :( I don't know, but sleeping with your physical therapist/patient is not the smartest idea. As much as they were attracted to each other, I think that both could have waited till their working relationship was over to give in. By the way, this is getting really old :( Seriously, I love romance and I get attraction and lust... However, most of the H/H we read about are adults... So can't they act like it and be clear-minded instead of always succumbing to lust? Anyway, getting back to Thrown by a Curve, I just wished Alicia had been more decisive and once they did have sex, that both bear the consequences instead of trying to back-pedal. Finally, the last thing that bothered me was how stupid Garrett was at the end, accepting someone else's help with his rehab. Seriously?! Your girlfriend has poured all her efforts in the last few months working with you to make your arm better and as soon as rehab shows results, you're jumping to another ship accepting the help of her boss without talking to her... And by the way, her boss has not consulted her either! Really brilliant - not. I also thought Alicia's boss was very unprofessional and disrespectful. C+


8) The Last Viking by Sandra Hill

I picked this book up on a co-worker's recommendation. She told me how funny the series was and I thought I'd give it a try... I guess she and I simply have different tastes ^_^; Okay, actually, she was right... the beginning of The Last Viking was indeed funny. The story is about a viking that travel through time in an unknown fashion and finds himself in 1999. So the first part of the book is about Geirolf Ericsson adapting to this new world and to technology... Cars, computers, fridges, TV, building, tools and so on :) However, once the humor wears off, so does the enjoyment of this book. While Rolf is adapting to some aspects of modern technology, he is still very much a viking and some of his thinking doesn't evolve... So he dishes out his ancient thinking at our heroine, Meredith... and guess what? She takes it! There's also the fact that Rolf believes he needs to go back to his time to help save his family and it leaves Meredith broken-heart... and she does nothing about it. Not trying to keep him, not trying to find another solution, not wanting to go with him. In the end, I found Meredith's character to be too wishy-washy and stubborn, having no spine to go after what will make her happy and weak... I didn't really like her character and it ruined the book for me :( D+

9) Also Known As by Robin Benway

I've read one book before by Ms Benway, The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June, and therefore was interested to read Also Known As. The thing though is I didn't really know what to expect story-wise. As it turns out, our heroine, Maggie, is a 16 years old girl who grew up soaking her parents' trade: international spies. She turns out to be a genius safe-cracker and her skills are needed for the next mission in New York City. In the meantime, she needs to blend in at her private high school where for the first time in her life, she starts making friends... Roux the ex-mean, popular girl who slept with her best friend's boyfriend and therefore is now a social outcast and Jesse Oliver, a nice, popular boy and also the son of Maggie's target. Overall, Also Known As was a quick read. I enjoyed the writing and Maggie's interactions with the others. I liked that she had a close relationship with her parents, perhaps because or their situation is so particular, and felt that the sudden awkwardness between them was very realistic. I also liked Maggie's new friends, particularly Roux. I can't deny a certain pleasure at seeing a mean girl getting comeuppance, but at the same time, Roux broke my heart because it's obvious how lonely she is :( And not just because she didn't have friends, but her parents' negligence... As for Jesse, he was charming and crushy-worthy :) While Maggie had to lie to her new friends for most of the book, I'm glad that she came clean to them and let them on when it was necessary :) As much as I enjoyed reading Also Known As, I do have one complaint and that is the storyline. I think Ms Benway was aiming for something similar to Ms Carter's Gallagher Girls series; however, she missed the mark because she lacked a solid intrigue/mystery and the thrilling aspect of it. Like with The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June, I feel like Ms Benway has a good idea in mind, but isn't able to fully develop it and doesn't have a full grasp onto it. As a result, this idea which should be the foundation of the story instead becomes something secondary, almost like an afterthought. Add in the short timeline which makes everything seemed rushed and what you get is a book with great potential and missed opportunities. C+


10) Written in Red by Anne Bishop: A


11) Midnight Blue-Light Special by Seanan McGuire

After the events of Discount Armageddon, life goes on as usual for Verity... but not for very long. She's unsure of her status with Dominic and before things can be cleared up, he comes with the news that the monster-hunting Covenant of St-Georges is sending a party to start a purge, i.e. killing everything and everyone who isn't human. Verity spreads the word out to all cryptids, but not everyone can evacuate New York City and therefore, Verity must step up to the plate and protect her city.

I think Midnight Blue-Light Special was on par with Discount Armageddon. It was a nice read and passed time, but I didn't love it or feel the need to climb the curtains because I wanted the next book so much ^_^; I enjoyed the writing and the new characters introduced, especially Uncle Mike, and liked that we got to know Verity more. And those Aeslin mice? You can't help but have a huge smile on your face LOL. I was also happy that we got Sarah's POV. She was an interesting character and I was curious about her. I thought she'd be tougher though, a bit more like Verity. However, when you think about it, she's never had to really fight given her mental powers... and she was there when Verity needed her. It was a different kind of bravery. The let-down for me with Midnight Blue-Light Special was the plot, once again ^_^; It seems like I'm being picky, but I can't help it. It's simply that there was a lot of build-up for the Covenant of St-Georges and the purge and in the end, it feels like nothing really happened. Talk about anti-climatic. It seemed to me that the Covenant were more interested in Verity than the cryptids in the city... Finally, there's Verity's realizations at the end. The first is that she is in love with Dominic and vice versa and the second, that her real vocation is being a cryptiologist and not dance. Both realizations were a bit abrupt to me. Yes, they were in the works and it was logical, but I didn't see really see what made Verity come to those revelations. C

12) You Are Invited by Holly Jacobs: B-

This was a sweet and enjoyable category romance that I picked up. The story is about Mattie Keith whose best friend, Bridget, has passed away from cancer and has left her the custody of her three kids. Mattie has always been a wanderer, moving around the country from town to town and holding odd jobs; however, she steps up to the plate and is trying to do her best for Zoe, Mickey and Abbey - 11, 8 and 6 respectively. However, Bridget's brother, Finn, doesn't make it easy. A successful surgeon, Finn feels guilty for not having been there enough for his sister. He doesn't want to make the same mistake with his nieces and nephew and therefore fights Mattie for the children's custody, believing that he can provide them a better lifestyle.

