Happily Ever After Book Reviews
I add new books to this page as I read them (although not necessarily books newly published, because let me tell you, there are a lot of good books out there that are not new but that I haven't read). These particular books are ones that I own--or not, as the case may be. (Libraries are wonderful places. Please support your local library.) At the bottom of the page, I've also listed a few of my all-time favorite romances.
I've always found it helpful when choosing new reading material to find someone who likes a lot of the same kinds of books I do and see what other books she (or he) likes that I might not have tried. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but it beats blindly handing over money for a book or author when I have no clue if I'll like it or not. There's nothing like staring at a shelf of half-finished books that cost big bucks and knowing that you absolutely can't stand to read another word of any of them. (I say this from experience, if you haven't guessed it by now.)
I do offer some full-length book reviews, but mostly what I offer here is just a short blurb and rating of the book. It's too easy to link to Amazon or some other bookstore that has better reviews than I could ever manage to write. My rating will essentially give my opinion without me having to take the time to create a unique wonderful review for every book I read! The reviews I do offer are just my opinion, and since opinions can vary greatly, remember to take it as such.
If the title interests you, the link "more info" will take you straight to the book detail page on Amazon where you can (usually) find and read lots of other peoples reviews. My ratings will show you what I think, which might not agree with the majority of Amazon reviewers. Of course, MY opinion is the right one! (If you believe that...well, then, heck, I might have some ocean front property I'll GIVE you.) ;)
You can also click on the "buy the book" link to go to Amazon to purchase the book.
Explore and enjoy! (Yes, I know I should probably stop using so many exclamation points (and parentheses), but I like them, and they do serve a purpose by showing how my mind works in twenty directions at once...)
Contemporary Series Romance
- The Prince's Virgin Wife (Harlequin Presents) by Lucy Monroe -- A Prince wants his ex-housekeeper to be his children's nanny--but what he really wants is for her to become his convenient wife!
» read my review » more info - Thirty Nights (Harlequin Blaze, 5) by JoAnn Ross -- A modern gothic romance, Thirty Nights is an excellent "Beauty and the Beast" story.
» read my review » more info - It Takes a Rebel by Stephanie Bond -- One of RWA's top ten favorite books of 2000 for a reason. Yummy hero who matures just enough to make him perfect for the heroine.
» more info - The Temptation of Rory Monahan by Elizabeth Bevarly -- Great first paragraph! A romantic comedy with fun, interesting characters. What does it take to get a man more interested in old books than women to take a second look?
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- Seducing Mr. Right by Cherry Adair -- The heroine wants a chance to prove to the hero that she can be more than his friend.
» more info - Too Hot to Sleep (Harlequin Temptation, 787) by Stephanie Bond -- When a nurse decides to spice up her nonexistent love life with a little phone sex, she dials the wrong number. But the cop she accidentally reaches can't bring himself to tell the sexy-sounding caller the truth. Not even after the fact!
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Contemporary Single Title
- Trust Me by Jayne Ann Krentz -- As Sam Stark's wedding caterer, Desdemona Wainwright doesn't have a lot of choice when it comes to pushing Sam to pay his bill, regardless of the fact that the bride left him practically at the altar. Her persistence pays off, however, and soon she finds herself the object of Sam's attentions. (Wooeee, a place I'd love to be!)
» more info - White Lies by Jayne Ann Krentz -- In Jayne Ann Krentz's second addition to the Arcane Society series, Jake Salter works for the psychic detective agency of J&J as a consultant. He's investigating an important case when Claire Lancaster arrives on the scene. Claire wasn't supposed to be a factor, but now she is and Jake has an intense desire to get to know her very well indeed.
» read my review » more info - High Energy by Dara Joy -- A dash of intrigue and lots of humor accompany Zanita and Tyber as they try to expose a fake and fall in love.
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- Light in Shadow by Jayne Ann Krentz -- Snappy dialogue, fun wit, and her best mystery plot to date make this one of Krentz's better suspense novels, but the romance didn't hit the mark.
» read my review » more info
- Glass Houses by Stella Cameron -- Olivia's on the run because she just happens to be in possession of some incriminating photographs, and Aiden (a cop) is determined to save her while they work together to clear their names.
» more info - Dear Love Doctor by Hailey North -- The Love Doctor is afraid to tell her date who she is.
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Historical Romance
Favorite
Covers
- My Favorite Marquess by Alexandra Bassett -- Widow Violet Treacher and Sebastian Cavenaugh, the Marquess of St. Just, exchange letters at the book's opening and that correspondence starts in motion Violet's determination to set out for Cornwall and settle in the ancient (and crumbling) Trembledown. Sebastian, helping king and country, masquerades as smuggler Robert the Brute and ends up kidnapping Violet. They share something more than smuggled brandy when they become trapped in a cave together, and suddenly Sebastian, “the Brute”, is looking on Violet as more than a nuisance... link to full review
» more info - The Pirate Lord by Sabrina Jeffries -- A pirate with plans to retire swipes a shipload of convict women to supply his crew with wives, and he gets a little something extra in the bargin -- a lady determined to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the female convicts!
» more info - Angel by Johanna Lindsey -- Loved it, loved it, loved it! It doesn't get much better than this when it comes to western romances. A tried and true premise revolving around a plucky ranch owner and a gunslinger, but with a twist.
» more info - Defy Not the Heart by Johanna Lindsey -- Spectacular! Reina marries her captor Ranulf to thwart the wedding plans of the craven Lord Rothwell. Unexpectedly, she finds many things about her new husband to like, not the least of which is his determination (after she informs him she doesn't like his love-making) to satisfy her!
» more info - Deception by Amanda Quick -- Jared Chillhurst isn't the lowly tutor Olympia Wingfield believes him to be. He's hiding a title while he tries to discover the whereabouts of a damaging diary his family believes Olympia has in her possession.