So I thought Ms Jacobs did a great job the characters and their feelings. Mattie is a great woman, changing her life around to take care of Zoe, Mickey and Abbey. Everyone is still grieving for Bridget and adapting to these major changes. As much as Mattie loves them, there are moments of resentment which is totally understandable. Then, Ms Jacobs brings in Finn who needs to rebuild his relationship with Zoe, find time for his family. That part of the book was excellent and very realistic. What didn't work as well for me was the romance. For most of the book, the focus was the family and finding an arrangement for the custody... As a result, I felt the romance between Mattie and Finn was very abrupt, sudden. Their romance wasn't gradual. It went from 0, we are fighting for custody, to 60, we are in love. I would have liked more development, more romantic scenes for the two of them. Another niggle I had with You Are Invited was the custody battle. I was annoyed with Finn for his reasoning: he had money therefore he could give the kids things that Mattie couldn't. That's true; however, what's also true was that with his job, Finn had no time and couldn't put them front and center in his life like Mattie could do. If the whole battle was really about money, I don't see why Finn couldn't help Mattie financially. Why did the money seem available only if he was the guardian? That didn't make sense to me :( Finally, as much as I found You Are Invited enjoyable while reading it, I have to take the grade down from a B to a B- because the story wasn't very memorable. Just before writing this post, I looked at the title and the author's name and simply couldn't remember the story of this book... and I'm usually really good at it. So a solid story which doesn't stand out ^_^;


13) Once Tempted by Laura Moore: C+
Upcoming Review.

***

Balance
Books bought: +8
Books read: -13
TBR pile: -5


Genres
Category Romance - 1
           --> (Contemporary - 1)
Contemporary Romance - 3
Historical Romance - 1
          -->(Regency - 1)
Romantic Suspense/Mystery - 1
Young Adult - 2
Paranormal - 1
Urban Fantasy - 4

***

Nowadays, if I hit the double digits number of reads, I consider it a good month :) Yep, I'm that easy... or desperate LOL. But seriously, 13 is not bad at all :) Pretty much what I'm used to reading I would say. There were some really good reads which I actually did manage to review... Again, yay me! LOL. Among them, Written in Red by Anne Bishop really stood out for me. Definitively the read of the month, closely followed by Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs and Slashback by Rob Thurman. Looks like I'm still on a urban fantasy kick :) Then there were a lot of okay/good reads. Seriously though, after writing this post, I'm wondering if I'm not too picky? And I'm starting to realize that they are characters readers - those for whom the H/H are the most important element in a book - and that I'm a story reader. Of course, characters are important, especially the main ones... but to me, it's more the story, plot, mystery, suspense, conflict, etc. that I remember. And if a book can have both, winner :P So yeah, March was a nice month reading-wise. Not a great one, but not a bad one either :)

What about you? How was March? Do you remember? LOL.

Week-End's Minis XXIX: Playing to Win by Jaci Burton

Playing to Win by Jaci Burton

published by Berkley in September 2012

Someone’s going to have to let down their guard…

Football star Cole Riley is notorious for doing as he pleases—on the field and off. He parties hard and fights harder, but if he doesn’t clean up his act, his career is over—so Cole reluctantly agrees to work with image makeover consultant Savannah Brooks. He’s not used to being told what to do, especially by some (admittedly hot) Southern belle. As for Savannah, she’s not convinced she can transform this cocky (and aggressively sexy) force of nature. But she’s determined to give it her best shot.

When the sparks start to fly, Savannah lays down the ground rules: no personal complications. If she can turn off the tingle she feels every time Cole gives her a hot stare with his gorgeous baby blues, he can turn off his desire as well. But for two people determined to have it all, a hands-off policy can only last so long before one of them yields.

Genre: Contemporary romance, sports romance
Series: Play by Play, Book #4

What do you need to know? Cole Riley is a good football player, but he has some attitude problems and a bad reputation, most of it over-exaggerated by the media. Thanks to Elizabeth Darnell, Cole got a contract with the Traders of St. Louis... To ensure that Cole remains with the Traders, Elizabeth has hired Savannah Brooks, an image makeover consultant, to rebuild Cole's reputation. And let just say that Cole is very resistant to the idea, deeming that he is not the problem, but the lies that the media make up are. In addition, he's been attracted to Savannah from the first glimpse, so he's not thrilled that she's been hired to change him. As for Savannah, she doesn't want to miss business with pleasure, but the temptation is hard to resist...

Why this book? I read a few good reviews about this book, so wanted to give it a shot :)

What did I like? As usual, I enjoyed Ms Burton's writing. It flows well, it's easy to read and it suits the books she writes :) I also thought the storyline had a lot of potential... and the H/H definitively have chemistry together and that makes for some very intense and hot scenes :)

What didn't work? I'm most probably in the minority here, but I had difficulty connecting and liking Cole and Savannah. I thought Cole could really be paranoid and a jerk at times and he seemed to have some anger management issues. Some of behavior was explained, but some of it not and that's the part I had difficulty with. Like insisting he didn't need to change and his family making excuses for him when I felt some of it was a bit overboard. As a whole though, Cole wasn't that bad, but I didn't fall in love with him, didn't feel like rooting for him.

Then, there was also Savannah. On the surface, I thought I'd like her more than Cole... but in truth, I think I had more issues with her character ^_^; What bothered me the most is how she felt she had the right to get into Cole's business, but not the other way around. I know she was hired to be his image makeover consultant, so indeed, she had a right. But very quickly, her relationship with Cole was more than just client-consultant. As her lover, I thought he had a right as well. It just made for a very uneven relationship I think. In addition, I would have liked to see Savannah work with other clients. She said that Cole wasn't her only one, but we had no proof. Furthermore, I felt her approach with Cole was very personal, too much... Especially for someone who said she didn't want to mix business and pleasure. From the start, it felt like untrue by the way she acted. Finally, as I said, Cole wasn't that bad... so I'm surprised that no PR person could actually salvage Cole's image before. I know that otherwise, we wouldn't have a story, but I thought it could have been harder for Savannah.

My Grade?. C. I had some issues with Playing to Win, but I still think it was an okay book. I would have enjoyed it better if I had connected with the characters. Gotta say though, I'm really looking forward to the next book, Thrown by a Curve, having read the excerpt :)

Monthly Reads: December 2011

Yes, I finally did it!! I have completed my Monthly Reads post for December 2011!!!! Finally, I can say that I am done with 2011!!!! Hip pip pip, hooray!!! LOL, okay, so we're in February, but still. I'm so happy, you guys cannot imagine. If you've been wondering why I've been so quiet, well it's because I've been working on this post since the week-end ^_^;

It is quite long and for that I'm sorry. I did consider splitting it into 2 parts, but that would have just delayed me and I just wanted to be done LOL. As usual, I couldn't be short and concise. I had to ramble and I wonder at times, if it makes sense... If it doesn't, well the only reason I can come up with is that I ran out of steam LOL.

So here we go!

1) Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews: C+

After the events of Bayou Moon, Kaldar Mar wants revenge against The Hand for the family members he lost and therefore became an agent of the Mirror. His latest mission is to retrieve a stolen item. His investigation leads him to Audrey Callahan. Audrey is from a family of grifters/cons and has a particular ability involving locks, but all she wants is to lead a normal life and be left alone by her family. Audrey has no intention to help Kaldar... but it quickly becomes evident she doesn't have a choice.

While I love and adore the Kate Daniels series, I can't say the same about the Edge series. Still, I had hopes and that's why I picked up Fate's Edge. I remember when I first started the Kate Daniels series, I wasn't won over by the first two books... it took Magic Strikes to ignite my love... and I was hoping the same would happen with Fate's Edge. Unfortunately, I'm still left undecided.

In my opinion, the strength of Fate's Edge were the characters. I really liked Kaldar :) He was the ultimate con artist in my opinion. Think Neil Caffey from White Collar, but rough and gritty instead of the sophistication :) His persona was also quite fascinating. He was humorous on the surface, but when you scratched the outside layers, you found someone very intense and loyal. The fact that he placed his family above all... In that aspect, Audrey is the complete opposite. She wanted to break away from her family and it was interesting to see that Kaldar didn't understand that. While I didn't like Audrey as much as Kaldar, mostly because she was a wary character and therefore her personality didn't engage me, she was well developed and layered. It's too bad that with two interesting characters, the romance was weak. I just didn't get the sparks between them. Although I have to admit it was funny when Kaldar proved to be a better con artist than Audrey. She clearly didn't expect it LOL.

Aside from Kaldar and Audrey, it was a joy to see the familiar faces of Georges, Jack and Gaston. I loved the interactions between the boys and Kaldar. Poor Kaldar, suddenly being saddled with them LOL. Luckily, he had experience with kids. I liked seeing Georges and his determination... but I found it sad that Jack hasn't matured after 4 years. I know he's a shapeshifter, but I don't think that excuses it. There's just something about his character...

Finally, the storyline was okay. There was plenty of action, but it didn't have me turning the pages as fast as I could. I think one reason for me is that the world building is still confusing, if not weak. There's just so much: the Broken, the Weird, the Edge, the Hand, the Mirror and so on... and all of it is still not well defined for me. The fact that we keep going back and forth between books doesn't help either :(

In the end, I still don't know where I stand with this series. I really don't have the urge to read more, but at the same time, there are some characters I'd be interested to read about such as Richard, Kaldar's older brother... But from what I understand, whether there is more books in this series is a really big if.

2) A Note in the Margin by Isabelle Rowan: C-

John McCann is an ambitious man who has worked hard and is about to achieve his professional dreams. Unfortunately, he'll have to wait due to health issues. His doctor has advised him to change his lifestyle, go for something less stressful... and that's how John ends up the proud owner of Margins, an independent bookstore. While the bookstore is just a temporary situation, John intends to turn it around and that means implementing some changes... The first one would be not to let people linger the whole day, reading in the used books section - especially a homeless man. However, the homeless man, David, is a regular and also John's employee's friend. And as time goes by, a bond between John and David is forged... but David has a lot of baggage that might not fit well in John's plans.

I want to start by saying that A Note in the Margin was a poignant story, but unfortunately, not my type of books. It was just a bit too deep for me ^_^; It focused on the relationship between John and David and while I liked that part, I kept wondering why. Why would John change his life around for David. Okay, I know, he loves David... but why was he attracted to David in the first place? Also, why did David leave his family? Was he suffering from depression? Was he tired of living a life that wasn't his? I know that it happens, that some people just up and leave and sometimes, for no reasons... but I like to understand things and it didn't really happen here. Nonetheless, I liked the relationship between John and David, how they both really wanted and put the efforts into it, even though it wasn't easy. However, it wouldn't be a book I'd read again.


3) The Lady's Secret by Joanna Chambers: B
Upcoming Review.


4) Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep: C+
Upcoming Review.


5) Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder: B-


6) Gimme a Call by Sarah Mlynowski: B
Upcoming Review.

7) The One that I Want by Jennifer Echols: D

I usually enjoy Ms Echols books, but this one really didn't work for me. The story is about Gemma who is trying out to be a majorette because she's being pressured by her "best friend" Addison. Gemma has always been good twirling her batons, but the issue is that she is chubby. So through the whole summer, she's been losing weight in preparation... and she makes it! So during camp, she meets Max' who is the star kicker for the opposite team and has a crush on him. Unfortunately, Max chooses to go out with Addison and Gemma is stuck with Max' best friend... or so she thinks.

Ugh, so The One that I Want was all about high school drama. I really disliked the fact that Gemma let Addison push her around. She knows that Addison is not a good friend and despite everything, remains friend with the girl. That simply baffled me. Sometimes, being alone is better than being with a back-stabber friend. Just saying. So in my opinion, Gemma should had ditched Addison a long time ago, especially since she couldn't be trusted. Then, knowing Addision, Gemma should have known that something was up with the pairing.

As for the rest, it felt like there were issues just to be issues. There was not much that I liked... Gemma was an okay heroine. At least she knew about Addison and was wary, which makes her smart in my book. Plus, I like her sense of individualism and independence. But some of her action really made me wonder. Like her making out with Max' best friend when she's not attracted to him? Why? As for Max, I liked the fact that he was Asian and playing football LOL... but otherwise, he didn't make a better impression than Gemma.

8) Only Us by Susan Mallery: C

Carina Fiore is a pet groomer who works in Dr. Cameron McKenzie's vet clinic. She also takes care of his daughter and their arrangement seems to suit them both. Except that Carina has been in love with Cameron for a while and she needs to either confess or let go. However, Cameron has been burned before and he's not sure it's a good idea to get involved with the woman who takes care of his daughter, even though she's great and attractive. Cameron wants everything to remain the same, but can they?

Okay, let's clear out one thing... It seems to me that once love is confessed, things can never go back to normal. Ideally, it should, but reality is different. There's always a bit of discomfort and embarrassment and I think in that case, distance and time are two good things... but do not let the ball drop. Anyway, I'm saying this because I feel that in the end, Cameron's reasons to turn down Carina was stupid. He doesn't want things to change, doesn't want to lose Carina. After her confession, you really think that she'll stay, watching you going out with other women?!? That's why he should have gone for her instead. In the end, it feels like he only accepted her because she threatened to leave. It puts a doubt on the sincerity of his feelings :(

Anyway. I did enjoy Carina and Cameron's daughter, Kaitlyn, relationship :) And as a whole, everyone was really good people.

9) Winning the Wallflower by Eloisa James: B-

Lady Lucy Towerton is engaged to Mr. Cyrus Ptolemy Ravensthorpe, a rich and dashing businessman. When Lucy suddenly inherited a fortune and becomes an heiress, she is urged by her mother to ditch Cyrus and set her cap for a title... but, Lucy is in love with Cyrus. However, after a frank discussion with Cyrus, she discovers that Cyrus only needed a wife with a good background, that he didn't really have feelings for her, and she therefore calls it off.