» more info - Slightly Shady by Amanda Quick -- The first book in her Tobias March and Lavinia Lake regency mystery series.
» more info - Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey -- Pirates definitely rank at the top of my list of sexy heros. And James Malory ranks at the top of that list. When he discovers the one that got away trying to pass herself off as a boy on his ship, he takes her destiny into his own hands and commands his newest crewmember to act as his cabin boy to personally see to all his needs. Georgina, though, is inexperienced to the point of thinking that her sudden "nausea" is the result of an illness that only strikes in the captain's presence.
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- The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn -- Anthony Bridgerton's tale.
» more info - The Duke and I by Julia Quinn -- When Simon Basset starts looking for a wife, he doesn't expect to have his eye caught by his best friend's sister, Daphne Bridgerton. The first in a (presumably) long series centered around the Bridgertons.
» more info - Too Wicked to Love by Barbara Dawson Smith -- A spinster with attitude is determined to make a rake take responsiblity for fathering the baby left on her doorstep.
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Regency Romance
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A Dangerous Compromise by Shannon Donnelly -- Clarissa Derhurst wants to marry a rake, a reformed rake, that is. According to her, only reformed rakes are capable of the grand passion she craves.
"At first it seemed only his just reward for eavesdropping, however unintentionally. But then they began to tear into him in earnest, and an affronted anger began to simmer inside Lord Wolviston's chest." -- from A Dangerous Compromise, opening paragraph
From the moment Lord Wolviston overhears Clarissa's conversation with her best friend, he becomes determined to teach her a lesson she won't soon forget. However, his attempts to play the rake are hardly comparable to the true rake who has set his sights on Clarissa. Soon, Lord Wolviston finds himself playing the dashing hero instead.
» more info - His Blushing Bride by Elena Greene, Alice Holden, and Regina Scott -- Three wonderful little stories about June brides. Of the three, the last story The June Bride Conspiracy by Regina Scott was my favorite.
» more info
Futuristic Romance
Favorite
Covers
- Amaryllis by Jayne Castle -- My favorite of all Jayne Castle's "curtain" paranormals / futuristics, this book has been in my collection for a long time. It has all the excitement and mystery (and sexual tension) that I love in her Amanda Quick and Jayne Ann Krentz books.
» more info - Warrior's Woman by Johanna Lindsey -- Johanna Lindsey's first foray into futuristic romance was a doozy. Challen Ly-San-Ter and Tedra DeArr may be separated by their respective societies and customs, but nothing else stands in the way of their happiness--well, except for that madman's evil plot to take over her world.
» more info - Rejar by Dara Joy -- I loved this book! It was the first one by Dara Joy that I read, and I knew right then that she would make it into my favorite authors. Since then, I've read Mine to Take, High Energy, and Tonight or Never.
» more info - Mine to Take by Dara Joy -- I loved this book too! Number 3 in the Matrix of Destiny series, it's as good as both books that preceded it. This hero is a familiar through and through.
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- Heart of a Warrior by Johanna Lindsey -- The sequel to 2 of my favorite books by Johanna Lindsey, Warrior's Woman and Keeper of the Heart.
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Paranormal ~ Time-travel Romance
Science Fiction and Fantasy
- Scion of Cyador by L.E. Modesitt Jr. -- Book eleven in The Saga of Recluse.
» read my review of Scion of Cyador
» more info - Magi'I of Cyador by L.E. Modesitt Jr. -- This is actually the tenth book in a long series known as The Saga of Recluse. When I started the first book, years ago, I hadn't realized how addictive the series would become. I admit that these books probably aren't for everyone (my mother, in particular, said that there wasn't enough action for her), but I've loved these books from the beginning and will continue to read any new ones without hesitation.
» more info - Pawn of Prophecy (The Belgariad, Book 1) by David Eddings -- A fantasy of epic proportions, this book is the first in what amounts to a 13 book series. The first five books (The Belgariad) are: Pawn of Prophecy, Queen of Sorcery, Magician's Gambit, Castle of Wizardry, and Enchanter's End Game. I thought the adventure was spectacular, and I especially liked the lack of conceit Garion showed. Of course, if you read the books, you know that's the way it has to be or Garion wouldn't be the Child of Light.
» more info - Guardians of the West (Book 1 of the Mallorean) by David Eddings -- Garion's adventure continues. These books are similar to the first 5, but I still loved them. They are: Guardians of the West, King of the Murgos, Demon Lord of Karanda, Sorceress of Darshiva, and The Seeress of Kell. Lastly, there are 3 companion volumes: Belgarath the Sorcerer, Polgara the Sorceress, and The Rivan Codex.
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- Kingdoms of Light by Alan Dean Foster -- The death of a mage transforms three cats, a dog, a snake, and a songbird into humans, with a mission to save their world from sadistic goblins.
» more info
Mystery
Mainstream Fiction
Non-fiction
- Organizing from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern -- For those with a lack of organizational skills (especially when it comes to filing).
» more info
A Few of My All-time Favorite Books
These books hold special memories for me; I loved them the first time I read them (and I admit to being younger than I should've been at the time--all that sex, you know) and I still love them.
Favorites
- Not So Wild a Dream by Francine Rivers -- The story of a woman outcast by society who finds herself, love, and God, and she does it all the hard way.
» more info - Touch Not My Heart by Leigh Michaels -- A sexy womanizer's secretary must pretend to be engaged to her boss.
» more info - Hearts Enchanted by Penelope Neri -- A welsh maid must marry her sworn enemy to save her family.
» more info - Butterfly by Kathryn Harvey -- An exclusive female club makes women's sexual fantasies come true.
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