Cyrus is an ambitious man with plans. He wants to gain back his mother's status, the daughter of an aristocrat who caused a scandal by marrying the family solicitor. Already, he has attained great wealth and has acquired a country estate... The next step is a wife. He has chosen Lady Lucy because she was a wallflower and therefore had not much prospect, but also because she was easy on the eye. After Lucy calls it off, Cyrus realizes the treasure he had under his nose... and he intends to win it back.

Winning the Wallflower was a really cute and charming story :) I liked both the H/H, their personalities but also what drove them. I thought it was honorable from Cyrus to wants to regain his mother's status :) Although he did go to the extreme and perhaps was a bit too focused LOL. Also, I really liked how methodical and organized he was with the Plan! In the end, I think that Cyrus needed a wake-up call and got it when Lucy broke off the engagement. I did like that he went after her, not because of his bruised ego - although there was a bit of that - but because he realized she was a good woman :) As for Lucy, she was really the type of heroine you want to read about. I loved how she finally took control of her life and didn't settle for a pair of pretty eyes. She deserved more and she was not about to settle, even if it meant perhaps not getting married.

The romance was very sweet and enjoyable. Obviously, I wished the story had been a bit longer - isn't that always the case with good novellas? :) Although I do think the novella ended at an awkward moment...  and I'm a bit disappointed though that we never saw Lucy confront her mother.

10) It Happened One Christmas by Kaitlin O'Riley: C-

Ms O'Riley is an author I've had on my radar for a while. Finally I thought I should give her a try by picking up It Happened One Christmas as I was in the mood for a Christmas-themed book. It Happened One Christmas is the third book in the Hamilton series and is Lisette's story. Lisette has been waiting for Henry to be settled enough to propose... and he finally does - just when she meets another interesting man, Quinton Roxbory, a younger son of an earl and a rising architect. Unfortunately, Quinton is also an engaged man... and both wonder if they are engaged to the wrong person.

So It Happened One Christmas was a well-written book, but... it was also a tad boring ^_^; Nothing exciting happened, the tone was a bit monotonous. There wasn't really anything that stood out enough for me to be engaged. Actually, there was - I liked the street urchin's storyline, but in the end, I thought it was superfluous. It was like two parallel storylines that intersect near the end, but with no real connection. I think the problem was that the storyline was a bit too obvious. Yes, I know, this is a romance... but here we are, with our H/H who are each engaged to different person. They meet and there is a connection between them, a chemistry... and fate has it that they keep crossing path. Then you learn that Lisette's fiancée is a stable staid man and Quinton's fiancée, the spoiled daughter of a duke. Right away, you know there's no passionate love between the H/H and their respective betrothed and therefore, no real conflict to stop them from being together. Anything they come up with are simply excuses ^_^;

Another thing that bothered me - and this is me nick-picking - is the fact that people called Quinton Mr instead of Lord. Aren't younger sons and daughters of earl still called Lord? I know it's not something really important, but it seemed wrong. Of course, I might be wrong - in which case, please let me know!

All in all, I'd read more of Ms O'Riley, but perhaps not this series.

11) Any Man of Mine by Rachel Gibson: C+

Okay, I'm going to skip the synopsis for this one, because I don't really know what to say. Basically, Autumn and Sam met in Las Vegas years ago and a passionate week-end led them to a quickie marriage, a quickie divorce and a son, Connor. Autumn is now an event planner and Sam is a hockey star, playing for the Chinooks of Seattle. A wedding throws them back together and somehow, they start spending more time together and sparks are re-ignited. Only problem is Autumn doesn't know if she can trust Sam again. Guess in the end, I knew what to say LOL.

I've enjoyed Ms Gibson's books in the past, but I have to admit, The Chinooks Hockey team series is not working for me. I can't really pinpoint what is not working, but it goes beyond my dislike of hockey... because I usually enjoy sport romances. Perhaps it's because all of the heroes are pretty  much the same - jocks with inflated ego. Also, the sport aspect has been pretty weak in my opinion. Yet I still bought Any Man of Mine because it was a contemporary sport romances and they are rare these days. And then, it took me a couple of months before reading it, because the reviews have been so-so only.

Perhaps it was due to the low expectations, but I thought Any Man of Mine wasn't that bad. I liked that Sam actually had a relationship with Connor prior to the book. Sure, Sam wasn't going to win any Father of the Year award and wasn't 100% available, but he at least had contact with Connor which is so much more than some fathers. Then, once he realized how much he's hurt Connor by breaking their arrangements, he was genuinely sorry and he tried to do better. Not a perfect father, but a willing one at least and I think that counted for something.

The rest of the book was about Sam and Autumn reconnecting and I thought that was the weak part of the book.  I like second chances story, but I don't really get why Sam suddenly fell in love with Autumn again. Why he wanted to be with Autumn and be a family again. Also, I found it annoying that Autumn would jump back into bed with Sam, but not sure about the rest. I understand Autumn's reservation - she has to think of Connor and also, how Sam treated her the first time around... but in that case, don't start sleeping with him!! I think overall, Any Man of Mine lacked some depth. Had Ms Gibson expands on a few points and this book definitively would have been better.

12) Once Upon a Winter's Eve by Tessa Dare: B-

This is a novella part of Ms Dare's new series. Violet Winterbottom has been hiding in Spindle Cove after her heart has been broken. However, she's about to return to London and have another Season per her family's demands. There is a dance before the night she leaves and Violet attends... but the dance is interrupted when a man, wet and injured, barged in the ballroom and literally falls at Violet's feet. The man is not English and because Violet is the only one who seems to understand him, she is tasked to find out more about him while the militia prepares for an attack.

Okay, so my impression of Once Upon a Winter's Eve is it was better than the first book in the Spindle Cove series, A Night to Surrender. The storyline was more appealing and more exciting in my opinion - although a bit more far-fetched ^_^; I liked Violet, her story and her relationship with the hero.  As for the hero, what he did to Violet was unforgivable really, no matter the pain and grief he felt... but I guess he redeemed himself by risking his mission and reaching out for Violet. Overall, a nice novella.

13) A Rare Gift by Jaci Burton: B-

This was a freebie I got from Harlequin for Christmas. Wyatt Kent is still reeling from his divorce with his ex and it's been already two years. Then, he suddenly finds himself working in close proximity of his ex-sister-in-law Calliope... and Wyatt is attracted! However, no matter how different Calliope is, he's not ready to embark in another relationship... But Calliope intends to make him see reason!

I think having H/H who were ex-in-laws falling in love with each other is always a bit iffy and so authors have to thread carefully to make it work. In the case of A Rare Gift, Ms Burton was successful. I bought the attraction between Calliope and Wyatt and didn't mind that they were ex-in-laws. I do think that Callliope was a bit pushy at times. I agree with her that he needed a push when it came to starting the relationship... but once they did, I thought she could have backed off a little. Yes, it was time for Wyatt to move on, but at the same time to push him to meet with his ex... Was that really for his benefit or for your own? I did like that in the end, Calliope's sister wasn't such a bitch. She did come across as selfish, but I guess they just drifted away. Anyway, a nice novella, but not sure I'd re-read it.

14) The First Love Cookie Club by Lori Wilde: C

There is a legend that "On Christmas Eve, if you sleep with kismet cookies under your pillow and dream of your one true love, he will be your destiny." And so that's why pudgy teenager Sarah Collier ran down the church aisle on Christmas Day in a jingle bell sweater and reindeer antlers, trying to stop Travis Walker from marrying someone else. Humiliating? Yes. That's why Sarah has not set foot back in Twilight ever since. Fast-forward to 8-9 years, Sarah is now a best-seller author for children known as Sadie Cool. She gets a letter asking her to return to Twilight for the sake of a little sick fangirl who turns out to be Travis' daughter. Unbesknownt to Sarah, the cookie club is trying to do a lot more than realize Jazzy's dream... they want to make the legend come true.

I got this book at RWA and figured it'd be a nice read for Christmas. However, I think by the time I read The First Love Cookie Club, I've already saturated on Christmas-themed book. All in all, The First Love Cookie Club was a nice book, but not really memorable. I think it felt a bit too forced, the fact that all those ladies were pushing Travis and Sarah into each other's arm. And when they finally decided to succumb, to throw in the mother? Especially because Raylene had called her back? I think that whole aspect bothered me most, although it did make sense to some extent. It's just, who are you to play with other people's life? I also have to say I didn't care much about Sarah. I just found her a bit too young and self-absorbed. So you've embarrassed yourself years ago. Just move on and live your life. Instead, it seems to me she's been hiding for years. And when it came time for her to be selfish, she wasn't!! Ugh. As for Travis, I just felt like he was a puppet that anyone could pull the strings. His priority was Jazzy, his focus was Jazzy, his life was Jazzy. The rest, people could do whatever he wanted. I think it'd really have been nice if Travis had a male friend, it would have balanced everything out a little bit. Anyway, the best part of this book was the devotion Travis had for his daughter - it was just heart-warming and in the spirit of Christmas.

15) Unlocked by Courtney Milan: B

Unlocked is a novella, therefore short, but it packs quite a punch! The story is about Lady Elaine Warren who after ten seasons has resigned herself to spinsterhood. All she wants is for the ton to stop making fun of her and her mother. However, her hopes are dashed when Evan Carlton, the Earl of Westfeld, returns... or so she thinks. Evan cannot believe that the nickname he's given to Lady Elaine - Lady Equine - because of her laugh is still whispered around after all this time. Now that he's back from his self-imposed exile, it is time for him to step up to the plate and right the wrong he's done.

I really liked this novella, because I felt Ms Milan has captured the human nature. The thoughtlessness of a young man and his cowardice... and the maturity and redemption of the grown man. The wariness of a woman, her strength, her courage and also her forgiveness. Ms Milan's characters were flawed and very real and it made this novella in my opinion. I loved that Evan had the courage to stand up and reveal the truth - I think that was one of the best declarations I've read in a romance. I loved that not all was forgotten when Evan declared himself just so Elaine would marry. That after all the hurt she's endured, she didn't do a complete 180 and fallen in love with him right away. Okay, it didn't take that much time, but hey this was a novella :) In any case, Ms Milan totally won me over with the characters, the depth and the writing. My only question is, where was Elaine's father? All these years, where was he? I'd think that after 3 or 4 seasons, he'd start to try finding out why his pretty daughter didn't have a suitor and arrange something. Luckily for me, it didn't detract too much from the story :)

16) A Taste of Nightlife by Sarah Zettel: C

Charlotte Caine is a chef and half-owner of Nightlife, a Greenwich Village restaurant that caters to humans and paranormals, especially vampires. Her evening starts well, especially when she gets news that the notorious food critic for the vampire community is among the customers. Charlotte intends to impress him with the food. Everything quickly goes downhill when a drunk mage stumbles in Nightlife, makes a scene which causes the fire sprinklers to go off, and is later found dead, drained of blood, in the dining room. When the police starts suspecting her vampire brother, Chet, Charlotte is determined to prove his innocence and finds herself noising around alongside with Anatole Severin, the vampire food critic and also elder in the community, and Brendan Maddox, the dead mage's cousin.

I picked this up because I came across the cover of Let Them Eat Stake and thought the book sounded very interesting. Since it was only coming out this April and it was the second book in the series, I decided to check out the first book, A Taste of Nightlife. What caught my attention was the idea of a human chef, Charlotte, trying to cater to a vampiric clientele - it sounded fun :)

While A Taste of Nightlife is a cozy mystery, it had one of the best paranormal world building I've come across in a while. It was simple, interesting and there was no information dump, instead it was well woven into the storyline. I really, really liked the world Ms Zettel has created, especially when you add in the heroine who is a chef and the restaurant atmosphere. I think I've mentioned it before, but I really like characters who are cooks/chefs because they have so much passion, but also personality :) I think just for the building alone, I would come back to this series! That's how much I liked it.

So the beginning was very strong, with the setting up, introduction of the characters and so on. Unfortunately, when it came to the mystery, it was very convoluted and there wasn't really any explanation... and that's where this book started losing me ^_^; It just started getting confusing as the mystery was a bit all over the place with too much going on. And finally, there was the dreaded love triangle ^_^; That just annoyed me, not only because I wanted it to focus on the mystery for once... but if you're going to introduce romantic elements, it doesn't have to be a love triangle!! Especially when you don't make it clear why these two awesome, charming and powerful men are interested in the girl! Don't get me wrong, I liked Charlotte... but I don't understand why two "pioneers" of their community are attracted to her at the same time. If you really need to do love triangles, then please try to be at least a little original.

In the end, I'm still looking for the perfect cozy mystery series for me and I'm left unsure whether I should pick up Let Them Eat Stake... I guess only time will tell.

17) When a Duke Says I Do by Jane Goodger: B

This book took me by surprise, because I didn't know that Ms Goodger had a release coming out in 2011 :) As soon as I found out, I decided to give this book a go, because it sounded really interesting :)

The story is about Miss Elsie Stanhope who's been betrothed to the future Duke of Kingston since she was a young girl. Her betrothed doesn't seem to be in a hurry to get married and that suits Elsie just fine as she's not ready to leave her father's household and her younger sister Mary behind. Also, the current Duke of Kingston is not an easy man to live with and she wants as little contact with the man as possible. For her next birthday ball, Elsie wants a mural painting in the ballroom and hired the most famous painter to perform the task. Said painter has brought with him his mute young assistant, Andre, and Elsie finds herself intrigued by the man. As Elsie has trouble sleeping in her bed, she has the habit of wandering in the house late at night and ends up keeping Andre company while he paints. One thing leads to another and very quickly, Elsie and Andre are in love with each other. Then, suddenly, the Duke of Kingston is pushing his son to honor the betrothal... There is only one way for Elsie and Andre to have a happy ending and it is for pathologically shy Andre whose real name is Alexander to step up and reveal his true identity.

This book started out strong for me. I really liked Andre/Alexander's character. He definitively was the strong and quiet type, emphasis on quiet... and his past, I can't imagine what he went through. Then again, I think if he had stayed with his family, his father would have broken him. It was better for him to be away and he was lucky that the doctor at the asylum really cared about his patients and noticed the truth about Alexander. I also thought it was admirable that for Elsie, he would renounced to anonymity. That he'd step up and reclaim his birthright. You can see how hard it was for him and yet... he did it. And therefore, it's a bit hard to resent him for his attitude towards Elsie after he stopped her wedding. I definitively think she should have more faith in Alexander, even when her father was pressuring her. Also, the whole thing was pretty ironic as a situation ^_^;

I also liked the story as I thought it was different, original. My problem with When a Duke Says I Do stemmed from Elsie. I actually liked her at first. Her background story was interesting and sad at the same time and it explained really well why she wouldn't sleep in her bed. However, as the story went on, I started caring less and less about her. It seemed to me Elsie should have known better than to spend that much time with Alexander. Sure, Alexander didn't turn her away, but she could have wandered anywhere in the house... Why go back to Alexander night after night? Especially when she knew she was falling in love with him and it couldn't happen. Also, Elsie was portrayed as a very sunny and happy person. She's been sheltered and therefore, a bit naïve in the way life really is... and that really bothered me to a certain degree, because in her mind, Alexander reclaiming his status was going to be easy. A walk in the park. And then when Alexander finally finds the courage to brave his demons, she doesn't have enough faith in him to wait :( Yes, there were evidences, but she threw in the towel too easily for me.

Lastly, I would have liked a little follow-up with the other characters at the end. For example, Elsie jilted fiancé, Oscar. I really would have liked to see his reaction. I would also have liked to have seen more of Alexander's mentor and his mother. In any case, these are small complaints. Overall, When a Duke Says I Do was a strong historical, but more importantly, refreshing :)


18) Trouble at the Wedding by Laura Lee Guhrke
Upcoming Review.


19) Redwood Bend by Robyn Carr
Upcoming Review for Netgalley


20) Magic Gifts by Ilona Andrews
Upcoming Review.

21) If I Stay by Gayle Forman: B

When Mia got in the car with her parents and younger brother for a fun, impromptu family outing, she never expected her life to change forever. In a blink of an eye, Mia went from dozing off to waking up, out of her body. After surgery, Mia's body slips into a coma... Surrounded by her family and friends, Mia has to decide if she can survive her parent's death, if she can stay.

This book first came to my attention when Mollie reviewed it. It sounded like a very deep, touching book... So when it was released in paperback, I picked it up :) However, because I've been expecting to bawl my eyes off, I have been putting it off ^_^; I was finally in the mood in December and I'm glad I've finally read it!

As expected, If I Stay was a very good read. It is a little bit unusual, because not much is happening. The book is a reflection on Mia's life. As she debates whether to stay or not, we get flashbacks of her important moments. How she got into music, how she met her boyfriend Adam, etc. In a way, it's very passive, but it works because of the characters and the writing. There is no doubt that If I Stay is well-written, the style very refreshing. The hospital scenes and the flashbacks really flow seamlessly. Also the author has done a great job selecting the flashbacks. But really, what stands out in this book is the characters. Mia is a great heroine, very well-adjusted in her life. You can feel her love for her parents and younger brother, her passion for the cello and classical music, her chemistry with Adam. Adam was a great boyfriend as well. I loved that the two were different, but that they shared a passion for music :) I loved the moments of selfishness they each had. It just felt so real. And oh, Mia's parents? They were so cool. Quirky and non-conventional, but the best parents I've seen in a YA novel as they did communicate with Mia and Teddy, did bond and have a relationship with them :) In a way, I think it's because they didn't put pressure on themselves or the kids and just lived the kind of life they want :) They did everything on their own terms and that made them great parents :)

There were definitively some good moments in If I Stay such as the scene where Mia's grandfather tells her it's okay if she doesn't stay. That scene was so touching, even thinking about it now makes the tears come T_T And as I said, the characters totally made the book. At the same time, it was a bit uneventful as a story. There was no big secret to uncover, no wrong to right... it was definitively character-centric, but at the same time, it's not as if the relationship could really move forward or develop. Also, in my case, when I read the book, well I was already aware of the ending since there's a sequel Where She Went. So it was a bit anti-climatic and I think it lessened the impact for me, because it didn't turn out to be as emotional as I expected it'd be... And that's why at the end, I'm giving it a B.

22) The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading by Charity Tahmaseb and Darcy Vance: C

Bethany and her best friend, Moni, are geek girls. When Moni decides to participate to the cheerleaders try-out to prove that cheerleaders aren't special and even geek girls can become one, Bethany joins her for support. She never expected they would succeed! Now Bethany's life is busier than ever and she's stuck between two worlds. However, it might be worth it all when Jack, the basketball star and Bethany's long-time crush, finally makes a move.

I'll admit, this is not my type of book. However, I've really been interested and wanting to read this book because of the whole geek girl aspect :) I consider myself a bit of a geek and with shows like The Big Bang Theory and Chuck, I think geeks are on the rise! :) So I was looking forward to this book... Unfortunately, there was nothing really special in The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading to make it really stand out :(

Overall, I think Ms Tahmaseb and Ms Vance did a good job with the geek aspect. It wasn't too stereotypical and overwhelming. Most of it was quite subtle, like Moni's cap: QTπ (Cutie Pie)! I actually think there was room to be even more geeky :) I also liked that becoming a cheerleader didn't change Bethany's life. Sure there were some changes, but the things that really mattered? No.

The rest of the book was just regular high school drama... and the falling-out between Moni and Bethany was too predictable :( I did like Bethany's attitude throughout the book though. She was quite mature, level-headed and realistic. I also liked that Jack was genuinely attracted to Bethany. And that she didn't catch his eye only because she had become a cheerleader. However, I think that something was missing in this relationship. The romance wasn't very engaging and I loath bets! Even if the bet wasn't what Bethany thought it was, it's just a bad idea :( All in all, The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading was a bit of a mixed bag for me. There was definitively some good stuff, but not enough to wow me.

23) Addition by Toni Jordan: D+

The story is about Grace who went through an emotional trauma when she was 8 years old and as a result, her world is now ruled with numbers. One day while grocery shopping, she realizes that she only has 9 bananas in her basket and she absolutely needs 10. Instead of going back to get her 10th banana, she notices that the guy behind her has one lone one in his basket... Who buys only 1 banana? Surely, he won't miss it right? And that's how she meets Sheamus.

I heard of Addition a couple of years ago already. The heroine has a certain type of OCD and I thought it'd be interesting to read about. Different. Unfortunately, I thought this book was so-so only. Perhaps it's my romance reader roots, but still.

The start was very promising. The grocery store scene was really funny and I liked the coffee shop scene as well. Grace's character was also very well-written. She has OCD, but you get the feeling that even though she didn't, she'd still be quirky. What didn't work for me was the Grace and Sheamus relationship. They were cute together, but everything went too fast. There basically was no courting, no trying to understand each other. I think that with someone like Grace who obviously has some baggage, the key is really communication and understanding. I get that Sheamus wanted to help Grace out, that his intentions were honorable. Still, you don't barge into someone's life and start changing things up. Also, it was bad from Grace to go along and never tell Sheamus the truth. So starting from that point, the book went downhill for me. Plus, Grace's fixation on her hero, some inventor that also had OCD, got old real fast. She would go off and off and that dragged the book :( I have to say though, I'm happy at the ending :)


Books bought: + 7
Books read: -23
TBR pile: -16

So I did finish the year 2011 with a bang. 23 books! I think that's the most I've read in a month in a long long time. It was partly due to the number of novellas I've read, but also because I wanted to reach 200 books and I did :) I also didn't realize how little books I've bought! I've been such a good girl! LOL. Now, I really feel like I'm due for a book shopping spree :)

Now that I'm done with 2011, I want to focus on catching up on full reviews :) Not just from 2011, but this past month as well. Then, I'll have to start working on my Monthly Reads post for January. I'm thinking though that I need to change something... I'm toying with the idea of doing Weekly Reads post like Ames instead... because recapping at the end of the month is really becoming a challenge. What do you think? Any suggestion?

Review: Changing the Game by Jaci Burton

How are you doing everyone? Hope you had a nice week-end and that your Halloween was very spooky! LOL. It's a new month, so head over to Breezing Through to look at the new releases we're looking forward to :)

I've been in a bit of a reading slump. I have no problem re-reading books, but new ones? I just don't know what I feel like reading ^_^; Ah well, if I can't read, why don't I review? :) It's funny how some books are easier to review than others... I was going to  cover Changing the Game in my Monthly Read post of August, but it just begged for a post of its own :) So here it is! Enjoy!


Changing the Game by Jaci Burton
published by Berkley in August 2011

Most people play by the rules. Gavin and Liz aren't most people...

Win at any cost. That's always been the mantra of sports agent Liz Darnell. When she carries things too far and risks losing her number-one client, baseball pro Gavin Riley, Liz realizes that she'll have to work extra innings to win him back. It might not be too much of a stretch. She's had a thing for this player's moves since she first laid eyes on him, and by the looks of it, he wants her just as bad.

Gavin's more than ready—especially when Liz is offering herself as part of the bargain. And as much of her as Gavin wants. For added thrills, he decides to throw a little curve ball Liz's way to see just how far she's truly willing to go to keep him as a client. But when love unexpectedly enters the playing field, neither Liz nor Gavin are ready for the biggest game-changer of them all.

Genre: Sport romance
Series: Play by Play trilogy, Book #2

The Story: Liz has had a crush on Gavin Riley for a long time, but never acted on it because he was her client. After losing Mick, Liz believes that Gavin will side with Mick and fire her as well, so she gives in her long-time crush and kisses him at the end of Perfect Play. It's been months now since the kiss and Liz has been avoiding Gavin. When they find themselves at the same sport banquet, it is time for Liz to face the music. However, instead of being fired as she expected, Liz ends up having very hot sex with Gavin.

Gavin has no intention of firing Liz as she's done a good job with his career. He's always kept his relationship with Liz professional, but with the kiss and Liz' belief that she'll be fired, things have changed. He's seen a different side of Liz, one that he wouldn't mind exploring. Soon, Gavin and Liz find themselves embarking in a fling - one that they both enjoy.

However, is it good to mix pleasure and business? Especially when not everyone in Gavin's entourage is welcoming Liz?

My Opinion: Like many readers, I had my doubts when I started Changing the Game because I didn't really like Liz' character in Perfect Play. However, Liz turned out to be a pleasant surprise and instead, Gavin is the one who didn't measure up.

I really enjoyed the first half of the book. It was all about Gavin and Liz and they were fun to read about :) I liked seeing them together, enjoying each other's company and getting to know each other better. While Gavin and Liz have known each other for years, it's always been more on a professional level. Sure, over the years, Liz has become a family friend, but I suspect she always kept more distance between herself and Gavin than she did with Mick and as a result, there was a lot about him that she didn't know. Inversely, Gavin learned more about Liz - her life, family and her motivation for her job. All in all, I think they made a great couple and I enjoyed them together with the baseball setting as a backdrop :)

As I mentioned earlier, I ended up liking Liz' character a lot more than I expected. Mainly because she was nicer, but also more real and more sincere. In Perfect Play, she was portrayed as the villain, a bit one-dimensional, but in truth, her character has a lot of depth and Ms Burton did a great job at fleshing it out. I really liked the fact that she had to deal with the fall-out of her action and that she learned a valuable lesson. Though she did make a mistake meddling in Mick's love life; ultimately, it wasn't with bad intent and that made her more sympathetic to me. I liked that her complex character was paired up with someone "simpler" like Gavin. By simpler, I mean that Gavin is just a regular guy who plays professional baseball. Sure, he has enjoyed the high life and the perks of his job - who wouldn't? But he wasn't too much of a jock, didn't have a big, dark secret in his closet or a sob story as his past. That contributed to make the couple more fun and easier to enjoy. And oh, let's not forget the sizzling chemistry that Gavin and Liz shared :)

Other things that I enjoyed from this book was the Riley family - well, Gavin's parents and his sister, Jenna :) The parents are really good people, genuinely nice and they kept their sons grounded to earth :) Jenna is spunky and doesn't let people walk over her which is good considering how popular her brothers are. I really liked that they didn't hold a grudge against Liz for her actions in Perfectly Play and welcome her back. I also think that Ms Burton did a great job at giving this contemporary romance its "sporty" atmosphere. It was just the right amount of baseball and jocks for this to really feel like a sport romance and I liked that she stayed away from the clichés :)

Unfortunately, I had some issues with this book. I enjoyed the first half, but I think the book started losing some steam about half-way. Why? Well because, there was no real storyline going on ^_^; The first half was pretty much about Liz and Gavin fooling around and getting to know each other better. Lots of sex going on - a bit too much in my opinion - and not much else. So when the conflict appeared, it seemed a bit out of no where... I don't want to give too much away, but I just don't understand how Gavin could say that to Liz. He spent half the book taking Liz' side and then suddenly, does a 180 and is suspicious of her?!? It didn't make sense to me and it was really hurtful for Liz. The worst is that I don't think he really believed what he was saying... it was more as if he wanted to hurt her with his words! I'm really glad Liz didn't let him treat the way he did and she walked out. However, I have to say it ruined his character a little bit for me. Also, I don't really  get Gavin's attitude or reaction towards his father's heart attack. I understand being concerned and I think that him taking time off to care for his father was very filial. But not going back to play... when you want to play? Especially when his father was recovering well and urging him to go back? It seemed out of character for me.

One more thing that really bothered me throughout Changing the Game was Mick. Oh gosh, he was a jerk and soooo annoying!!! I understand that he was mad at Liz for what she did... but Liz has apologized and even paid for it and Tara has forgiven her. So what else did he want? He kept harping on it like a broken record and in the process, poisoned Gavin and Liz' relationship a little... and at the end of it all, he asks Liz to be his agent again?!?! Are you kidding me? Have I been Liz, I would have turned him down.

Overall, I think that Changing the Game started off well. I enjoyed the chemistry between Liz and Gavin, the interactions between Liz and the Rileys... However, I feel there was a lack of direction in the book which was reflected in the lack of goal/purpose for the H/H. Good chemistry and hot sex can only carry a book so far. That being said, I'm curious about Jenna's book. She's very different from Tara and Liz and from what we've seen, she seems to have enough personality to carry the book on her own :)


My Grade: C+.

Review: Perfect Play by Jaci Burton

Hey everyone! How are you doing? Hope everyone is doing well and if you're on the East Coast, safe and prepared. We're lucky up here because we'll be spared by Irene. Good thing too since today is my annual BBQ! We didn't do one last year, but this year, decided to go back to our traditions :) I'm trying to figure it out, but if I'm not wrong, this year will be our 10th edition!! 10th! That's a nice number and the core group is still the same and I think that's what makes me the most happy :) We're still all here, all friends after more than 10 years. Sure we've dropped a few or been dropped through the years... but most of us are really still here :) Okay, will stop here cos I'm planning a post probably tomorrow for a little recap of the BBQ LOL.

In the meantime, here's a review!! Enjoy :)


Perfect Play by Jaci Burton
published by Berkley in February 2011

The last thing event planner Tara Lincoln needs is the jet-set lifestyle of a football pro like Mick Riley; even though their steamy and passionate one-night stand proved that Mick is an all-star-both on the field and in the bedroom.

Tara played the game of love once and lost big, and she doesn't intend to put herself out there again, especially with a certified heartbreaker. But when Mick sets his mind to win, nothing will stop him. And he has the perfect play in mind to catch this sultry vixen.

Genre: Sport romance, contemporary, erotica
Series: Play by play, Book #1

The Story: Mick Riley has had enough of the jock lifestyle - the starlets, the notches on his bedposts, etc. He wants a normal relationship - a woman who won't be impressed by who he is, won't expect the jet-set lifestyle, who will be herself... and he finds the perfect woman in Tara Lincoln.

Sure, Tara is flattered that such a big star like Mick would be attracted to her. However, a one-night stand with him is all she can afford as Tara is working hard to expand her business, but more importantly, to provide a better future for her fourteen years old son Nathan.

However, she hadn't counted on Mick's persistence and very soon, despite her protests and excuses, Mick and Tara are dating. However, both bring a lot of baggage to this relationship... can it last?

My Opinion: Perfect Play has been on my radar for a while. I enjoy Ms Burton's writing, but sometimes, I found her books a bit too repetitive... especially the sex scenes ^_^; The other hang-up I had about Perfect Play was that it was trade-size and that made me hesitant to buy it... but then, the buzz won me :) After seeing good reviews after good reviews, I had to get my hand on the book :) The good thing about the wait though was by the time I was ready to buy it, I could wait a bit longer to meet Ms Burton at RWA and have a signed copy :)

Okay, enough chit-chat. What about the book? Well no surprise, I enjoyed it :) It was a very good and solid book and one of the best sport romance I've read in recent years :) The strength of this book was really the characterization of Tara and Mick. These characters definitively felt real, were people we could relate to, and that's what is needed in sport romance. At his age, Mick is looking of normalcy in his life, he's done with the partying and such and that made sense to me. At the same time, he's still going to attend to premieres and big events, because it's part of the job, to have his face out there. I liked that Tara wasn't star-truck by Mick. Sure, he's a superstar and was famous and she enjoyed the perks, but she wasn't a groupie or completely tongue-tied with him. At the same time, she didn't act the way she did simply to attract his attention. She was herself and I think that's what mattered the most :)

I also liked the fact that Mick came from a functional family. He had a regular background, a good relationship with his parents and his siblings. That was another winning part of the book. Another aspect that was well-done was the sport reference and incorporation in the book. There was just enough to give the right ambiance to the book and not overwhelmed the story. Reading Perfect Play, you knew you were reading a romance and the focus was Mick and Tara's relationship, as it should be. Speaking of romance, Mick and Tara really had good chemistry, their romance was sizzling and very nice :)

As I said, Perfect Play was solid. Good characters, good romance and nice feel to the book. What can you ask more? I was also a little bit wary of Tara's son, Nathan, at first because he's a teenager. However, he turned out fine and not annoying at all. The other secondary characters were also good and served their purpose. My only complaint would the part where Nathan got drunk ^_^; Immediately, Tara was like "I'm such a bad mother" and Mick took Nathan to an AA meeting, to share with him his past, but also show him the consequences. Personally, I thought both really over-reacted. Unfortunately, it is reality that some teenagers party and get drunk... I thought that part was a bit superfluous. I have to admit, there was also a lot of little problems between Mick and Tara, but they were immediately solved. I guess they were meant to showcase Mick's patience and persistence... but I could have used a few less "misunderstandings." As for the conflict of the storyline, but big problem - I thought it made sense and I liked the resolution. I think that Mick should have talked a bit more with Liz, but ultimately, Liz crossed the line. However, all those little issues were small when looking at the big picture :)

My Grade: B. All in all, a good and solid read :) Enough that it made me pick up the next book, despite my reservation towards Liz.